Happy St. Patrick's Day!

... Four little Leprechauns:

At the Big Ball Game

Shortly before my birthday, I had the special experience of sharing a game of basketball with Madge and Pita at the stadium in Brasilia for one of Brazil's National Basketball Association's biggest rivalries: Brasilia vs Rio.

It was a great game. Yes, Brasilia won. But much more important than that was that it was fun to watch the girls doing the wave, see them taking in the game through the binoculars and enjoying the aura. We had a wonderful time. The fans were really into it. We returned home around 11pm, two tired girls and a happy dad.

Trust Him

Trust Him when darkest thoughts assail thee; trust Him when thy faith is small; trust Him when to trust is the hardest thing of all.

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"No matter how heavy your cross, if you just say, 'Lord, I'm having a hard time bearing this, I fail often, I want to be like you. I fail often but I shall try again.' You know that prayer pleases God." (Mother Angelica)

___________________

From Pope Benedict XVI - "Father - with this word I express my certainty that someone is there who hears me, who never leaves me alone, who is always present.  I express my certainty that God, despite the infinite difference between him and me, is such that I can speak to him, may even address him familiarly as "thou" (German du).  His greatness does not overwhelm me, does not reject me as insignificant and unimportant.  Certainly I am subject to him as a child is subject to his father, yet there is such a fundamental similarity and likeness between him and me, yes, I am so important to him, I belong so closely to him, that I can rightly address him as "Father". My being born is not a mistake, then, but a grace.  It is good to live even though I do not always perceive it.  I am wanted; not a child of chance or necessity, but of choice and freedom.  Therefore I shall also have a purpose in life; there will always be meaning for me, a task designed just for me, there is a conception of me that I can seek and find and fulfill. When the school of life becomes unbearably hard, when I would like to cry out as Job did, as the psalmist did - then I can transform this cry into the word "Father"  and the cry will gradually become a word, a reminder to trust, because from the Father's perspective it is clear that my distress, yes, my agony, is part of the greater love for which I give thanks." 

O Pequeno Principe

____________Enjoying the theatrical performances in Portuguese here in Brasil. :)___________

 (Pita and Caleb with The Little Prince after the performance.)

(Waiting for the show to start. :)

                                               



Yesterday evening we enjoyed an outing as a family as we went to watch the theatrical production of " Pequeno Principe. We had first spotted a display of books/movies about The Little Prince during an outing for Daddy's birthday at our favorite bookstore in Brasilia, "Livraria Cultura." I thought of our "Little Prince" aka Little Caleb, and wanted to see the movie.
                                                              


So, we planned to watch the movie of The Little Prince for this past Friday's movie night. It took two nights for us to watch it all, but we finished just in time for Sunday's hour-ling production of it. Everyone enjoyed it, even Little Penny in between nursing. :)

Our date...makes Monday a HAPPY one!

This morning after Mass-- thank you, Madge and Pita, for suggesting that we go to Mass this morning!-- we went for a date, just the 5 of us-- thanks to Dad's suggestion before we brought Daddy to work. What a lovely time I had with 4 sweet treasures. I had such a good time seeing what each of you chose and the little ladies and gentleman that you are as always. What a treat for me just to BE with you. Thanks for the honor of being your Mommy. I love our moments together.

I think Daddy's birthday weekend was a success...

We were all TIRED Monday morning. :)

Happy Birthday!

 

We love you!!

Penny Girl

Penny Loves to talk and be talked to! Today, Maddy went up to see Penny in our bed as soon as Penny had woken up. Madge and Pita usually love to run in and talk with her and hold her when she wakes up. This time, though, Madge saw that she was talking to herself and so happy that Maddy ran back downstairs and said, "Mom, she was so cute, I didn't even go in to her." I could see on her monitor how talky she was--having a blast and loving her beautiful life. We love you, Pen-Pen!

Sweet, Sweet Girl!

You are our sweety girl! We love you, Miss Penelope! Tonight Mom was holding you and was laid you in your bed, only to see that you would wake up and start talking. As soon as Mom would hold you again, you were content as could be and would go back to sleep. You are such a sweet snuggler who loves to be so close. Mommy loves it too. You are a true blessing.

Penny Cooing

Penny Tummy Time

Family 5K

On Saturday, we ran a family 5K. For their first time ever, the girls ran a 5K. It was a killer hot morning, as the sun was up and scorching. The girls did a great job and ran through like little champs. Hopefully there will be more of these to come! The run was organized through my work in order to raise money for a children's cancer home outside Brasilia.

Cute story: yesterday, Madge asked us, "Mom and Dad, can we make it out for a bike ride today? I need to stretch my legs, as they're feeling a bit sore after the run." Just like everything else in life (love for God, learning, etc.), proper care of the body is learned young.

(We never did make it out for the bike ride since the rains returned! Gotta love the rainy season.)

HaPpInEsS

Little love notes and flowers

Almost every day Pita collects flowers. She may run out to the back yard or pick the flowers along our trail when we are out biking and running. (She did tonight: she stopped, set down her bike and grabbed a flower. She was looking for more, but we needed to get going up the hill. She could pick and pick them without stopping. She really is the Lupine Lady from Miss Rumphius.)
 

The other day, Pita had picked flowers for me and gathered rocks (something else she loves to give me.) Then, she had gone to the school room and taken down her few "esssential" art tools: paper, a pencil, and a stick of glue. She brought her creation to me in the kitchen. I love you, Peach. Thank you for loving me so much with your sweet ways that remind me to enjoy the smallest things in this world that are the biggest lessons to us all: simplicity. 

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

(From our 2nd Annual Valentine's Dance tonight.)

You are dust and to dust you shall return...

Penny received ashes too yesterday. It was her second Lent, but the first outside-the-womb. Humbling to see a little innocent soul with ashes marked on her forehead.

1 year since the 1/2

One year ago today, we ran a 1/2 marathon as a family... all 6 of us! We had just found out 2 days before the race we were expecting Miss Penny, although we had no idea that the sweet little person inside was a little girly. One year later, here we are. Thanks to God, we have a sweet little happy girl healthy, happy and sound asleep, growing by the minute. What amazing things can happen in one year's time!

Sweets to the Sweets

Madge, you are a little Mama and so good to watch with your siblings. You love them all so much and just left a birthday party with Mom early yesterday to get back home to Pita, because you were missing her. (You skipped the cake and gathered snacks for Pita and Caleb to give them as soon as you arrived home.) You teach and love your threesome with compassion and grace and are gentle to encourage, never thinking of you. Usually we hear, "Pita, you do this so much better than me," in your humble way, when you are so impressed with something Pita does. We thank God for you. You teach us so much. You, Peach, Caleb, and Penny,  are real blessings to us, and we are grateful. Remember our sign language? Here's one to you: I love you....BACK! Thanks for teaching us all what it means to be yourself and innocent as a child should be.

Running makes you tired...

Really, really tired. The other day we got home from a run. Our big girls biked and Cal and Pen-Pen, as Little Caleb calls his baby sister, were asleep in the jogger. Sweet, sweet faces. There is little else to say. Pure innocence.

Sister Talk

Peachy, you love your sister, and when you talk with her you say, "Hi, Sweety!" We love you and LOVE watching you with Pen-Pen!

Totally HAPPY

Sweet Penelope... need we say more!

Suicide bombing at US Embassy in Turkey kills 2

We lift in prayer those killed outside the U.S. Embassy in Turkey. The terrorist explosion occurred around 1pm today in the Turkish capital.

This is the eighth embassy attack in Secretary Clinton's reign.