Memorial Day, 2012

From the wonderful words of my former youth minister, co-worker, and friend...

"Before today ends, say a prayer. Say a prayer for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Say a prayer for those who gave up their lives so that we would live in freedom. Say a prayer for those who sacrificed everything for others to live in freedom. Say a prayer for their families who lost a son or daughter; a brother or sister; a father or a mother. Today is Memorial Day. A special Day! A day to give thanks to those who served and a day to remember those who gave everything. I am grateful for them all. God Bless the U.S.A."

While my youngest two are not loving this picture, this is my dad,  Lt. Col. RET, presenting at the history center with other veterans for Memorial Day.

Another sweet vet thought it would help to put his uniform hat on Gift. HA! Nope! But cute!

 More pictures to come of our day with my dad and his presentations...but it was a great day, and great way to remember all that our servicemen and women past and present, with their families, sacrifice for us to be "free".

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!!

Love, us :)

The Start of Summer

HAPPY SUMMER and TGIF from our weekend getaway home. Just Hubby and I....and 6 kids. The view is fantastic and the food delicious. Salud! ;)

P.S. We are babysitting/house sitting all weekends for our friends so they can celebrate their anniversary. :)

Seeing the Wind

Matthew 14: 27-31 

²⁷ ...Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ ...Peter replied, “Tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” Jesus said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him...

Growing up, I'm sure many of us have heard or read the above passage in the scriptures. It captures our imagination, and speaks to our faith. Yet, in praying this week, it hit me. I think I've been missing a key point of the passage. Maybe it has been obvious to you your whole life, but I think God was trying to tell me something in re-reading the above.


How often have we heard the above described in a sarcastic expression, "Well, _____ sure thinks they can walk on water!" 

We may be saying that in exasperation, or in jest, but in most cases, we are making the statement because only Jesus walked on water. Right? So ___ is trying to be "overly" great, correct?

I think that assumption is wrong. Maybe we should find another expression.


Read the above passage again, noting verses 28-29. Jesus said "Come" and Peter walked on the water to Jesus. Peter walked on the water!


I don't think we allow ourselves to really focus on the fact that Peter walked on water. We jump to the fact he grew fearful and sunk and we're taught that the main focus of the story was to learn to not doubt Jesus, and to "let go, let God" in our lives always. We also focus on Jesus as the divine water walker. Yet, Jesus was also human and walked on the water. Peter was also human, and he answered Jesus' invitation to come and walk with Jesus. He walked on water. He also walked on water in the middle of a storm! Jesus isn't only speaking to Peter - His invitation is to us, standing the test of time, to COME, and walk on the water with Him, in storms, and in the crystal clear calm.


So, honestly, if we answer that call, we are water walkers. We are walking off the barren earth of sin, yokes, distractions, and burdens into a sea where our sins are cast to the depths of the ocean bottom (Micah 7:19) and Jesus invites us to effortlessly float step by step on the water's surface free of those sins; those earthly weights. Literally, we are walking on water all. the. time. when we come to Jesus. 


So, honestly? Our sarcastic comment that "____ walks on water" may not be too far off the mark. They probably are. So are we, and our waters may be so calm, we don't even notice or appreciate the incredible feat we are accomplishing!

When praying about this passage and looking at my own life - I feel that when I'm really right with God, fully trusting Him, and giving my life to Him - I am walking on water. I'm doing exactly what God is inviting me to do. I'm giving Jesus my crosses, big and small, and floating step by step to Him. But, because the waters are so calm, I begin to take for granted the miracle of my gift of walking on water. Storms may rage around me, but I forget to appreciate how I'm walking with God smoothly through it.

Then, there are moments, even stretches of time, when the storms of life start to blur the crystal clear horizon, and I start "seeing the wind" and it scares me, distracts me, and I lose sight of Jesus being next to me. I lose sight of my faith. I start to doubt my path, my discernment, my vocations...and I start to sink. I let the storms swallow me. And, I wonder why when I'm stressed I feel like I'm sinking, drowning, stuck, and caught against the current? Well, no wondering now!


I start to tread water, and on my own, for a while, I have been able to keep "my head above water" as I deal with my storm. But treading water is exhausting. Everyone one has a different length of time they can tread on their own - and it could depend on how choppy the waters are, or how tired they became as they slowly sank in their fear. We can even try swimming against the current, weakening our bodies and spirits. But at some point (hopefully, instantly) we realize what we need to do - to not lose faith, to not doubt, to call out to Jesus to save us, and to reach up to Jesus and let Him "immediately catch us" (Matthew 14:31).

We can't forget that even in the storm, Jesus is walking with us on the water AND will immediately (Jesus sure acts 'immediately' a lot in the above passage) catch us when we ask, beg, and plead for Him to save us. He is always there. He won't force Himself on us, and he dislikes seeing us tread water or swim against the current of His plan when He is right there at the ready. He will save us when we realize how much we need Him, and how much we need to keep the faith. It's so hard to not be a doubting Thomas. We end up soaking wet every time.


He'll keep walking with us, no matter how many times we sink, to pull us back up to continue our journey. He will calm the storm in His timing and restore crystal clear vision once again. We don't know how long it will take for the storm to pass, but it will. We must try and keep the faith and not get pulled down to the depths.We must also appreciate the times we walk on the water, fully in faith, crystal clear (storm or clear skies) and not take this miracle for granted. We were meant to be water walkers in Christ.

I honestly feel that when my world exploded around me back in September, the waters around me stayed calm, even in the storm. I felt God holding me, keeping me on my feet in the waves. He was there, and Jesus the Redeemer revealed himself through friends and family holding me up as the storm raged on around me. I feel that lately I've allowed myself to start "seeing the wind" and have allowed it to spook me. I am slowly sinking in the stress.  I know I've been treading water to compensate the past few months, and still am,  and I am EXHAUSTED.  I realize that I need to cry ever louder - SAVE me Jesus, and allow Him to pull me up and walk again. It hasn't been the easiest revelation. I feel right as I get pulled back up, I relapse to treading water again, or swimming against the current of His plan. But, I can say I finally got the message this week.  That message is the rest of Matthew 14:31:

 "...oh [ME] of little faith, why do [ I ] doubt?"

It's time to stop swimming, start walking, and stop seeing the wind.

A Rose by Any Other Name...

So, one of my neighbors just got a newly weaned, tiny, puppy (pit bull-lab mix) and named it "Damnit".

He brought it by our building right as I was coming in from the store and visiting with my neighbors. As I held the puppy, I said "Funny name, but that won't fly with my kids." So I convinced him to call Damnit by another name when my kids were around:

Doggoneit.

You can't blame the man too much, it's probably the perfect name for a non-house trained, teething puppy LOL! *wink*.

~~~~~~
P.S. My kids have since met Doggoneit (and love the puppy!), and Lovely doesn't like the name  LOL!! She keeps asking Mr. D to change it to a "real name for a cute puppy". You go girl!

Gift is TWO!!!

When did this happen?? My precious boy is TWO YEARS OLD!!!!! We had a family birthday on the back porch with an airplane theme, and it felt like a tree-house birthday party!!

Gifts's family cake decorated by the girls - an airplane flying in silver clouds by the Statue of Liberty (see caption lol).

 Valiant found his favorite plane under the bed, and Lovely wanted the Statue of Liberty LOL!

Earlier in the day, I enjoyed some quiet time with my sweet Gift from God. I love our son!!!

Dearest Gift - you are treasured, you are beloved. Your infectious smile, giggle, loud voice, and energy have refined this family of ours into getting more out of life, and giving to those in our life. We thank you, and God, for being here. God has generously loaned you and your sisters to us, and we are forever grateful.

We can't wait to see where this year takes you. Thanks for being you. We look forward to another year of firsts for you. God Bless you. Keep your heart, and arms, open!!!

Love,
Mommy and Family.

Need some prayers

Hey!

I'm not sure if PMS is messing with my general anxiety issues, but this has not been a good week for me at ALL.

Please pray for me. And, to cheer me  up - how can I pray for you. Please post your prayer requests below.

I do want to blog when I have the emotional energy about the other night (May 8th) and being granted a reprieve in my weird anxiety week - but I'm too drained to type. Remind me though - it's a great story.

Also - please pray for Hubby - he has a big opportunity tomorrow.

Much love!

Lovely's 1st Communion

"I am the wine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing." (Sunday's Gospel, John 15:5).

Sunday was a very big day!

Lovely made her 1st Communion! What a moment and what emotions filled our hearts (her Godmother and I wept/teared up watching the actual moment - and the processing in and out) as we watched her unite with Jesus in such a speechless way.

(We ordered pictures of the children making their individual sacraments. I'll be sure to post when we get them!!)

I still have to receive pictures other people took of our family and friends together, so I'll be posting again, but it was SUCH a special day for Lovely to be surrounded by her family. Her grandparents were there (after my dad broke a rib playing tennis - a sports related injury at age 88! Look at him - you'd never know it!):

and of course, all her friends she prepared with for this immense day:

All 82 of them!!

My mother gave Lovely her dress (and sewed on some embellishments). My sister and family gave her the rosary bracelet she is wearing, and my brother and family gave her the cross she is wearing. I learned how to sew her veil this week (haha!). She was surrounded by family and beloved friends near and far both in sacramentals, dress, and prayers.

Maybe it is just her unbiased mother talking, but she seemed so full of grace and goodness before and during her Sacrament. Don't you think? 

The rosary Lovely is holding was made by one of our co-op mothers - Alice. AMAZING!

and...full of fun too....

Dearest Lovely,

I echo the letters and words of many mothers on this milestone sacrament and want to tell you that Sunday was the first of hopefully constant "firsts." All of us need to remember that each time we receive Jesus, it is as sacred as the first and should be treasured as such. Even your tired, busy, and sometimes distracted mommy needs that lesson. How often, in our flawed lives, are we so welcomed, wanted, and unified into living tabernacles all at once? You, in making this sacrament this Sunday, remind us all of that childlike joy and excitement that we older faithful can sometimes take for granted, but should always have. Thank you for your reminder to embrace being a child of God in the Body of Christ. We are branches of a most precious Vine.

"Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me" (Sunday's Gospel John 15:4).

Cling to Christ and faith - it has never let your mother down in my trials, and sustains our family every day. We will always walk WITH you.

We so love you, so much. God Bless you,
Mommy, Daddy, Valiant, and Gift

___________________

Then - on top of the Eucharistic celebration - it was time to celebrate life and this wonderful milestone! We missed those who could not attend!!

It was time to picnic and play! We had the spread (picture taking after it wasn't neat anymore lol!):
 

We had cupcakes!!!

 
We had friends who could come and friends who were missed....

 

Sweet newborn Godbabies (Twins!!)

And more time for friends...

We even made up a Communion song to sing before Lovely served everyone's cupcakes first.

 Me and my girl! So proud!!

 

Valiant LOVES cake!

Sweet little sister!

 

Gorgeous 1st Communicant!

 

 

Lovely's Godmother making the twins bottles in the field- Rock on!

 

  Frisbee with all the kids!

HAHA - silly Gift!

 

This pic didn't capture her excitement at this bible from her Godparents!

"If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, as for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." (Sunday's Gospel, John 15: 7-8)


God Bless!!!! What a celebration. Eucharisto.

Sneak Peak

Ok, so the other day I vented, wigged out, broke under the pressure of starting a project for my incredible daughter too late, underestimating it's difficulty posted about trying to sew a piece of  organza into a 1st communion veil. I got amazing responses from so many of you talented seamstresses.

Organza is still nothing like the fabric I made drapes and bedding out of. Those were so simple than this ONE PIECE OF CLOTH. Ha! on me!

Today, I took my organza to a local sewing store with your suggestions to see things visually (I just have to see and practice what I'm doing - and still I am a very slow learner). They were really helpful. One of the ladies sat me down to show me my options. As much as I love the ribbon edging, etc, I was wanting more of a rolled edge (the dress has a rolled edge with its organza overlay), but I don't have a serger, and neither do my friends. So, she said to use a wide zig zag straight stitch, normal tension, and no folding/pinning. She said the wide zig zag down the edge would naturally roll it under, and she was right. I practiced a TON tonight before doing the real piece, and aside from a few places where I need to trim back where I left the edge (slippery fabric that organza), I got it. I have had such support this week from those I borrowed machine's and brains, and those who calmed me down and reminded me to pray before working.

I borrowed a machine today, and practiced over and over on scraps, and the other half of the yard of organza. This was the first time I did a continuous run on the machine, going around corner. I'd then cut all the edging off, and do it again on that spare piece. Finally, I felt ready (so nervous...I broke one of my needles at one point!).

Here we go (you know me, I photo-document everything!):

One of my practice runs....a little off in some places, but I can try and trim carefully.

Ok, so, while I have not done more "pretty" hand stitching on the barrette (which most likely will be hidden by flowers), it has been secured to the barrette. I need to practice a bit more doing that tomorrow when I can see straight. I want it secure. So, here is a sneak peak with a VERY excited and willing model!! (Good looking too!)

 (please remember it is unfinished, and I need to trim some edges, etc!!!)

*I'm a little concerned it is too long. I had pictured doing the barrette differently, and would need more cloth to wrap around it. I'm hoping when it is done it isn't as long as it looks on my adult sized model lol!!*

 Wahh-laaaaaaaa!! More to see after Sunday!! Thank YOU for your prayers and support!! I'm seriously giddy with joy with this!! AMEN!!

Sewn Organza before?

Ok - has anyone worked with organza before? I thought it would be a simple project to make a barrette communion veil this week after Lovely was not thrilled about the ones in stores. She liked the softer feel of her organza overlay in her gown, so we thought I'd get a little bit of the same material and create a small veil for her dress.

I figured I'd cut it, then edge it a possible zig zag stitch or something comparable my borrowed machine could do, and attach it to the barrette in about an hour.

UGH! I walked into this project ILL prepared and wasted 3 hours.

It's cut, but not very well, and only after I cut it did we find some google tips. Has anyone ever worked with organza and starch, fray sticks, heat? etc? Any good links for me? Please give me tips! Any edging ideas?

Thanks! I'm not thinking very sacramental thoughts tonight - ha!

Anticipation

Today I received the rosary a homeschooling friend made for Hubby and I to give Lovely this Sunday for her First Communion.  It is amazing.  No words. I loved how it was put into my hands today, May Day - day one of Mary's month.

I am starting to get emotional, and the day isn't even here yet. I am just so proud of her and excited for her. What is more wonderful? Her excitement. Her understanding and readiness.

She is certainly a precious branch attached to a glorious Vine. I am humbled.

5 more days!

P.S. I'm still excited about other preparations this week. The gift to her from her brother and sister and the other gift from Hubby and I are on their way to our doorstep. I'm almost done making her veil, and she and I are trying to discern what real flowers she wants for her simple flower crown (she's wanting to do this versus a fuller veil or white crown/headpiece). I can't wait for her special day!