Happy Birthday Eliza!

Lovely Eliza, this picture says it all:  sweet, funny, friendly, silly.  What would we do without you!  You are such a special gift!  love, Mom and Dad

Lent and Preparing for the Prize

I'm running a race on Saturday.  It's really not that long - 8K - but the significance of it is HUGE for me.  It is the first race I've run in over 2 years.  My first race since my pregnancy with Brayden, since bedrest and a c-section.  The fact that I'm even up for running it feels like a tremendous victory to me. For the past 8 weeks, I've been focused on preparing for the day - March 12th.   It has been on my calendar for months and all my training was with this race in mind.  The rigor of the training has been so satisfying.  The date on the calendar has been so helpful for my staying focused.  But, truth be told, I'm terribly afraid to face the day after the race.  Will I continue to willingly push myself so hard?  Is my own health and fitness enough of a goal?  If I'm completely honest, I have to admit, sometimes it just isn't.

Until not too many years ago, I thought Lent was about giving up chocolate or sweets.  And maybe for some, it is.  But really, it has the potential to be so, so much more than that.  Lent is, for my heart, what the past 8 weeks have been for my body - a season of focused preparation with my eye on the goal.  This morning, I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief as we all arose to the beginning of this Holy season.   Finally, finally, this sacred season that begins so late this year is here.  This season that, through it's discipline and structure, helps us see more clearly that which we truly long for.  This season that helps us scrape away all the unnecessaries and distractions........those things that "aren't helpful to us", as Fr. Buda said in this morning's Mass.....so that we can see that which we're really made for.  Because, ultimately, heaven is our goal isn't it?  Ash Wednesday, Lent, Easter are all just markers along the path.  Sacred markers, but still not the true prize.  The weightiness of deprivation that Lent can bring serves not only to make the joy of the Resurrection all the sweeter but also to remind me to stay focused on the True Prize the rest of the year as well.

How grateful I am for the gentle cadence of the liturgical year to provide steady rhythm and focus for this wandering heart.  God knows I need it!

Happy Birthday Juliette!

"They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor."

Isaiah 60:21

Before you were born, when we and so many others cried out to the Lord to save you and heal you from your defective lung, this was the verse we chose for you.  Here we are, 12 years later, and you continue to display the spendor of the Lord.  You are the work of His hands, sweet Juliette.  You were formed and molded to be just who you are - beautiful inside and out, generous, tender, creative.  I am so thankful for how God shows Himself to our family through you!  We love you.

Watching and Waiting.....

Advent is here and I just have to recommend this WONDERFUL Advent resource I've found this year. Even if you already have something you're using with your children, I heartily recommend this devotional for YOU.  I'm finding my heart challenged each day as we read.  While you're over there, it might be a good idea to allow yourself some time for clicking around.....really good stuff there.

Happy Birthday Marina!

Lovely Marina, with your arrival at 11:07 p.m. 15 years ago today, everything changed....forever.  And we are so thankful. You, our witty, intellectual girl, are precious to us.....and even more so to your Savior.  You are BELOVED in so many ways.  We love you.  Mom and Dad

Is there such a thing as a 1 1/2 birthday?

I'm grieving.  Our baby is 1 1/2 today.  Where does the time ago?  Wait a minute.  I know exactly where the time goes.  It goes to picking up the path of destruction that "Mr. Hurricane" seems to leave behind where ever he goes.  I've really never seen anything like it - the mess that is.  That's saying a lot from a mom of 5.  You all warned me that boys are different.  I knew you were right......but there's no way I could have imagined the shenanigans of my precious, outlet-licking, table-climing prince.  And there's also no way I could have imagined how MUCH we would all love him.  ;-)

And so that also explains the neglect of this poor blog.  I've got messes to pick up and people to love....lots of both!  I am so blessed!

Unique - A Happy Birthday Story

Thirteen years nine months ago, a young wife and mother lived comfortably in her contented life with her one sweet little princess when she learned that another cherub was on the way.  She loved her happy life with her precious daughter.  That daughter was her greatest joy.  She couldn't imagine being able to love another child as much.

So she began to pray.

She prayed that God would make the babe on the way so unique that it would be easy to love her.  And He did.

She prayed that this child would be very much her own person.  And, oh boy, did He ever!

She prayed that God would fill her heart to overflowing with love for, now, two daughters. And He did.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

This morning,  at the same time that little baby was being born 13 years ago, two hot air balloons drifted over our house just as I stepped outside.........and I thought "of course"!  Of course this special day would begin in such a unique, interesting and exciting way.  That's just what you are sweet Olivia.  

Happy Birthday dear Olivia!

(This post is being published one day late since we were all watching Olivia's relay team win first place at a swim championship on her birthday.  Very fitting, huh?)