ohhhh, the laughter!

Last night, Bigfoot was soo full of laughter! We hosted bible study at our home last night. Typically, our little man is just mesmerized by all the kids running around having fun while us adults get our bible study discussions on. But last night was different.

He did maintain his mesmerized and intrigued gaze throughout the study portion, but once families started leaving the kids were asking to see our pup, Lily. Of course, we obliged and brought our pup out and started showing the kids all the fun tricks she knows (always a fun hit with the younger crowd :)). All the kids were laughing and enjoying what Lily was able to do, which I anticipated, but what I did not anticipate was that Bigfoot joined in the laughing crowd and began laughing at Lily also!

This is a very different kind of laughter for this little home. Bigfoot has noticed Lily around - obviously! He sees her walking, he has heard her barking a number of times, etc etc. In terms of his laughter, normally, we get some fun laughs by showing silly faces, endless games of pick-a-boo, some fun parachuting/superman action, and tickling; but this time he identified something that he found was funny without any sort of prompt from the ever encouraging parental units! Bigfoot was looking at Lily and would laugh the cutest baby laugh ever every time Lily barked on command. Then we, of course had to encourage this amazingly fun time. Next thing you know, this mom and dad were prompting our Lily to “talk” aka bark and laughing hysterically alongside our laughing Bigfoot.


Haven’t laughed that hard in awhile. Thank you, sweet little one, for a great laugh.

"He's baptized" - behind the scenes

Leading up to the day, I was pretty anxious. For anyone who knows me, I am not a planner of events by any means. I am not a natural host, but through attending girl’s nights and bible study, I’ve been able to have some practice. Sending out invites; definitely terrible about that. By the grace of God did I get those cards made, addressed, stamped, and in the mail. I mean really, anything and everything that happened was by His Grace. haha In fact, it’s these very times, that I can see His ever *abundant* grace at work. The need for to-do lists (which I never do btw), and for everything to go just right continue below - just keep reading.

There was the woman at church. The wonderful woman at our church helped me so much! All the things the Church needed in order for Bigfoot to be baptized; she made a list of and handed it to me. She helped me schedule it in a way that all the grandparents could attend; which I’m grateful for. The list she gave me reminded me of all the things I needed to get done or bring to her. She helped me figure out the best steps for Uncle Godfather to be a Godfather for our little one. She was always flexible and trying to make things work. And so much more. So, again, His Grace and Goodness through His lovely instrument at our church.

Party plans. Yup. I got nothing in this area too. Estimating how many people. How much food to buy? What food for adults, food for kids? Will we have enough for all to be filled?? How did this all happen you may ask? For starters, a wonderful friend lent her talent by creating another list (lol maybe I should force myself into list-making). She made a food list. Offered to help set up everything right after Mass. Her and her husband rushed over to the place where everyone would gather after the big event and helped set up. Along with her, some of my other sweet friends went over and also lent a helping hand. Prior to Mass, my in-laws picked up all the food once it was ready and dropped it off at the celebration location and made it to Mass on time. They also helped set up and clean up afterwards. My brother-in-law and girlfriend picked up the cake, helped set up, and clean up. Again, not me, but God’s grace working through the amazing people He has placed in my life. Do you see all the things I could not have done on my own!?!


Our little family :)

Are you seeing the pattern I’m laying out here?! Loved ones, strangers being His instrument, friends joyfully lending a hand, and then there’s me, GeekMan, and sweet Bigfoot. The three of us were able to soak up all the beautiful moments of love that took place throughout this special day. We were able to do so because of God and how he was working through all our loved ones and persons in the church in some ways that we could see and others we could not.

At the end of the day on Sunday, GeekMan and I were sitting in the living room after Bigfoot was night night and just talked about how wonderful our day had been. We were talking about how incredibly blessed we felt. And about how that day could not have been any better. We were filled with gratitude at the gift that was given us in our Bigfoot and in our vocation of marriage.

All I have to say is this little bundle has been filled with nothing but some really good stuff and we are enjoying every bit of it! :D

Below is a pic of Bigfoot’s sweet and large baptism shoes. So cute!

"He's baptized."

“Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

GeekMan looked over at me and simply whispered, “He’s baptized.”, with Joy in his eyes. The moment he turned to me, holding our precious Bigfoot in such a pure and holy state, all that I had been excited about all day and week hit me and I got teary eyed. My tears were that of Joy and happiness. The reality of what had just happened hit me like a ton of bricks. It hit my heart, my soul, and every part of me and I was filled with excitement and such happiness.

13 And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child ² will not enter it.” 16 Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them. -Mark 10:13-16

People brought their children for Jesus to lay His hands on them. Jesus asked us to bring them to him so that He could bless them. GeekMan and I did just that. We brought our sweet Bigfoot to our Lord so He could bless him in the sacrament of baptism. Bigfoot left Mass on October 16, the Feast day of St. Gerard Majella, a baby cleansed of original sin by His Lord - He left there baptized and so very blessed.


GeekMan, myself, and Bigfoot were just soaking up the moment. Bigfoot did SO good throughout Mass. This being the first time we actually sat up front during Mass, we were a bit nervous. Lately, we’ve been those newbie parents sitting towards the back with an exit route in mind at all times in case Bigfoot decides to start letting out his ever so sweet and attention grabbing squeals. But not that day. Baptism day we were in the first pew where all the beautifulness (may not be a word but today I feel like it should be :)) happens. Bigfoot just watched and appeared mesmerized from the comfort of Daddy’s arms. It was so great!


Look at that baptized baby below! So precious! Bigfoot was so calm all up until it came time to get baptized (which was right around the time he normally would be taking a nap). You could tell he knew something was about to happen so he was trying so hard to fight his nap in a calm way up until this point. He held off as long as he could. Right before Fr. Jack was going to baptize him in water he got a smidge fussy, but nothing terrible. What was absolutely wonderful to see though was the moment the water was poured over his precious baby head he became still and calm; again mesmerized. And then once the wonderful Chrism oil was on his precious head, our sweet boy drifted off to sleep. Yay, Holy Spirit for being such a presence in that moment and throughout our lives. Bigfoot slowly but surely fell into his nap and remained napping the rest of Mass and he awoke so pleasantly for some pictures once Mass was finished.


This little one is such a gift from Above - we look forward to giving him the gift which our Lord has given us - our Catholic faith. And we’re so excited to be sharing this gift of Bigfoot with Uncle Godfather. He’s already such an amazing Godfather. Bigfoot and him were able to spend awesome quality time while Uncle Godfather was living with us during his PT rotation nearby. And we know that Uncle Godfather will do an amazing job in sharing his faith with our sweet little one all the days of his life.



St. Gerard Majella, pray for us.

The higher the love, the more demands will be made on us to conform tothat idea. To a great extent the level of any civilization is the levelof its womanhood. When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy ofher. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the moredevoted she is to truth, justice, and goodness, the more a man has toaspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actuallybe written in terms of the level of its women. -Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Life is Worth Living

We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if hewants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to cleanthe toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We mustsay, “I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.” And this is ourstrength. This is the joy of the Lord. -Blessed Mother Teresa

The family, as the fundamental and essential educating community, isthe privileged means for transmitting the religious and cultural valueswhich help the person to acquire his or her own identity. Founded onlove and open to the gift of life, the family contains in itself thevery future of society; its most special task is to contributeeffectively to a future of peace. -Blessed John Paul ll

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to lovethose close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hungerthan to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our ownhome. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for eachother must start. -Blessed Mother Teresa

Weekinds with Chesterton: Free love

Linking up this old post to the new Weekends with Chesterton over at Amongst Lovely Things. Looking forward to diving more into his readings! Hope y'all enjoy this oldie but goodie! I promise there won't be another re-post next weekend! 

 

The revolt against vows has been carried in our day even to the extent of a revolt against the typical vow of marriage. It is most amusing to listen to the opponents of marriage on this subject. They appear to imagine that the ideal of constancy was a yoke mysteriously imposed on mankind by the devil, instead of being as it is, a yoke consistently imposed by all lovers on themselves. They have invented a phrase, a phrase that is a black and white contradiction in two words-‘free-love’-as if a lover ever had been, or ever could be, free. It is the nature of love to bind itself, and the institution of marriage merely paid the average man the compliment of taking him at his word. 

-G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton says it so clearly. Our society says it’s okay to divorce, encourages cohabitation, says you should sleep around till you find the “right” person, seek pleasure for self, find the quick fixes, seek immediate gratification, and more, all in the name of freedom. This makes me sad. I see the pain. The indifference. The maltreatment. The objectification. The numbing and all else that comes with the do what feels right for you right now. Honestly, my love for my husband has never felt so free until the day we said “I do”. And now being able to see how the vow continues to naturally further bind us through the gift of our little Bigfoot. Love binds and it is beautiful…if we let it be.

The thing is, people now adays trick themselves into thinking that they aren’t saying “I do” to anything, but in reality every time they are physically or emotionally intimate with another person there is a an automatic physical and emotional “I do” that takes place and penetrates the very soul; which is how God intended it to be - a beautiful and transcendent experience of His Love. Chesterton was right, it is a “contradiction” to try and live out love as society thinks it should be lived.

So, with that,  I’m grateful for the Church's teachings of what it means to make a vow and for the respect that His Church has and always will give to the act and meaning of a vow. I’m grateful for the respect that His Church gives to us in trusting us to be open to the grace that flows from such a high calling in all the various vocations. And, I’m grateful for His Church standing firm these past 2000+ years.

There is a revolt on vows. For this very reason I am grateful for all who strive to live out their vow. Yes, some days can be scary, difficult, and trying; but it is in those times that we are most called to pick up our cross, to be committed, and to stand by what we believe in rather than flee in the face of fear.

It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. -Blessed Mother Teresa

“Do not be afraid” He tells us. He knew we would experience fear. He knew that we would be tried and challenged, and that it wouldn’t be easy. And so, He told us, “Do not be afraid”.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:5

And, during reflections like this, I’m thankful for the gift I have in GeekMan who understands the goodness of the vows we took. And thankful for my God who is always with us sharing His Grace in the good times and bad.

(updated in the beginning with an image and slight intro for link-up purposes.)

Joy is the surest sign of God’s presence in the soul. -Blessed Mother Theresa

For if God calls each of us individually, he calls us with both ourgifts and our failings. And it is in our failings, and in parts of ourlives that embarrass us, that we are often drawn closest to God. James Martin, SJ

My Life With The Saints - Fr. James Martin, SJ
(via inmytsinelas)

Our Lady of the Rosary

Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! :)

Sweet Mother Mary, Pray for us.

Our sweet baby boy is becoming quite the roly poly! :D

Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to asoul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul withGod. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constituteneither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfectionconsist in the close union of my will with the will of God. -St. Maria Faustina (Diary 1107)

Singing & Dancing

Happy feast day of St. Francis of Assisi!

St. Francis of Assisi is well known by many, including our little family. His prayer has helped me, throughout my years, to keep focused. To not become so self absorbed. It has kept me from forgetting where true Joy and Peace comes from. Not by focusing on how others can be instruments for me but to remember that I am here to be an instrument to others; first and foremost, in this recent year, to GeekMan and Bigfoot.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

I love how when St. Francis had his major conversion of heart, he sought solitude. Something our society is definitely not comfortable with anymore. And yet, solitude can be such a beautiful thing. It’s where everything becomes quiet again. Where you can hear everything that stirs, even that within your soul. Solitude is where God can meet us; meet us in a beautiful silence.

Being a stay at home mama, solitude has taken on a new meaning and experience. My times of silence are few and far between, because I fill it it with anything and everything. There was a time, while I was in college, I sought solitude and silence. I had so much peace during this time. That time was such a gift for my soul and heart. And now, I do feel peace, but not the same as before. I think that’s because I’m in an entirely different place now. So my peace now is going to be and feel different than before. I think I just need to take some time to figure out how I can still get that time in.

The fruit of silence is prayer,

the fruit of prayer is faith,

the fruit of faith is love,

the fruit of love is service,

the fruit of service is peace.

-Blessed Mother Teresa

 Getting back to silence, one fruit from above at a time, my hope is to let silence fill our home in the beautiful way that it can with a three and a half month old. haha. I suppose my silent times will be different. But, i’m grateful for that. The silent times will be filled with Bigfoot’s oohs and ahhs, coos, squeals, and laughter, which is good. But, I need to remind myself that they don’t have to be filled with every random TV show or constant random music. Of course, there’s  a time and place for these to-dos, but they don’t have to be as constant as they have been lately.

 So, thank you for reminding me again, dear St. Francis of Assisi, to embrace solitude and to meet God in the silent times of our home. Thank you God for the gift that you gave me during college in allowing me to spend such sweet time with you in solitude.

Oh! One more thing about St. Francis of Assisi. Prior to his conversion he enjoyed parties, lived a life of wealth before his life of poverty and of complete abandonment to God, and he enjoyed singing. After his conversion, he was known for dancing for Joy and Praise to our Lord, and for singing praises. So, in honor of dear St. Francis of Assisi, GeekMan, Bigfoot, and I will be sure to have a dance party with sweet music.

A time for silence and a time for music. A time for solitude and a time for dancing. There’s a time for so many different things and I’m grateful for that.

St. Francis of Assisi, please pray for us.

Prayer can truly change your life. For it turns your attention awayfrom yourself and directs your mind and your heart toward the Lord. -Blessed John Paul ll

It’s always about the little things

Baby boy just turned over from back to tummy! Woohoo!! So proud!

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. -Blessed Mother Teresa

I love seeing his determination that keeps him moving towards all these baby milestones! Now I just need to try and capture the mad turnover skill on video!

Seeing all the effort/small steps that go in to all of his big to-dos is inspiring. I can definitely learn so much from our sweet Bigfoot!