Happy Birthday my Peanut Butter Pickle!

WOW!
so hard to believe my little girl is 5...
i remember the day she entered this world like it was yesterday...
she was tiny (and yellow) and ready to eat!!

not much has changed...
she is still tiny and still LOVES to eat (especially noodles, bacon, french toast, and grilled cheese)

she is so funny,
smart,
beautiful,
loving,
fragile,
strong,
and ready to start kindergarten in just a few months...

I love you my peanut butter pickle!!!  You brighten my every day!!  I can not wait to see you as an 'big' sister!  You are going to teach your new sibling so much about this great big world!!  I only hope your new brother or sister has your sense of humor!!!  Thank you Mimi for letting me love you!!!

Love~ Mommy

Feast of St. Patrick

Our family has so much to celebrate on this Feast of St. Patrick...

As we begin our celebration, let's remember St. Patrick with this prayer.

In this prayer he asks for God’s help in various ways:

May the Strength of God pilot us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Host of God guard us.
Against the snares of the evil ones.
Against temptations of the world 

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Salvation, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and evermore. Amen.

CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!!!

HABEMUS PAPAM

POPE FRANCIS I.....

I think it has a hopeful, peaceful sound....

May God Bless you, Most Holy Father

WHITE SMOKE!!!

WE HAVE WHITE SMOKE!!!

WAITING..... WAITING..... WAITING....

3:01~ people as far as you can see in St. Peter's Square....

So excited!

Church History according to Gigi

As Catholics this is an important time for us.  For the first time in 600 years, Pope Benedict XVI, Peter's successor, has retired!!!  His resignation was effective February 28, 2013.  The Church is over 2000 years old, yet there has only been 265 successor's to Peter... and to be able to witness the Most Holy 'Chair' empty 2 or 3 times in my lifetime is incredible to me!

Pope Benedict will, I am sure, be remembered as a great Teacher-Pope. Theologian means, quite literally, "one who speaks of God." Ratzinger the great thinker turned out to be Benedict the great communicator of the Faith - a father in the sense of one who nurtures the young in faith. His unique command of the truths of Christian doctrine and his singular ability to make them come alive catechetically and homiletically were a great gift to us. He called us back to the foundations of faith in Scripture and Tradition, the Word of God alive and active in our day.- Religion and Ethics

As we patiently wait for the 'white smoke,' I am using this time to explain as much as possible about this incredible event to the kids.  Garyn listens and goes about his business.  He may ask a few questions here and there, but seems content with what I tell him.  Gigi, on the other hand, spends more time with me (since she has been on break from school,) therefore, she has been listening to more news and the Catholic channel.  She has been listening to everyone talking about the "smoke."  

 Today we were in the car and she said, "Mom, I am looking for the White Smoke...and I don't see any."  I told her that it may still be a few more days until they name a new successor to Peter.  She very matter a factly said, "They better hurry up because the Pope is always old."

Later on today, I was upstairs getting dressed and witnessed on TV the Black Smoke from the smoke stacks.  I yelled to Ryan and Gigi, "Black Smoke."  Gigi looks at Ryan and says, "Well Dad, Black Smoke, No Pope."

History.....let us never forget!

I'll take the slice of hope, please!

Yesterday we were offered a little slice of hope!!!  Every 2 weeks or so we receive updates on the Ethiopian program through our agency.  For the past year and longer, most of these updates were depressing and offering generic hope.  The updates reminded us of another month of NO REFERRALS...not just for us, but for all waiting families.
Well, over the past few months there have been a small increase in referrals...but yesterday was our biggest slice of hope....

13 REFERRALS were received!!!!!!
THANKS BE TO GOD! THANKS BE TO GOD!

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

My heart rejoices!!!  My heart is overflowing with joy...these orphans, these most deserving children are hearing the voice of our Lord!!!!  He is showing them the wonderful and constant work of our God!  (if this wasn't Lent, I would be screaming Alleluia!!!!!)

What does this mean for us....well, if this trend continues (again, no telling if it will) an addition to our family is looking VERY good for this year!!!  WOOHOO!!!!!

Thank you for all the prayers!

Garyn had an A PLUS birthday party!

Yesterday Garyn celebrated his birthday with his friends at A Plus Gymnastics!  It was 3 hours of energy releasing FUN!!!!

They jumped, flipped, zipped..... it was so much fun!

Thank you all for joining in the fun!!!