7 years ago today

7 years ago today...

it was the beginning of a new life~ Garyn Matthew Sanford was born!!!
it is very difficult to believe 7 years has past...

he is no longer a baby, a toddler...

he is a BOY~ like a growing boy with muscles...What???




he is tough,
tender,
loving,
smart.

he is witty,
prayerful,
serious.

he loves to be indoors,
yet loves the adventures of the wild.

he wants to become a priest and a zoologist, so he says...

i am so proud to call him MINE!

i look back at the seven years and think of how i have grown as a Mom...there are some things i can recall over these seven years that i wish i could re-do....but if i did, would he still be the same??  i can not wait to see what happens during this 7th year!

i can't wait to see him with a new brother or sister...
i can't wait to watch his relationship with his Gigi continue to grow...
i wait patiently to watch him play football, swim, and enjoy the outdoors this summer...
he is going to move on to the 2nd grade...

thank you Mamoosh for loving me so tenderly!

love ~ Mom

beginning to prepare for Lent...

The Beatitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth. 
Blessed are they who mourn, 
for they shall be comforted. 
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, 
for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, 
for they shall obtain mercy. 
Blessed are the clean of heart, 
for they shall see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men reproach you,
and persecute you,
and speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for My sake.

peace of mind

when your children asks you to explain the Lord's Prayer...

your husband loves you...

great school...

great parish...

incredible friends...

warm home...

a pantry full of food...

hugs from kids (not just your own)...

loving parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles...

and....so much more!


and When people ask me, " How are you today?..."  I will say, "Better than I deserve, my friend!!"

Catholic Schools Week

Our family is blessed in so many ways...but this week I reflect on my children's Catholic education.  I was asked a few weeks ago if I would talk during the All School Mass about Catholic education, St. Joan of Arc, and why we are so happy.

Here is how I feel about SJA!!!  Our family hit the jackpot when it comes to finding the best school for our family!!!!

Here are my words about SJA:

Proverb 16:9 says “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Two years ago, the Lord listened to my heart and directed our family to St. Joan of Arc.

       A radical decision to move less than a month before our son was to start kindergarten left us looking for a new Catholic school for both of our children.  We began the school search again and St. Joan of Arc topped our list primarily because of the school’s diversity.  In less than 3 days we found St. Joan of Arc, met and toured the school with Mrs. Sharpe, and received a response from a vacationing Peggy Kline informing us that there was an opening in the preschool for our daughter.  It was the quick responses, the excitement and pride when discussing the school and it’s students, along with their willingness to accept our family on such a short notice instantly made us understand St. Joan of Arc would become part of our family.

       A Catholic education not only educates our children’s minds, but educates their hearts too.  Over the past two years, St. Joan of Arc, has proven a Catholic mission.  Beginning at the preschool level, they lay the foundation for children to learn to live an authentic life.  Matthew Kelly, author of Rediscovering Catholicism, says that “God doesn’t call you to live an authentic life so he can stifle or control you.  He calls you to live an authentic life so that from an infinite number of possibilities, you can become the best version of yourself.”  St. Joan of Arc, the teachers, parents and surrounding community introduce these possibilities and teach our children to be all they can be everyday.   

       When I think of St. Joan of Arc, I recall something Garyn said to me this year while walking into school on the first day.  He looked up at me and said, “Mom, I feel like I am back home.”  The feeling of family, the security the teachers, parents, and staff provide to our children is inmeasurable.  These teachers love our children everyday, not because it’s their job, but because it’s their vocation.  They were called to do what they do everyday.  Their devotion to our children and their Catholic education seeps through every doorway.  The people of St. Joan of Arc truly love what they do…. and it shows!

       St. Joan of Arc herself once wrote, “Get up tomorrow early in the morning, and earlier than you did today, and do the best that you can.”

       Thank you St. Joan of Arc for educating the entire person and striving to be the best you can be!      

. 

perspective...

so
i get sad...so so so very sad...

i get tired...so so so very tired...

the wait hurts.

but then i reflect, i mean really reflect...

i am sad, i get tired, and i hurt in ways like never before...



but then...

 i think of my baby across the world...

i think of what he/she/they are going through right now...




yep....puts everything into perspective!


you see,

the pain that i am feeling....

my sadness,

my hurt,


well...

it simply doesn't compare.




so for my baby,
i will wait some more...

A time of Thanksgiving...

There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!  The list is LONG...
But most of all I am Thankful for my family...
I am blessed with the most caring and helpful people in this world...
They go above and beyond to share their love and support with me, Ryan and the kids!

How did I ever get so blessed??


It is moments like these that I MUST keep in the front of my mind when others try to bring you down...
I am special,
I have an amazing family,
a loving, supportive, caring, GIVING husband,
wonderful, smart, thoughtful children,
I have so much more than I deserve!


So this Thanksgiving, I give my Thanks so all who are special in my life...and most importantly, I give my unending gratitude and love to the Lord for allowing all of these special people to be part of my life!

I have an amazingly blessed life!

Please join me...

an excerpt from an email I sent to my friend...

I have decided rather than question.... question how Bethany "matches," rather than question the politics (if any,) and rather than question the time, I have decided to just continue to PRAY!  I am praying for so many things I almost feel guilty... so I am trying to remember for every 'needing' prayer, I offer a pray of Thanksgiving because the Lord has blessed me with so many AMAZING things in my life!  With that said... I am asking you to please pray with me for strength, faith, and honesty.  Strength that my family and I can continue the journey; wait with positivity and excitement rather than with frustrations.  Faith, praying that our faith continues to grow as we live for the unknown, and lastly, for the honesty of Bethany.  Pray with us that Bethany will use their best Christian judgements when reviewing the orphans and the families patiently await their 'call.'

I have asked her.....and now I ask all of you, please pray with us.  Praying is the only thing we can control at the moment~