Birthday Blessings

*Birthday blessings received while Altar server siblings assist*

~Our Angel Baby turned 4 last weekend~

It has become a family tradition that we attend Mass on (or near) the birthday person's date of birth.  It kicks off the birthday celebration with what matters most... Thanksgiving to God for our family members.  {Especially since Eucharist means Thanksgiving!}  

I just so happened to be talking to Father the day before Angel Baby's birthday and told him we would love for her to receive a birthday blessing at the following morning Mass.  We were just expecting the blessing when we came forward for Communion.  She received that of course, plus an extra bonus...Father called us forward after the Mass and prayed a special birthday blessing and sprinkled Angel Baby with Holy Water.  She loved that!  

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a blessing is a "divine and life-giving action" that when applied to human beings, "means adoration and surrender to the Creator in thanksgiving." (1078)

Isn't a blessing to have special priests to bless us all?

Angel Baby enjoyed a pink, ballerina, themed birthday.

She was determined to teach herself how to dance ballet:)  We got her this little Usborne Little Ballerina Dancing book that came with a music CD and she spent hours teaching herself some "moves"!

I captured the best videos to treasure for years to come!

Nothing like a self-taught ballerina with Marian wings.  (She chose blue wings since they were Mary's color:)  Knowing she was named after the Blessed Mother, she often comes up with these little things that surprise bless us.

I conceived Angel Baby shortly after making my Consecration to Jesus, through Mary.  Considered a "later pregnancy,"at Age 42 (sheesh, what do they know?) she was the easiest and most peaceful pregnancy of all 6.  (4th c-section and all) 
This was no coincidence, I say!

The blessings continued with a visit from both sets of Grandparents and a Great Grandma too!

We appreciate these blessings, the older they get...

This is Grandma Sybil and Grandpa Rudy, Angel Baby's fraternal grandparents...both in their 80's;)

[Shhh, we still have a Christmas Village up after Candlemas!]

These are my parents...still in their 60's:)

And here is the Matriarch of our family...

Great Grandma Jackie, just turned 92!

Doesn't she look great?

~Birthday blessings overflowed~

"To utter a blessing is to acknowledge how much we have been blessed by God, even "with every spiritual blessing in the heavens." Eph. 1:3
  Every baptized person is called to be a blessing and to bless...Blessing expresses the basic movement of Christian prayer:  It is a encounter between God and man.

+Blessings to you and yours+