Turning 50 With The Dream Team

I'm not a perfect person but I am a real one...Fabulous at 50?  Definitely not. I have to be honest and say that I've been dreading turning 50 in the middle of my family tragedy.  It's next week for goodness sakes...Couldn't this come at a different time?  A happy time?  It doesn't seem fair, as I pound my fist on the table!  At this landmark time that others celebrate with joy, I'm filled with sorrow and endings...I'm seriously tempted to believe the lie that life is completely awful when we suffer. 

Suffering is awful, yes it certainly is.  But completely awful...No.  Being real, I have to admit that suffering is beautiful at the same time.  Many lovely people emerge to help, God shows his face, just when we need it most...I may not have seen God's face otherwise. Clinging to what is good in my life, I see light in the darkness.

During Adoration one day, I felt that I saw joy and pain sitting together arguing about who would make the soul better, stronger, wiser.  Suddenly, they realized that they were not opposing forces after all. Instead, they both offered strength and wisdom in different ways that all humans need for their salvation.  It became apparent that we cannot have one without the other.  Joy and pain are synonymous.  Separated from one of these, we are broken. Having both together, we are strong.  Encompassed in this is the Cross that Christ suffered and bore for us.  He loved us so much that he suffered.  There on the Cross we see the ultimate dream team.. joy and pain unite for the good of humanity. Knowing we cannot have one without the other helped me see clearly how I should journey ahead...

Turning 50 with The Dream Team

I am turning 50 with sorrow and grief...

Yet, I turn 50 with gratitude and grace.

I am turning 50 with wounds and scars...

Yet, I turn 50 with growth and wisdom.

I am turning 50 with disappointments and mystery...

Yet, I turn 50 with triumphs and faith.

I am turning 50 with tears that never end...

Yet, I turn 50 with laughter that is stronger.

I am turning 50 with the reality of aging...

Yet, I turn 50 as a child of God.

I am turning 50 with heavy burdens...

Yet, I turn 50 with song in my heart.

I am turning 50 with the down-swing of life...

Yet, I turn 50 with a life well-lived.

I am turning 50 with the end in mind...

Yet, I turn 50 with the hope of life that never ends.

I am turning 50 marking time in my mind...

Yet, I turn 50 with a warrior spirit.

I am turning 50 with trial and trepidation...

Yet, I turn 50 with trust in God's plan.

I am turning 50 being stripped of my dreams...

Yet, I turn 50 with strength in my soul.

I turn 50 with time gone too fast...

Yet, I turn 50 with blessings, too many to count.

I turn 50 with the setting of the sun...

Yet, I turn 50 when the new dawn comes.

I turn 50 with lost love in my life...

Yet, I turn 50 with a lot of love left to give.

I turn 50 with joy and pain...

Yet, I turn 50 sitting with the Dream Team.

St. Patrick Fun

St. Patrick's day is always extra fun for us since we always have a birthday boy that day...This year he turned 14! (Can you guess what his middle name is)?

Thought I'd share this healthy St. Patrick Shamrock Fruit Platter that we made for our Youth group potluck.  It turned out really cute with kiwi and green grapes:) I just love how St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach the people of Ireland about the Trinity.

This year we also bought fun t-shirts to share the spirit of St. Patrick...The real guy from whom this festive holiday originated.  A portion of St. Patrick's beautiful Breastplate Prayer is inscribed on the t-shirts.  It's one of my favorite prayers!  {It is called the breastplate prayer for those parts of it that seek God's protection.}

Didn't manage to catch the birthday boy in his shirt...He was busy with Confirmation class.  That's ok, he's at the age where he doesn't like having his picture taken much anymore:(

The little ones will bear with my photography for a bit longer, I hope!
Birthday boy's wish was a tour of the San Francisco Fireboat unit...His dream is to be a firefighter someday.  He got his wish and he was one happy camper!

This is the view of the Bay Bridge from the Fireboat Unit's back porch!

Big thanks to my youngest sister (Auntie L.A.) for helping to make it all happen since she lives in the City!

Happy and thankful to have Grandma and Grandpa join us (My parents:)

Here we are, shortly after the St. Patrick's Day Firefighter Parade, that started our fun day in the City.

It was a beautiful weekend of celebrating many blessings, most importantly the birthday boy!

+St. Patrick, please pray for us+

Fireman Meets Hello Kitty

"Mommy, do you think Daddy can make me a Hello Kitty cake?"

This was the question our littlest one posed to me as she moved closer to her 5th birthday.

"Well if anyone can, Daddy can!" That was my reply...And it's true:)

Everyone in my family knows that Mommy can bake a cake but when it comes to precision cake design, that's Daddy's department. We all say it's his "secret talent!" He has the patience that I'll never have.

...He smiled when she asked him and of course he agreed. That's the kind of guy he is...He's a bag full of YES. 

So here you go...Fireman meets Hello Kitty!

I thought it was a clever idea to cut out a paper pattern first!

Can you tell it was Super Bowl Sunday?  

Little Miss wanted to decorate the pink bow!

Didn't she turn out cute?

We had one happy little girl on our hands!

Meanwhile, Dad had to work at the Fire Department on Monday, her actual birthday.  As the rest of his crew reported back to duty after manly weekend boastings, Rod sounded off about making Hello Kitty while he watched the Super Bowl.  What a trooper DAD!  

He's one Fireman who saved the day in his own home...A hero in this little heart, that's for sure!

Birthday Bonanza of Blessings

*Superboy received his birthday blessing after daily Mass last week*

Isn't it interesting how families end up having clusters of birthdays at certain times of the year?

Well, we have one of our clusters right about now...We have a series of 4 birthdays in our immediate family within a 6 week period!  Angel Baby kicked off the bonanza, followed by Dad, Superboy and Army Dude.

This makes for a busy Lenten season and trying to keep our eye on the ball in the midst of the celebrating...
  
~Dad caught up with me and turned 45~

Superboy turned 8 and was thrilled to get his first new bike!

Now the 3 youngers all have wheels...

We're ready to roll:)

Up next is a new teenager in the house come St. Patrick's Day!

We had a shared birthday celebration with all the grandparents this weekend...We cherish those moments while we have them!

The two March birthday boys shared a cake...

They don't mind sharing when it comes to Baskin Robbins ice cream cake and a football team that they both love!

It was the perfect Sunday afternoon with family around the table...good memories made, indeed!

The birthday bonanza of blessings always remind us of the dignity of human life.  We are all made in His image and likeness for a special purpose here on earth.  Birthdays are a great reminder of this!

Human life is precious...Each and every one!

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+

Fast Pass To Jesus

~Here I am Lord; I come to do your will~

I just love reminders that it is only God's will, and not our own, that brings us true joy and peace.  We can search the world over and seek the comforts of personal pleasure but nothing, absolutely nothing, satisfies us like the dwelling place of the Lord.  


 On the way to that dwelling place, I am also reminded that Our Lady waits for all of us, eager to take us directly to her Son.  After all, who better to deliver us promptly to the Father than Our Mother?  Like any good Mother, she holds out her hand.  When one of her little children grabs hold, we are suddenly zipped to the front of the line and lead quickly to the Lord; She is the ticket and "Fast Pass" to Jesus.  

We were honored to witness 2 young men make their First Profession of Vows to the Discalced Carmelite Friars.  The ceremony was beyond beautiful and beyond words, really. 

In was their first profession of vows to the order, after being a novice for 1 year.  They were glowing from their "Fast Pass", seen and heard by all who witnessed and listened to the first words of their vows:

"I desire to live faithfully with the Virgin Mary, a life of allegiance to Jesus Christ..."
It is no surprise that Our Lady was their leader to the Lord!
{These 2 Brothers will proceed to renew their vows each year for the next 4 years, for a total of 5 years.  After the 6th year, they make their final vows to the Carmelite Order.}

Here were these 2 young men, courageously counter-cultural, exclaiming: "Here I am Lord; I come to do your will."  This was the Mass Responsorial Psalm so the congregation prayed a long with them.  These words spoke volumes today.  After the Rite of Religious Profession, Examination, and Profession, it was as if we, the lay people, renewed our own personal vows as Catholic Christians, right a long with them.  

Their "yes" to God's will was the impetus to my own renewed "yes." Their brave example fueled my resolve to persevere and keep fighting the good fight. 
Nope, we can't do a single, darned thing on our own but we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us... And our Mother who carries the Fast Pass!

{We can also encourage one another.  If you haven't picked up your Fast Pass, the Consecration to Jesus through Mary will change your life. I post some links in this post from the archives} She is calling us all to her Army as the battle wages on.
*The next start date is coming up on February 20th*

One of the brothers gave us a tour of the Monastery grounds after the Mass.  The views were incredible!

Heaven on a hill...The Rat Race does not live here!

Believe it or not, our family went back to the "rat race" encouraged. Despite the culture around us that tries its best to discourage, we were renewed in hope by the faithful.  Just as the witness of these 2 men, we are called to be the same light to one another.  It is my deepest prayer that we may pass on the torch of hope and encourage others to the same.
"I command you; be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go." ~Joshua 1: 9~
*Don't forget your Fast Pass*
Is your Mother calling you?

18 + 45= Hope

~My first born with late husband Chris~

(Apologies for poor quality picture of a picture)

It's birthday week around our house...

18+45!

18 years ago on Friday, I became a Mama for the first time...Yes, my 1st baby is becoming an adult:)  Though much has happened in the last 18 years, it sure feels like we went from this day of birth straight to now!  In a blink of an eye, the boy is a man.

The fun thing is that our birthdays are only 1 day apart and I get to be 45 this year, on the following day. Oh yay, do I sound excited?

This year is rather reflective and emotional as I recall the blissful baby moments of that first child, so innocent and blessed with two loving parents, both completely over the moon for him!  And now he's becoming an adult, ready to spread his own wings and fly.  I think about how proud that Chris would be of his son and the well-rounded man of God that he has become.  I smile at their similar sense of humor and magnetic personalities, despite never knowing each other as Father and Son...

Tears may flow as we remember this sweet beginning of life and all that we miss. But despite the tragic loss of Chris in our lives, we continue to be blessed beyond measure. God has provided and we have so much to be thankful for. 

We miss but we mostly hope. 

We hope for the future and for the grace and mercy of God to see His face, reunited with all those we love.

We hope for the rainbow with an eternal message.  God always promises a rainbow.

It's a birthday week to be celebrated...Life, hope, and rainbows!

Our Lady of the Rosary, please pray for us.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, please pray for us.

My favorite quote applies now and forever:

"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."

~Mother Teresa~

Isn't this a great rainbow photo we captured with Mer-man this past Spring?

18+45= Hope.

The falling rain dissolves into mist
and the thunder begins to die,
as the sporadic lightning fades
an arch of color pours from the sky.

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
when things look their worst.
Just when the sky is darkest gray,
out of Heaven does a rainbow burst.

God first sent the rainbow to Noah
as a sign that His word is true.
The rainbow’s eternal message
still speaks to me and you.

The rainbow is a sign of God’s promise
that He will guide us through any storm,
That He will ease all our troubles,
No matter what their form.

When you feel battered by life’s storms
and you are filled with doubt and dismay,
just remember God’s rainbow is coming,
For it’s blessing you have only to pray.

Written by: BJ. Morbitzer