3 Years

Three years and two little girls later, we celebrate the anniversary of our wedding day. On July 2nd, 2008 we celebrated our third wedding anniversary. It was a very different anniversary than any before, as this one was spent in a hospital room. Neither one of us could have been more ecstatic to be celebrating there, since such a hospital stay was due to Pita's birth. God is good. Caleb had stayed the night following Pita's afternoon birth--July 1st-- with Maddy at our house and then drove out to the hospital the next day. He walked through the door with Madge, a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers, and our wicker picnic basket filled with nice treats. What a beautiful surprise!Thank you, Caleb, for making our anniversary so special and creative, considering our circumstances. Thank you for three years of good times. I love you and look forward to so many years ahead.

Our Nuptial Blessing:
May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.
May God join your hopeful spirits. Fill your hearts with truth and courage. Trust to share both joy and tears. Teach love to your children's children. Make your household learn to witness living faith through all your years.
May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.
May God make your home a refuge where you warmly welcome strangers, and the lowly find a place. Make your caring kind and patient, help you meet the needs of neighbors. Finding Christ in every face.
May God bless you, hold and keep you. May God's mercy shine on you. Guide your work and guard your resting. Make your love forever new.

Our Wedding Song: Nada Valgo Sin Tu Amor by Juanes
Translated in English: I Am Nothing Without Your Love
English Translation (below):
As we weather while the time passes us by, it begins to appear that in the end our hurt outweighs the years.
And so I desire to spend my years together with you, my eternal love, together with my family, together with my friends...
I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
Better a year late than a decade without you. It's worth it to finally have my heart replete.
Hence I always want to be conscious of your steadfast love, be we near or far from the end.
I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
Come, my love...
I feel weak when I am without you, and I become strong when you are here. Without you I don't know what it's like to live. My life is a tunnel without light. I want to spend more time with you, take back the moments I have lost, and conquer the immense fear of death so as to experience eternity with you.
I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
Hence I always want to be conscious of your steadfast love, be we near or far from the end.
I am worth nothing, I have nothing, if I don't have the best: your love and companionship in my heart.
~Poetic translation by CO

Welcome, Beautiful Girl. We've Been Anxious to Meet You.

On July 1st, 2008 at 1:55pm, EDT, our beautiful second daughter was born. Our lives have been forever changed by Guadalupe "Pita" Belen Maria. Named after Our Lady of Guadalupe, you will be called "Pita" which means "little Guadalupe" (Guadalupita) in Spanish; a common custom in Mexico to shorten the name. Your second name is also Spanish, and translated in English it stands for Bethlehem. May the Christ child who blesses the little town of Bethlehem always reside in your heart and create a spirit of poverty in you always. Your third name is a form of Mary. Your sister began the tradition when we gave her her third name of Mary. Now both of you have Mary or some form of Mary as part of your middle names. Our Blessed Mother will always be near you. We love you, sweet girl. You have blessed our lives in so many ways and made your big sister Maddy such a happy sibling. As you can tell from all of her hugs, kisses, and chit-chat to you, she thinks you are heaven-sent. You bring us joy, so much joy. God has blessed us with your existence, and we did nothing to deserve you. Your life humbles us and makes us turn to God in awe for His merciful goodness and kindness. May Jesus guide you on your life journey. May Our Lady of Guadalupe wrap a tilma of purity and love around you. May you always know the love of Daddy and Mommy and your sister Madeleine. We love you dearly. We give you thanks, Almighty God, for these and all of your benefits. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
It's hard to believe that only a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting with you beneath my heart, as I listened to this song, and could only think of you.
Here's to you, Sweets.

We love you and miss you...

January 16, 1923-June 26, 2007
Please pray for us, Gram, as we continue to pray for you and to you. Eternal rest grant unto Gram's soul, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Unless you become like little children...

On Saturday morning Caleb was making breakfast with Maddy, and when I came out breakfast was nearly finished and ready to eat. We have a crucifix right next to the front door, and Maddy, ready to go for breakfast, was kneeling before it to say prayers and then eat. This is what we saw when we walked around the corner. And I thought I was teaching her something? What sweet and innocent souls.

CDC Claims Recommended Vaccine Schedule "Flexible"

An article today from CNN may show a seismic shift in public health and perception. I don't anticipate any mainstream media outlet advocating a full-blown anti-vaccine position in the near future. However, the fact that the article is encouraging parents to (1) think for themselves, (2) advocate for their children, and (3) advocate for flexibility in the vaccine schedule is a huge step in the right direction. These are qualities in all good parents despite one's opinion on vaccines. A small hurrah.

Our Little Beauty Queen

Sweet Girl

This morning Madge was awake at 4am and hungry for toast. Just before she ate, we were saying prayers before she ate her early breakfast, and although it was a little dark in the room and the stillness of the night seemed to still be upon us, she went and knelt down in front of the crucifix to tell Jesus "thanks" for her tasty toast. You are our sweet girl. We love you and all of your little ways, Madge.

Happy Father's Day!

Today we wish you, Caleb, a Happy Father's Day. Madge and OLF are truly blessed to have you, a Dad that takes such an active role in his little ones' lives. I am blessed to have such a good spouse and role model as a co-pilot on this incredible parental journey. Thank you for all that you do for us: your hard work here and at the office, all of your daily sacrifices for us and for others. You teach me on a daily basis how to do better.

Happy Father's Day to our Dads. We love you both and thank God for your yeses on so many levels. We also thank God for the lives of our Grandpas,those now deceased and Grandpa D. living and well. Without your lives, we would not be able to give thanks for our blessings today.

Priceless

Think no further, look no further. If you have doubts as to who to vote into the Oval Office, this should make your choice crystal clear.

Good reads

In relation to parenting, obedience, and true love, this article offers exceptional clarifications.
Another article worth browsing (also by the same author), is this.

Saturday Zoo Time, 2008

Our Friday Together

We had a super day on Friday. The weather was beautiful. We played outside together at the playgrounds--2 of them! We got a game of tennis in with the sun beaming above us and the temperature pushing the 80s. And after a lot of exercise outdoors, we enjoyed a picnic lunch. Amidst it all, we got to capture a few special times.

31-Cent Scoop Night was a Hit!

A Tired Girl

The other day Maddy had had a full morning and by lunch time was ready to hit the pillow, even though her head wasn't quite there yet. She was snoozing while still seated at her highchair.