Our Godson's Baptism and Pregnancy Blessings

"Baptism is the sacrament that gives our souls the new life of sanctifying grace by which we become Christians, children of God, and heirs of heaven." ~ My Catholic Faith

 

We ended up being able to deliver that Spiritual Bouquet to JOY{filled}family in person and hold our darling (two-day old) Godson during his baptism on May 10th! I didn't think it was going to be possible, between my husband camping over at the coast with our five older children May 7th-9th (for our older boys' High School Regional Golf Tournament) and my own pregnancy complications and challenges, but Sean was able to take another day off work and my doctors said the long 11-12+ hour round trip drive would be ok, as long as we stopped every 1-2 hours to walk and stretch. It was such a beautiful day filled with so many blessings!

 

 

Loving God, Creator of all good things, thank You for the gift of life given to our Godson. What a privilege it was for us to stand as witnesses for the Church when our Godson was washed in baptismal waters. Lord, help us to be faithful to You all the days of our lives. 

As our Godson grows in age and faith, enable us to be a good example for him of how to live as a follower of Jesus. Through our love and concern, in moments of joy and sorrow, allow us to reveal Your loving face, O God. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After the baptism I was able to receive the Blessing of an Expectant Mother and our baby girl and I were also blessed with a relic of St. Gerard by this faithful and holy priest.

Deo Gratias! 

Congratulations JOY{filled} Family

Shared by Lena over at Instagram:

All is well! Our sweet baby was born on May 8 at 2:01pm. 

I'm recovering now that I'm over the major nausea hurdle (8hrs). 

So much gratitude goes out to my spiritual benefactors. 

Deo gratias! 

Thank you to everyone who has been praying. You all are amazing! 

Together we were able to send a spiritual bouquet including (at least!)...

1,089 Our Fathers

9,659 Hail Marys

1,087 Glory Be's

... plus a couple extra Mass intentions and a few candles lit at churches! 

May God reward you all for your prayers and kindness!  

There is still time to contribute to the virtual shower gift (a new DockATot) for the baby as well.

Here is the link: http://www.payit2.com/f/joyfilledbaby17

A First Holy Communion Gift for our Godson

Toady one of our Godsons made his First Holy Communion! It was such a joy and blessing to be able to attend the Mass and watch him receive Our Lord for the first time! 

One of my favorite First Holy Communion gifts to give is the Jesus, Make Me Worthy prayer book. I've shared many prayers from this sweet and inspiring book here on the blog over the years.

To go along with the book I also ordered a customized Missal Cover (with the Adorned Eucharist image) and had our Godson's name embroidered onto the back as well.  I still haven't had a chance to post pictures of this year's Easter baskets, but many of our older children received missal or bible covers this Easter as well, thanks to some trade credit from past advertising combined with commissions from recent apron sales over at Catholic Cuisine! The covers are all gorgeous and I look forward to sharing some pictures of the rest sometime soon. 

The Blessed Sacrament Gift Wrap, Holy Cards, and First Holy Communion Greeting Card all came from an amazing sale over at Trademark Catholic Stationary & Gifts last January! (I couldn't believe the prices... The gift wrap was marked down to just 25 cents a package and I ordered four packages for just $1.00! Thanks again for letting me know, Pam! I wish I would have posted a link here on the blog so you all could have taken advantage of the sale too... I was in the midst of recovering from the flu at the time.) I stocked up and was able to give our girls some beautiful note cards and stationary in their Easter baskets!

The hour for which I longed for has come, and I am to approach (for the first time) the altar of God, to receive the bread of angels, the sacred Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Jesus, most merciful, most worthy of love, Thou hast loved me and given Thyself not only to suffering and death, but also to become food for my soul, to remain with me until the end of my life...

- excerpt from First Communion Day Act of Faith in Jesus, Make Me Worthy

Congratulations to our handsome Godson! 

(His mama posted additional pictures over on her Instagram!) 

You can find many more First Holy Communion gift ideas in the archives. 

A Spiritual Bouquet and Baby Gift for Lena

A large Bouquet of Roses

Flowers that will never fade

A Novena of Rosaries

With love in each Decade!

Lena over at JOY{filled} family (also on Instagram here and one of my past contributors over at Catholic Cuisine) is preparing to welcome her newest little boy  (baby #8!) on May 8th! If I lived nearby I'd host a baby shower for her, but instead I'm going to try my best to shower her and our soon-to-be newest Godson with prayers!

If you'd like to be included in this spiritual bouquet, please leave me a comment here, over at Instagram, or send me an email by May 7th with the number of rosaries - or Our Fathers, Hail Marys, Glory Be's, if you can't commit to one or more complete rosaries - that you will offer for her and her family and their new baby and I'll include them in this card!

I'm also working on coordinating a group gift to have sent to her family. It's the one new thing she'd love to purchase for this baby! You can find all the details here if you'd like to consider a small contribution towards this gift as well.

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{this moment}

From Instagram earlier this afternoon: 

My baby brother, and very first godson, is 20 today!!! He was born the day before my 18th birthday, and was basically the best birthday gift ever! With ten more kids in between the two of us, today is the first day in TWENTY-FIVE YEARS that our parents don't have at least one teenager! ;) 

Happy birthday David, I love you! #soblessedtobefromalargefamily #butboydoesthismakemefeelold

7QT: Meeting my godson, spending time with friends, orthodontia updates, and other craziness. . .

— 1 —

It was so nice to finally meet my newest godson - and spend time with his mama and siblings this week! Isn't he just adorable?!?  Snuggles and Rose kept asking if we can "please have a baby just like this!" Rose would add that she'd prefer "a girl baby like that!" ❤  Bud loved the "BABY!" too. It's so hard to believe that my "baby" will be turning three this year…

Anyways, our friends arrived Monday and they were able to stay until Friday afternoon. We had hoped to join them at the coast for the weekend exploring the tide pools, but my husband ended up having an opportunity to work overtime, so we are spending a quiet weekend at home instead.  We miss them already! Sure wish they didn't live so far away. . . 

— 2 —

On Wednesday we drove down to our little local Malt Shop for $1.25 ice cream cones before heading to the river to feed the ducks and walk the trail.  At 93˚ it was too hot to eat the cones outside!  (And no ice cream for me. . . Following my last round of ear infections a couple weeks ago I have once again removed all dairy products from my diet.  I can do it, right?! I'm still fighting fluid in my ears, despite my efforts to eat a healthy diet.) 

It was such a beautiful day at the river! 

— 3 —

Captain got his braces off this past Tuesday, May 13th!  

— 4 —

Speaking of Braces, Ranger and Chiquita had braces put on their teeth a couple weeks ago, on April 29th! (This is just phase one of two phases for Chiquita.) I never would have thought we'd find a way to put the first two through braces, let alone four children in less than two years time, but it has all worked out.  We signed up for dental insurance the year before last and I was so excited to find out at the consultation for these two that our benefits had increased by an extra $1,000 per child!  (We still owed $1000 for Captain's braces, so that brought his balance down to $0!!) Between the insurance benefits, family discount, and the pre-tax funds we have been putting into a Medical Flexible Spending Account to go right to the orthodontist each year, we haven't had to come up with any extra monthly payments. Such a blessing!

I am a little nervous about how that front tooth of his is going to hold up through the movement… Praying it stays together!

— 5 —

On April 30th we (I) drove to a small DMV a couple hours away so that my husband could take his driving test without having to wait for a mid-May appointment at any of the local DMVs. 

He passed the test and it turned into a nice day-trip for our family, and the perfect opportunity to see my youngest brother at college.  We had fun at the park and took him out to dinner before driving home.  

Mashed Potatoes for the two suffering children on Day 2 of Braces...

Even though Sean passed the driver's tests it still took two weeks of us going in circles before he was able to get his license.  The problem was he didn't have a copy of his birth certificate, and Vital Check would not send him a copy until he showed valid photo ID - specifically a Driver's license or passport, both of which were expired.  His government issues work ID was not acceptable.  Another option was to have his signature notarized after completing a special form/oath stating you are who you say you are, that is if you can find a notary who will work with you without valid photo idea… We called quite a few before our bank said they'd accept his debit card.  THEN, after faxing that in, we had yet another denial since the notary copied his notary seal expiration date down incorrectly as Apr 4, 2014… Once again expired.   He scheduled an appointment to try one more time, and in the meantime asked his parents to see if they could get him a copy.  Two birth certificates arrived in the mail on Monday and he finally received his new valid driver's license yesterday!  

Moral of the story: Make sure you have a certified copy of your birth certificate and don't let your driver's license expire! 

— 6 —

The Sunday before last, looking ahead at our schedule for the week with all the planned excavation/tutors/testing/book sale/doctor appointments/company arriving, I realized there was no way I could put off grocery shopping any longer and decided to go to Costco and Trader Joe's before they closed. As I was trying to hurry and squeeze the last couple bags in the van around 8:30pm, before I was soaked from the rain, I shut the sliding door and was about to open the front door when it beeped.  Somehow the van had decided to re-lock itself and I was stuck outside.  My purse and phone were sitting inside.  A nice older man overheard me saying "Nonononononono!!!!" and asked if I was okay.  He kindly let me borrow his phone so I could call home and ask my husband to drive down to town (40 minutes each way) with his temporary license and the spare key!  He asked if I was kidding...  If only!  I'm sure God is trying to teach us something through all of this… Patience, perhaps?

— 7 —

Last Friday night my friend Juliana came for a short overnight visit with her three boys! Many of the best memories from my teenage years include her, MI camps, and my frequent trips to the coast to visit. She lives a few hours away and we don't see her very often.  It was so nice to stay up late visiting, and to see our children have so much fun together!

On Saturday they left to attend a First Holy Communion, and I spent the day with my girls!  First we met up with many of the women that live on our road for the monthly luncheon, then we headed to the Church for a double baby shower for our Pastor's Assistant and TT's godmother's new sister-in-law who just moved to the area when her husband moved back for a job at the parish. It was nice to meet her and the baby shower was lovely! 

The girls helped me pick out a darling outfit and blanket for one of the mamas (which we thought she might like having just moved from Florida) to pair with some white booties from Sew Many Booties. 

Sean and I wanted to give the other new couple, who we've enjoyed getting to know this past year, one of our own favorite (and defintiely the most used over the past 14 years) baby gear items, along with some soft green booties for this green lovin' mama! 

It has been such a busy month!  On Sunday we had our Latin Mass/Potluck (following a 7 mile bike ride in the morning with my older boys on my new Mother's Day gift!) and Monday our company arrived.  Somewhere in there (thanks to staying up 36 hours straight - I'm really getting too old for this! lol) I did manage to host the Spring book sale, and then mail out everyone's book orders! (THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!)  As fun as it has been I am looking forward to at least a few quiet days before our summer activities begin, and maybe I'll have a chance to share our Easter/Birthday photos… I'm starting to wonder if that is just wishful thinking! ;) 

For additional Quick Takes visit Conversion Diary, author of the newly released book Something Other than God!  I have my pre-ordered copy sitting on my nightstand along with The Little Oratory and I'm hoping to find the time to read them soon… If not, at least I'll still have something to read when our first session of swimming lessons begin on May 27th!

Seven Quick Takes From Our Trip Last Weekend

— 1 —

Last weekend we were blessed to be able to travel to meet our newest goddaughter and attend her baptism and the 10th Anniversary Mass and Renewal of Vows of her parents! This sweet little girl was born last month following a very complicated delivery.  Thanks be to God both baby and momma are doing well!  

— 2 —

I had hoped to get out of town early Friday morning, but it ended up being nearly 11am before we left. When I asked my husband to stop in town, before getting on the freeway, so I could pick up some Moscato and Peach Schnapps he said, "Well that is a perfect Facebook update for you... 'We are on our way to our new goddaughter's baptism... First stop: Liquor Store!'"  Ummm, yeah... When you put it that way...

— 3 —

After arriving in town, and dropping off our suitcases and sleeping bags at the home of some friends who graciously offered to host us, we headed to the golf course to meet David & Ursula and their family for a fundraiser/bbq.   My older girls were so excited to see one of their own best friends again and it was the perfect opportunity for me to hold the baby!

We also got to see a couple other priests we knew, as well as meet the Bishop and Father Vuky, who would be concelebrating the Baptism Mass. 

— 4 —

After dinner we headed to back to Ursula's new home (they moved this month and now live right next to the church!) to drink sangria and not worry about all decorations, food and desserts for the 200 guests! make a shopping list so I could go to Costco in the morning for food, drinks, and desserts for the reception, while Sean and the boys helped set up tables and chairs in the back yard.  The Peach Sangria was awesome!  Here is the recipe:

~ Peach Sangria ~

1 bottle Moscato

1/3 bottle Peach Schnapps

1 liter bottle 7up (or Sprite)

Sliced fresh peaches

Stir all ingredients (except 7up) together in the fridge and let the fruit sit to absorb all of the delicious flavors, then add sprite just before serving.  Yummm!

— 5 —

At that point it was getting really late and we headed back to the home where we would be staying.  Little did our hostess know when I gave her a Catholic Cuisine apron, and a couple other goodies as a thank you gift for her and her husband's hospitality, that she would be wearing that apron all weekend long! ;)  

Alecia was amazing!  She stayed up late making some pasta salads to help with the party the next day, went shopping with me to Costco and Winco for the food for the party, made Chicken Salad Sandwiches to take as well, and also fed my own family amazing meals all weekend long! 

I originally met Alecia when I was fourteen.  She was my camp counselor (when she was about the age I am now!) at an MI camp.  The following year I spent the night at her home for the first time on my way to World Youth Day in 1993!  The rest of the group I was staying with was staying at a local gym, but I was weak from recovering from the flu and she took me home so I could sleep in a bed.  I also became good friends with a couple of her boys during those summer camps when we were teenagers, and one of her boys headed to Christendom the year after I attended.  So many great friends are made though Catholic Summer Camps!  

Alecia has always been so thoughtful and caring.  It was such a blessing to be able to take our children to meet her and they loved her just as much as I do!  In fact, one of the first things that Snuggles said when we arrived home was "I want to go back to that house where we slept!" 

— 6 —

I already posted a few pictures of the baptism, which was so very beautiful.  You can find them here.

Here is one more picture of my beautiful friend and new goddaughter!

— 7 —

Sunday morning we headed into town to attend a a Solemn Pontifical Mass (1970 Missal) which was part of the William Byrd Festival and featured Byrd's Mass for Three Voices.  

The Celebrant was the Most Reverend Basil Meeking, D.D., who is the Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch, New Zealand.  

Following Mass our children erupted with cheers when my phone announced "Calculating Route to the Lego Store..."  Even though it wasn't the way I had planned to surprise them with this first visit ever to a lego store, it was still quite the surprise!   

One of the employees let them all build a minifigure to take home, in exchange for sorting some legos, and I let the boys fill a little container from the pick-a-brick section.  Of course the older boys were the most excited to see the new Tower of Orthanc in person. 

After that we met up with David and Ursula at Red Robin before heading home... The waitress was wonderful and not at all overwhelmed by our "4 adults and 13 children!"

Originally I had hoped to head from the Baptism straight to Idaho so that our older boys could attend a summer camp at one of Sean's brother's parishes this week, but it was just too much to try and plan.  Honestly it has taken me nearly all of this week to just recover from the weekend trip!   Our summer has flown by and I still have so much I need to finish before our new school year begins on September 3rd...  I better get back to my planning!  I hope you all have a great weekend!

For additional Quick Takes visit Conversion Diary.