Crawling

And here I was SOOOO worried that he would never crawl...

I love these two guys!

My Grandpa

He is back in the emergency room, yet again. Pray, pray, pray.

Looking

Have you ever had a moment when you just cant find something? Or a moment when you are looking for something and it just isnt what you want? Well... I am having one of those moments. When I stop and think about it, I have been looking for a lot of things lately. I dont know why I am having this issue lately, but I am and I dont like it.

I feel as though I have been under a lot of stress lately. Sometimes I let this stress get to me and I need to learn to just turn my worries over to Him, but I carry them around on my shoulders. So... back to what I am looking for. I am looking for His peace. I have really been struggling with my spirituality lately... and I hate it. No doubt- I love Him unconditionally, and I put him FIRST above all else. But lately I feel like 2010 has brought me a lot of worries and I just cant figure out how to let them go. I am worried about my Grandfathes health, my Brothers health, my Mothers happiness, my Grandmothers strength, my Son (why I am worried about my son, I dont know, just a mothers instinct I guess) and the list goes on and on... I need to stop worrying and find peace in Him. HELP.

Have you ever lost something and never found it? Something really important? One time, a co-worker had given me a coin that he got in the military. I lost that coin. He asked for it back and I realized I had no idea what I did with it. I didnt want to tell him that I lost it, because I know how important it is to him. So I looked for days and days and days. I turned my desk upside down for that darn coin and never found it. I prayed and prayed and prayed that I would find it, and I never did. This coin is not replacable... so I had to break the news to him. He was upset but forgave me.

Then about a month ago I lost my wedding ring. I was sitting on the couch one day playing with my son, and for some reason I looked at my hand and realized I wasnt wearing my ring. I went into a panic. I even blogged about losing that ring. I turned my house upside down. I didnt ever remember even taking it off. Long story short- I found it in the couch a day later. How did it end up there??? I have no idea.

Last night Liam was having a mom moment also. He has TONS of toys. One in particular he just loves- a plastic ball the size of a tennis ball. He dug and dug and dug in his toy box for it until he gave up and started throwing a fit. I went into his toy box and found it for him. Poor boy, it was in the very bottom of his box where he couldnt reach.

So, I have been praying that I stop looking. That I find what I am looking for and trust in Him to take care of my worries. We all have moments in life where we are looking for something... I am in my moment now.

I got this video off of a blog that I read and it speaks volumes. I encourage you to watch this video. It only takes 8 minutes of your time.

Pray

Please pray for Declan. He is a little boy who is a few months younger then Liam. I have never met this little boy, but I know his Grandmother very well. If you read my blog, even if I dont know you, please pray for him. He was just diagnosed with brain cancer. With the faith of a mustard seed we can move mountains. I have seen prayer work.

11:32

Officially, today is the first day of spring. At 11:32AM to be exact. But when I woke up this morning I went out into my front year and saw snow. Snow?????? Really????? I am SO ready for spring. Yesterday it was 67 degrees and today there is snow? Liam loves snow... I do too, but only for a while. I am tired of winter. I am ready to put my son in shorts and sandles and take him swimming. With the weather like this I guess that is out of the question. I do have to admit- the view from my front yard is nice though! 

Albert Schachtner

Albert Schachtner (Al) IS (yes I can still say "is") the most humble Catholic man I have ever known. He has served his life to serve the Lord. He was born on April 13, 1925 in Milwaukee Wisconsin. He is my Grandfather. He is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Any hour now the good Lord is going to call him home, and I am being selfish because I want him to stay here on earth just a little longer. I have been given the opportunity to say his eulogy and this is what I am going to say.

Depth of life is not only measured by how much we appreciate the important things, but also by how much we, in turn, are appreciated. And again, we find the true meaning of this idea among ourselves and our feelings. We are here because we cared. We are here because our connection with my Grandfather Al was a deep connection based on friendship, love, trust, and understanding. And that can only happen with a treasured human spirit, with a spirit like my Grandfather.
I am remembered of a quite by Henry James. It says “Sorrow comes in great waves...but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us, it passes and we remain." My Grandpa was a humble man; he never liked to be the center of attention. In life and now in death, he wouldn't want us to focus on him. He wouldn't want us to focus on the sadness of his death, but instead focus on the happiness in our lives. He would want us to appreciate each other and our future. A man as humble and loving as my Grandfather will always be remembered by those of us who knew him and loved him. Although we will miss him, his smile, his devotion to the Lord, his love, we take consolation in the good feelings of our memories.
My Grandfather once told me that that his grandchildren kept him young at heart. That made me feel good inside. I can see that my mother got her fun loving spirit from grandfather. He was a great teacher to have, not only for my mother and us, but also for everybody. He was selfless and kind. He loved being a Husband, parent and grandparent. It was his calling in life.
As I stand here there is a song in my head that I can’t get rid of. Some of you may know it. It was a popular song from a not so good television show a few years ago called the Heights. The song was: How do you talk to an angel? I’m standing here wondering just that, because there is no doubt in my mind that my Grandfather was an angel here on earth and is now an angel in heaven. He had a heart of gold. Looking around this church today, its obvious that he was a man who loved his family very much and made the best of what he had to provide for them. During my lifetime, I observed how diligently my grandfather worked as a carpenter, in the garden and around the house. He always had a kind word and gentle smile towards those whom he encountered. His charity, I am convinced, is an effect of his strong Catholic faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Charity towards others is the greatest sign of God's presence in our lives. His charity overflowed into his family. He truly loved his wife, his children and grandchildren. Even when there would be disagreements in the family, he would be the first one to put end to them. He always made it a point that peace should remain in the family no matter what would happen. These words of wisdom were made manifest by the 59 years of marriage he enjoyed with my Grandmother.


I’d like to suggest something to you. Don’t mourn; don’t be sad. My Grandfather is up in heaven rejoicing with the Lord, a place we ALL want to be some day. He wouldn’t have wanted us to be sad. Instead remember the good times: remember his laughter, remember his smile, remember him happy and remember him often. Now THAT is how he would want us to feel.

In closing, I would like to say something on behalf of my cousin Gary who, unfortunately could not be here today. He writes: "if it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve... As for my household, we will serve the Lord." This verse from Joshua 24:15 completely sums up Albert Schachtner's life. He was the perfect example of a man of God, who put the Lord first, his family second, and himself last. He had an unshakable Catholic faith that guided him in being a loving husband for 60 years, and a Patriarch of a large and growing family. All that I could have ever wanted to know about being a good husband, a loving father, a hard worker, a humble servant of God and the church, I could have learned by spending time with my grandfather. And though I have learned so much from his example and the time we shared during my youth, my greatest sadness is that I didnt take the time when I grew up to speak and share this wisdom with him, man to man. But it is with great joy and consolation that I know that I can still gain this wisdom from him, as well as his peace and guidance and protection, not from Albert the man, but Albert the Saint. For I have no doubt that he is, as we speak, standing with the rest of the Saints in heaven, worshiping the Lord face-to-face at His throne.
Recently I have come to realize exactly how mystical, powerful, and consoling is the great Communion of the Saints that make up all of our faithfully departed, because we, the living saints, are also part of this communion, meaning that though we cannot see them, they are ALWAYS with us. We are never ever alone, because we have a heavenly host of Saints and angels, led by our mother the Virgin Mary, to look after us, pray for us, and bring our petitions to the Lord. And though we have all experienced a great loss of a husband, father, and grandfather, we have all gained a powerful intercesssor in Albert the Saint, who feels no pain, never grows tired, and day and night looks over us, lives with us, and brings our prayers to the Lord. So be joyful, because your husband, father, your friend, is at this very moment resting on the bosom of Christ, just as the beloved apostle did at the Last Supper!
St. John of the Cross said, "In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on how we have loved." Albert Schachtner loved with all his heart, and all his soul, and all his mind. And after a lifetime of storing up treasures in heaven, he is now in his eternal reward. I pray that we all have the wisdom and desire, as Albert did, to live, love, and serve the Lord and each other the rest of our lives, so that we too may share in the glory of our God for eternity.
Requiecet en pace Grandpa. I love you.

                                                  *My cousin Gary, Grandma and Grandpa




                                                      He is SOOOOO handosome, huh?

The Big Uno!

They day has come. Liam turned one year old!!!!! Here are pictures commemorating his special day!



This is my new four wheeler, and I love it. I love to ride around while my daddy holds the button down!


My mommy bought me a really expensive cake. And here I am destroying it. It was yummy. My first time having chocolate.






Amd here are special people in my life celebrating my special day!
My mommy and I:


My daddy and I:


My mommy, grandma, great-grandma and I:


My Grandpa and I:


And here I am just before my bath:

Its OK... Look.

Every day my son develops new personality traits. Lately he has started developing traits of being scared of certain things. Today was a day full of being scared for him. This is how the day went...

First we went through one of these

An automatic car wash...

He screamed his head off the entire time. He was SO unbelievably scared of it. Every time the brushes would come down the car he thought it was going attack him- he can scream bloody murder.

Next- it was time to go shopping for the birthday boys present. My Mom watched him while we went. We found a puffer ball... So, what is a puffer ball? One of these-

I showed it to him, and again... he screamed bloody murder. He is terrified of these things. And I mean TERRIFIED.

Then it was on to eat dinner. He had already eaten and was not being on his best behavior while we ate. So my Mom brought him a stuffed animal frog just like this one-
That was all it took for me to decide to stop scaring my son for the day. My ears were ringing from all the screaming.

So, for his birthday please do not buy him a puffer ball, a toy frog and don't ever plan on taking him through a car wash.

I love my birthday boy!

Devotion:

Mind-boggling devastation filled the screen. I just couldn't wrap my mind around everything that had taken place by the earthquake in Haiti. Such suffering and pain. I went to sleep with the images firmly planted in my mind and heart.

When I awoke in the morning, I began to pray before my feet hit the ground: prayer for miracles, supplies and those who would arrive in that precious country to serve and minister to the broken. A picture of a crying baby being pulled from the rubble came to mind. After over 48 hours of no food, no water and being trapped under a collapsed house, the 18 month-old was rescued. It was truly a miracle.

My prayers moved from the Haitian crisis to praying for loved ones who have gone astray. My loved ones have yet to discover that they indeed need rescuing. They have yet to recognize the weight of selfishness, unforgiveness and self-destruction pressing on them.

Do you have one you desperately love who is heading toward destruction and doesn't realize it? Do you have days when the rubble of sin seems too heavy- too much to be removed? And you just can't see how God is going to break through?

Help is arriving in Haiti. Armies, doctors, nurses and relief workers from around the world are helping. Rescue is taking place. People's lives have been saved, and in time, the destruction will be removed.

Rescue is available for our loved ones, too. Prayer is the place to begin as we hope that in the middle of their own destruction, they will see their need for rescue. When that realization becomes clear, like the people in Haiti, our loved ones will cry out for help. We know our God will be there to hear and rescue. He may use others to help them. He may call them to push away some of the debris. But more than anything, we know He wants them free.

Dear Lord, some days I grow weary of praying for my loved one. I am so glad that You don't. Please open their eyes to see the destruction they are in and give them the desire to break free. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Snow, Hot Tubs & Deer

So... what do snow, hot tubs and deer have in comin?


Ruidoso, New Mexico!!!!!

It was a WONDERFUL weekend. In one day we had a chance to take a hot tub in the pouring snow and saw deer right at our porch. It was awesome. Go to Ruidoso, rent a cabin and reeeeeeelax.



This girl was eating our bread!!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh yeah, and did I forget to mention that you cant take good pictures in a suana?