Parents

Don't have much time...Caleb should be waking any minute now...but I wanted to share this devotion from today...I will update about Christmas etc later!
Blessings,
M
“The enormous importance of the task of parents”
You should be full of wonder at the goodness of our Father God. Are you not filled with joy to know that your home, your family, your country, which you love so much, are the raw material which you must sanctify? (The Forge, 689)
I am moved that the Apostle should call Christian marriage sacramentum magnum ‑‑ a great sacrament. From this, too, I deduce the enormous importance of the task of parents. You share in the creative power of God: that is why human love is holy, good and noble. It is a gladness of heart which God ‑‑ in his loving providence ‑‑ wants others freely to give up. Each child that God grants you is a wonderful blessing from him: don't be afraid of children! (The Forge, 691)
In conversations I have had with so many married couples, I tell them often that while both they and their children are alive, they should help them to be saints, while being well aware that none of us will be a saint on earth. All we will do is struggle, struggle, struggle. And I also tell them: you Christian mothers and fathers are a great spiritual motor, sending the strength of God to your own ones, strength for that struggle, strength to win, strength to be saints. Don't let them down! (The Forge, 692)
Don't be afraid of loving others, for His sake: and don't worry about loving your own people even more, provided that no matter how much you love them, you love Him a million times more. (The Forge, 693)
That close intimacy you have with Christ means that you have a duty to bear fruit. And yours will be a fruit that will satisfy the hunger of men who come up to you in your work, in your day‑to‑day life and in your family environment. (The Forge, 981

Graced & Gifted

So I just finished "Graced & Gifted" by Kimberly Hahn...AAAMazing...she is such a great writer!
So I am starting some New Years Resolutions a bit early based on this...
1) Rise Early
Begin my day with prayer, not just my typical quick little "Thanks for a new day Lord!" But dedicated time...while Caleb is still sleeping, Darryl is either still sleeping or off to the hospital. If I don't do it early in the morning, it doesn't get done, or it ends up being a rushed prayer time. I am making a little bag that has my Bible, Bible Study, book of prayers, journal, and current reading to hang on a chair in the dining room...then when my time comes I can creep into the kitchen and spend some time with the Lord, and easily put it all back...
Saint Josemaria Escriva says "Conquer yourself each day from the very first moment, getting up on the dot, at a set time, without granting a single minute to laziness. If, with the help of God, you conquer yourself in that moment, you'll have accomplished a great deal for the rest of the day" BYE BYE SNOOZE BUTTON! (I am the queen of snooze...just ask Darryl!)
"Let me hear in the MORNING of your merciful love, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." (Psalm 143:8)
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lords never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every MORNING; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him." (Lamentations 3:21-24)

2) I will make take for sleep and exercise! I am going to make myself a little schedule (I will post it when I get it done) and those two will be included!
"Health and soundness are better than all gold, and a robust body than countless riches. There is no wealth better than health of body, and there is no gladness above joy of heart." (Sirach 30:15-16)

3) Darryl and I will date at least once a month. God has called us to Holy Matrimony and we need to make sure that we take the time to spend time with each other and really listen to each other...without background disturbances (ie Caleb)...babysitters needed =)

4) I will be satisfied with what I have accomplished each day...whether everything is crossed off the list or not...
"We face an impossible task, if it means that everything has to be finished every night. I do not think we can complete every task every day; God does not ask us to, because he does not ask us to do the impossible. That means this vocation is an opportunity to embrace humility in knowing that we cannot do it all...Jesus yielded his will to his Father. He accepted the limitations of his human body, which needed food and sleep."

5) I will be a better Homemaker
I will be a keeper of the home, guarding the precious treasures within. Each task will become a response to the Lord. HE is the one asking me to finish the laundry, vacuum, pick up the crying baby, feed the mouths...
I want our home to be a safe haven from the world, a beautiful place we all love to come to, a peaceful shelter where each member knows they are loved and precious!
"I am not the unpaid maid. I am the queen of the realm, the heart of my home."
"Like the sun rising in the heights of the LORD, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home" (Sirach 26:16)

To Be Continued...
Blessings,
M

~Precious~

Today I had a dr. appt and got to hear the baby's heartbeat...it is just so miraculous! I just LOVE it! What a gift! God has so blessed us! Everything is good so far...just have to keep an eye on my blood pressure again this time around...

On another note...I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS! I don't know why...I guess because I am still a kid at heart...but I just LOVE Christmas time! I have so many fond memories. I was actually reading in this book "Graced & Gifted" by Kimberly Hahn (great book for mommies!!), and it sparked one of my best memories about Christmas...
My parents were so good about having anyone and everyone to our house for Christmas dinner. Dad always made a delicious and huge meal! (well, everyone pitched in, another fabulous memory: everyone in the kitchen!) The table was always full, not necessarily with family, yes, family was there, but so were people who had no family. Mom and Dad just took everyone in! What wonderful examples! "Finally, we may never know fully the consequences of extending hospitality by including people at our dinner table. The writer of Hebrews urges, 'Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares' (Hebrews 13:2)"
I hope you take the time to enjoy this advent/Christmas season...
Blessings,
M

Maybe Yes?!

BIG BRO!

Darryl and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary and got to go out on a nice date! I love him sooo much!

Ok...so now I really don't think I will have spoke too soon...Caleb is FINALLY!! on a good schedule! We are both loving it! He gets out of bed at 0730...if he wakes up before that he plays in his crib, talking to himself and enjoying his morning. We eat breakfast and play all morning! At 1000 he goes down for his morning nap until 1130ish...then lunch time and playtime again! 3-5 nap again! 8:00 Bedtime!

It is such a blessing! I know when I can and cannot do things, and he is happier with his rest! It is so nice to hear him cooing and playing in his crib and not screaming! =)

Things are great otherwise!

Darryl is busy with his surgery rotation...

Work keeps me busy...and of course the little man! He is constantly on the go!

AND....Our latest blessing....We are expecting #2! So that keeps me busy as well...I am tired all the time and have been feeling mostly ok...With Caleb I threw up atleast once a day...this time not so much, just the nausea part, hanging over the toilet for a few minutes, then good to go! We had an ultrasound last week and got a due date...July 15 and we got to the little heart beat! What a miracle! I go to the DR. on Monday! Keep us all in your prayers!
Sometimes I stilll am in awe that God has chosen to bless us with another little miracle! I had a friend from church tell me it was a promotion from God, that he was trusting me with another little soul...what a HUGE promotion!

Hope everyone is having a blessed Advent season preparing for our Lord's birth! And a happy feast of the Immaculate Conception. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful mother, Mary for an example! (And I'm blessed to also have MY mommy as a wonderful example too!)

Blessings,
M

Not So...

Well, I guess I spoke too soon...Caleb is not so babywise...but we are still working on it! Sleeping through the night is not a problem at all...its getting up too early! He wants to get up at 6:30 and I am still trying to get myself up and get a few things done...I am trying to make him wait until 7:30. So lately he has just been crying in his crib for an hour...TERRIBLE! I feel like a terrible mother, but I know it is what is best for him! Eventually he will wake up happy and play in his crib! We are working on our schedule throughout the day, but when he gets up at 6:30 it throws everything off...its a work in progress and I am trying to not get frustrated or upset. He also has this new habit of waking up after 30 min or 45 min. Ha! That is NOT a nap Caleb! So I try to comfort him and give him his pacifier and put him back down...usually he is not having it and will cry for the rest of his nap time...We are also working on the moral part of babywise. He has learned to not put his fingers in his mouth at the table, "we don't play with our food." Other things he continues to try out despite instructions not to...the computer cord!

I was reading in a new book I started, "Graced & Gifted, Biblical Wisdom for the Homemaker's Heart" by Kimberly Hahn and thought I would share this quote for all you super-moms out there!

" Does God intend for us to complete every homemaking task every day? No, it is not humanly possible. If it is not possible, then it is not God's will for us. Embracing the humility that comes from incomplete daily work is one of God's gifts to us through this calling."

Recently Darryl and I go to to the a Ranger's World Series game (thank you daddy!!) with my dad, sisters, and brother-in-law. We left Caleb at home!! (Best decision EVER!) It was so much fun! We truly enjoyed ourselves!

Darryl is on his last day of VA outpatient and will be back to inpatient next week (on-call every fourth night...) We had a good time for his birthday/halloween. It was low key, but fun! I am so blessed to have him in my life! What a good man!

We are going to "the country" this weekend (my parents lake place). Kind of a spontaneous decision! I am running the Dallas Half Marathon on Sunday, so we will leave C-man with my parents go by ourselves!

Have a Blessed Weekend with your Loved ones!

m

Babywise!

Well, I don't want to speak too soon....but I think we are all BABYWISE in this house! It truly only took 3 days of terrible crying for Caleb to figure out how to fall asleep without me rocking or patting him to sleep! We have a "typical routine" now..minus the fact that we were out of town for the weekend and got him off =) We seem to all be doing well with it now! WOHOO!

As for our weekend! It was grand! We got to eat lunch with my old college roomie on Saturday. It was so nice to see her smiling face again after too long! Then we were wanting to go to the botanical gardens after Caleb napped, but it was raining...so we just hung out. Then we met my sister and Matthew +1, Swag & Clare, and Michael at Fuzzy's for dinner, followed by watching the Horned Frogs beat Air Force! Caleb did surprisingly well at the game! TCU has changed so much! It is hard to believe it is the same school that I went to! But oh how I love Fort Worth! Just being there made me miss that beautiful city so much! Sunday morning Clare and I had a 20 mile race along the Trinity River...another thing I miss about FTW, beautiful running areas! I am so proud of us! We finished! WOHOOO!

What a blessed weekend!

Happy Monday!

Blessings,

m

Go Rangers!

Congrats to our beloved Texas Rangers on making it to their first world series! WOHOO!! Now I will have to find some tickets to get my hubby for his bday...

Not Mine

Here are some pics I am terribly late in posting...

picnic in our backyard!

we love to go to the park!

from our trip to San Antonio

practicing

from our second, slightly more successful attempt at a Ranger's game

Today I was thinking about the things/people I think belong to me. My house, my family, my friends, our money, etc...I remembered they are not mine. They belong to the Lord. They are simply on loan to me and he can take them back at any time. Therefore I should simply be grateful for the time he has given them to me to "borrow." And enjoy them all the more now.

Todays Blessings:

• My precious husband
• My beautiful son
• Our lovely home
• A morning run
• Coffee...mmm (brazilian coffee!! from a sweet friend)
• Mom and Dad
• Voting!
• Our Blessed Mother
• My roses in bloom
• Nap time
• My Lord and Savior

Blessings,

Madeline

Holy Spirit

Well, I am praying to the Holy Spirit today to give me strength! We are trying to implement babywise recommendations into our lifestyle, only we are starting a little late...I am praying that this is the right thing to do and that God will give me the strength to listen to my baby cry, knowing that in the end it is what is best for him. Sleep is so important for my little guy, but he fights it so badly! I have been talking with a very wise woman from church who has 6 beautiful children that are very well behaved, with wonderful manners, selfless children...she said they did babywise and it teaches them self-control etc...a fruit of the holy spirit! Therefore I am praying for the same for me! Self-control not to run in there when he starts crying! (or has been crying for 20 min!) It should only take several days and then we should be good! Please pray for us!

Looking forward to this coming weekend...

*going to Fort Worth (in and of itself AMAZING!)

*see Courtney and Matthew and baby belly

*TCU game

*20 -mile race

Blessings,

Madeline

Well, think are good here. Busy as usual, but blessed. Still waiting for the leaves to change the temperature to drop a bit more!
I am in full marathon training mode...this past weekend was a 15miler, and this saturday is an 18miler. MMMM, love that soreness that comes after a long run! I am enjoying my training with my friend Clare. It is so nice to have company, and good company at that! The marathon is December 5...White Rock, so less than two months!
Caleb is busy trying to stand on his own...he can pull up just fine now, and tries to let go and stand on his own, but he just plops down...he is growing like a weed! He is still teething, working on 4 on top and 2 more on bottom. He is such a happy little guy, he smiles at everyone, from the check-out lady at the grocery to Father Don or Father Justin at mass. You can just tell that every now and then he just makes someone's day (I am not biased at all!)
Darryl is busy with school. He does so well! I am so proud of him! When he is not at the hospital he is being an excellent husband or father! Helping out around the house or watching Caleb while I work.

I can't believe Caleb is 8months old! Wow! What a blessed 8 months!
Blessings,
Madeline

Beautiful Day!

What a beautiful day! It is Monday...yet the first day darryl and i have had off together in a long time! We are enjoying it at home as a family!
I went for a run at 6am and it was 55 degrees! What a shock! A beautiful shock! It made for a gorgeous run, with the beautiful sunrise! What a great way to start a day!
I came back to the house to my to sleeping babies! I was planning to sneak a warm cup of coffee and my sweats on and head to the back porch for some quiet time...Caleb had other plans =) But he enjoyed his bottle on the porch!
Then daddy woke up and we got to go to daily mass together. We were planning to head to the park after that, but yet again Caleb had other plans...napping! You can never turn down a nap!
Then we got to go to our favorite sushi place for lunch, followed by errands without caleb! (i so took this for granted BC-before caleb).
We are planning to head to the park when C-man wakes up!

I love my little family! They are so precious to me!

Blessings,
M

Slow Down!

Slow Down! Take a deep breath! Enjoy the fresh fall breezes!
This morning Caleb decided to go back to sleep after getting up to eat at 7am...I got to sit on the back porch, drink my coffee and read, enjoying the 70 degree morning and the beautiful sunrise God painted for me. I was thinking about we rush around so much! ( I am SO guilty of this!) GO GO GO! Get up, start laundry, iron, feed caleb, do dishes, run errands, fix lunch, fix dinner, get everyone ready for bed etc...I feel like the past week I have barely caught by breath, between being out of town working 2 full 12+ hour days, and trying to do everything else! I haven't enjoyed my husband, my son, and I've missed a multitude of little blessings God has wanted to share with me! So this week I am going to try to just slow down and enjoy each and every moment! Life is short...my time with my loved ones is not guaranteed! I will hug my baby boy when he wakes and enjoy the fact that I can hear him cry (he is teething and yesterday was rough!). There are so many moms who don't get to hear their babies cry...(NICU moms!) I will enjoy my few moments each day with my wonderful husband! Instead of giving him Caleb as soon as he gets home and then running around trying to do things I can't do all day with Caleb, I will just sit and be with him. Those things can wait...If there are few dirty dishes in the sink we will all live...
Lord, thank you for these refreshing fall breezes! And all the many blessings I enjoy! Help me to see you in everything, all day! Help me to look for you everywhere!
Blessings,
Madeline

I am so proud of darryl! He has finished Family Med rotation and is onto Internal medicine. This year seems to be just flying by! He seems to be already enjoying i-med more than family after just one day! He came home yesterday and told me about several things he got to DO! Please pray with us as we pray that God will show darryl where and what it is that he is to do. Darryl does not know yet what specialty he wants to go into and he is trying to keep his mind and heart open to God's will as he experiences many new things this year!

We got to spend this last weekend in San Antonio with my sister and brother-in-law, as Darryl had the weekend completely off! It was so much fun! We went down to a pretty area where I was able to run, then we took caleb to their pool, went to mass, played rock band, went to the zoo and just really enjoyed their company! It was such a fun trip!

Now, back to reality! With my hubby being gone all day =(

Caleb is continuing to grow like a weed! His third little tooth is saying hello! His top right tooth. He sits well on his own. Scoots himself around like a pro (time for serious baby-proofing! any recommendations are appreciated!) and tries to pull up on anything he can get a hold of. He continues to keep us entertained and bring us joy!

God is so good! I am going to be an AUNT! WOHOO! I can't wait to find out if I will be an aunt or an uncle ;-) (niece/nephew).

Hope all is well for each of you! Ready for some fall weather here!

Blessings,

Madeline

a few pics from labor day weekend at my parents' house and our weekend in SA!

Joy!

For YOU are our glory and JOY!
-1 Thess 2:20-

God is so good! He is so faithful and brings so much joy into my life! I am constantly seeing things that make me smile, and make me happy...but none of them like the Love of Christ!
Here are a few things that bring a hint, just a hint of the joy that Christ brings!

1.My Boys!
Darryl's amazing love and self-sacrificing attitude. Caleb's innocence and precious smiles!
2. a good cup of coffee
3. a long run
4. crossings things off my lists
5. scrapbooking
6. Mass
7. a good bubble bath
8. sitting on the porch in the am or pm
9. fresh flowers
10. a good chick flick
11. daydreaming
12.

Already August

WOW! I cannot believe its already August! It is getting HOT!! I am ready for some Fall breezes! Isn't it amazing how God works! We are so ready from summer sun and then by the time summer's almost over we are grateful for some cool breezes!

Lets count some July/August blessings (in no order!)

1. Darryl finished his psych rotation! WOHOO! 1 down 5 to go!

2. Caleb's first little tooth!

3. Another year of life (I celebrated my 24th birthday July 5)

4. My wonderful parents who raised me!

5. My sister and brother-in-law...fabulous!

6. ANother wonderful week at pine cove for becca, learning about god's great love!

7. a visit with my college roomie, Rach, who has been out of town for a year!! and her wonderful mommy

8. the gift to dream!

9. my running buddy home! and training to White Rock Marathon in Dec

10. the gift of confession and the grace and mercy bestowed on us!

count yours!

blessings,

Madeline

Monday Morning

Well, I worked yesterday...it was so sad to leave my precious boys on Sunday but I am sure they had some great bonding time! =) This morning Caleb and I got to go for our run...I always feel so much better after run. Like I can take on the world, or at least our little world! So I am taking it on! Hope everyone has a blessed Monday! Thank God for a new week!

ps- Caleb is trying so hard to sit up on his own!

Being a Mommy

What a blessings being a Mommy is! Despite teething, fussing, changing diapers, 2:30 am feedings, lack of sleep, spit up on me, etc...it is such a blessing! Seeings a smile, a giggle, a cuddle, a peacefully sleeping baby, and all the new things he does each day! He is such a miracle! I mean really, can you believe that God allows us!! (darryl and madeline!!) to participate in the miracle of life?! Wow! I recently read this awesome book..."The Heart of Motherhood" by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle with a group of girls at church and I was going back through it this am looking at pages I dog-eared and found this JPII Quote I love...
"It is a disservice not only to children but also to women and society itself when a woman is made to feel guilty for wanting to remain home and nurture and care for her children. It is also necessary to counter the misconcepiton that the role of motherhood is oppressive to women and that a commitment to her family, particularly to her children, prevents a woman from reaching personal fulfillment and from having an influence in society. No response to woman's issues can ignore a woman's role in the family or take lightly the fact that every new life is entrusted to the protection and care of the woman carrying it in the womb." -- Pope john Paul II

WOW! Powerful! There is a reaosn I am meant to feel that my place in raising my kiddos and caring for my hubby! God Made me that way! THANK YOU LORD!

Hug your kids today!

Blessings,
Madeline

SumMa FuN!

I cannot believe the summer is half-way over already! We have had so much fun! Caleb is getting so big and doing something new every day! Lately is into making smacking/popping noises with his mouth! He loves to play in our pool in the backyard, he is a little fishy! We went to the waterpark down the street and he seemed to enjoy that...briefly! It was a bit overwhelming! He had his first playdate with a friend of mine from work and her little girl...they both slept through the whole thing! He went to his first ranger's game! It was rough...it was a 7pm game and it was loud during his bedtime...but he was a trouper! He had his first 4th of July and got to watch the fireworks in the country! He was mesmorized by them! Just like his mommy!He went on his first plane ride and did fabulously! He is just such a happy baby, he makes me so happy!

We went to a good friend from high school's wedding last weekend and it brought back so many memories of our wedding! It was so much fun! WHat a blessing marriage is! We are so blessed that God gives it to us! And I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband!

SPeaking of... he is doing well in school! He took his Step 1...(first board test!) and did great on it! We are all so thankful it is over! He is now in his 3rd year of medical school, and I am so proud of him!

I have attached some pictures of our glorious summer!

Blessings,
Madeline

How to Raise Good Catholic Children by Mary Reed Newland

I have truly enjoyed this book, (How to Raise Good Catholic Children, by Mary Reed Newland). It has taught me so much about being a good mother and being a good Catholic Christian woman. I have learned that in order to teach my children many important things, loving Mary, each other, and most importantly Jesus Christ, I must do the same. Being a first time mom all of the many examples were very helpful. She would give a lesson, and the give the exact example of how she implemented in her family. It is very well written, and easy to read (nice when you just get a few minutes here and there to read). We are going to try to implement many of her suggestions in our household. She makes everything seem so simple! We will see as we try to implement in our lives! I found myself growing profoundly while reading this book. I would catch myself praying throughout the day more, when getting up in the night to feed the baby, while doing dishes, while listening to baby cry etc… I found my devotion to the blessed mother grow as well. She really emphasizes the importance of your children’s relationship with Mary. One thing about that she said that stuck out to me was that children are born with the innate ability to love her, we just need to introduce them and foster this love. I would recommend this to anyone trying to raise a good Catholic family! ( received a free copy from Sophia Institue Press to review!)

Recently

So recently many things have changed!
Namely...CALEB IS HERE!! What a blessing! He is beautiful and perfect in every way! God has truly blessed us! Caleb teaches me something new every day! Patience is often the lesson of the day, or enjoying a quiet moment or a cute laugh.
You can see his pictures on our shutterfly site... ask me for the address and ill share!

i have decided to try out this blog so that i can receive free books from sophia institue...you can request books, then blog about them and review them on another website as well...my first one is how to raise good catholic children...i will let you know what i think when i receive and read it!
blessings,
madeline