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.