New Year's Resolutions

I am going to try to:

1. Pray more and regularly thank God for all the blessings in my life
2. Be more attentive and loving to my husband
3. Be more gentle with my children (despite the fact that my oldest daughter already thinks I am a softy) and go back to playing with them each day
4. Be more consistent and disciplined ~ I love spontaneity and flexibility to a fault
5. Pray for the virtues of patience and joy (my husband and Marty W. serve as wonderful role models of these virtues, respectively)

Happy New Year!

Gifts

Dear God,

Thank you for the wonderful gifts you have given me in my husband and my children. Please help them to always know how much I love and appreciate them.

I couldn't help but marvel at the miracle of a growing baby on August 25 when Patrick inadvertently took two steps to me. He is the fifth child who I have seen smile for the first time, roll over for the first time, crawl for the first time, etc. and I am truly in awe of your wonderful goodness in blessing us with our children.

The joy that children bring to our lives is incredible. As I was making dinner tonight, my oldest son was trying to catch a fly using saran wrap. Upon catching it, Theresa made exclamations regarding her brother's success. Brendan's "I caught it" was followed by, "Oh, I wet my pants." I smiled and marveled at my little boy whose attention is often so focused on the creatures and plants God has blessed us with that he forgets all about this basic need.

Theresa surprised me tonight as I was reading the first Treasure Box book. At one point in the story, Mr. Martin asks St. Therese if she knows who made her. Before I could read any further Theresa piped up, "I know who made me, God." My heart was overjoyed.

Thank you.

Little Flowers Mother Daughter Luncheon

Lunch

Lunch

Sharing what they know about the saints and virtues

Badge Presentation

Mother and Daughter

Badge Presentation

Badge Presentation

Little Flower

Group Photo

Catherine's First Communion

Thank you, dear God, for making today so beautiful. Catherine woke early to get ready for Mass. I helped dress her and the inward beauty of her soul truly shone outwardly. Bernadette showed great excitement for her big sister. She is anxious to receive her First Confession and First Communion.

Catherine did a wonderful job reading from the second letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13: 11-13).

She looked so happy after receiving our Lord's body for the first time. My heart leapt for joy when I heard her exclaim, "Today is the happiest day of my life." It was one of mine too. I pray that all of my children share the same sentiment on their First Communion Day.