Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving season, everyone!  We pray that God continues to move within your lives to draw you ever closer to Him, and that you give thanks for the sufferings and the joys which inevitably assist that process! :)  Our fall has been intense with some sufferings and changes in our life but we give thanks even for those as we see how God continues to bless us when we strive to follow His holy will - our love for Him and for for each other has immeasurably deepened.  Despite all, we've been having so much fun enjoying each other as life companions - so, I thank you, Lord, and thank you, Hubby!  The love and support of our friends and my family, especially, has been invaluable; thank you all! 

We had a lovely little Thanksgiving weekend.  Laura and Dilanji Co. came down Tues-Sun; it was great to have them all here for sharing, laughs, games, loving precious boys, and of course, baking!  Laura and I cooked dinner together - exhausting but delicious!  Andrew unfortunately got food poisoning from eggnog the day after, so sadly we missed a day at the beach with them - but overall it was a wonderful weekend.  (Miss you guys already!)  Here are a few images from around our house this past weekend... 



Music and love.

(I just realized I never posted this entry...)

Just stopping in to say hello - we've been very very busy with our respective jobs but have been squeezing in some fun as well!

We have been attending some good concerts and performances lately, as a Naples lady graciously donates tickets to Ave Maria University faculty and staff for Naples Philharmonic events.  We're thankful for these opportunities - an evening to go out, enjoy dinner and each other and bask in some great (free!) music.  This past Sunday we saw Rossini's opera La Cenerentola (Cinderella) performed by the Sarasota Opera who brought it to Naples to pair with the Philharmonic. 

Here we are beforehand....

We thank Him for this kind of love...

"I create for My Kingdom"

"You see, the child lives. Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before My throne. Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty—he sees My face. He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another. He was created for My joy and his parents’ merits. He has never seen pain or sin. He has never felt hunger or pain. I breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow and called it forth.”

I am humbled before you, my Lord, for questioning Your wisdom, goodness, and love. I speak as a fool—forgive me. I acknowledge Your sovereign rights over life and death. I thank You for the life that began for so short a time to enjoy so long an Eternity. – Mother M. Angelica

 <3 Little Hope <3