A very blessed and merry Christmas to all!

Just a few photos from our Christmas days...we are up in Gainsville, FL with Laura and Gabe for Christmas break, enjoying the cooler weather and family. Yesterday and today were spent baking, playing games, Mass, watching Christmas movies, enjoying stockings and presents, a jigsaw puzzle, and as usual, lots of stories and laughter shared among the adults, and hugs and kisses bestowed upon the boys. Missing our dear family members in WA though...Merry Christmas to you all! Give thanks, for He is born.

"A light will shine on us this day, the Lord is born for us: he shall be called Wonderful God, Prince of peace, Father of the world to come; and his kingship will never end." Is. 9:2, 6; Lk. 1:33

Christmas Eve morning with my cute nephews!
Laura and Gabe's tree

A special ornament...sleep in heavenly peace, little one. (Today marks the 1 month anniversary of his/her birth into eternal life.)

I made Swedish meatballs for our Christmas Eve dinner...

while Aidan snacked...

and Uncle Andrew and Elias watched a Christmas movie.

After Christmas Eve Mass

With my precious nephew and godson, Elias

Poor Uncle Ben had just had foot surgery so was laid up on the couch for most of the festivities

Christmas morning stockings

1 year ago today...

...I met my love at the altar. What a wonderful year it has been as each other's companions. We are so humbled at God's plan and goodness. Happy 1st Anniversary, hubby, I love you so much and am thankful to have you forever. (We actually spent the day/evening at our good friends' wedding, then came home for our own champagne toast and bite of wedding cake, which tasted just as good as it did last year.)

Thanksgiving weekend recap...

We were very happy to have Laura and Gabe come down the day after Thanksgiving. We had a lovely time filled with fun, love, and laughter. Thank you guys for coming and brightening our spirits!
We celebrated Laura's upcoming 24th birthday...

Played games...

Us girls made Advent wreaths...

My finished wreath

The boys chatted and goofed around...

Sunday morning after Mass...I love my sis, Laura!

Laura and Gabe were so thoughtful and made us a DELICIOUS breakfast

Blessing the Advent wreath and lighting the first candle

Happy Advent! A time to purify, prepare, and make way for the Lord in our hearts.

So much time was spent loving and playing with our precious nephews

Isn't he the cutest?

Heartbreak and Trust

Last Wednesday evening, November 25, 2009, our little one went to Jesus. It has been extremely hard to undergo and accept, but we embrace this sorrow with open arms as God's will and in His perfect plan for us. Occurring on the day before Thanksgiving, it was hard to thank God for this suffering, but if we are suffering here that our baby can be pain-free for eternity, we thank Him. If we are suffering now that other children may be born in health, we thank Him. We thank Him for giving us the joy of loving our baby here on earth for 6.5 weeks and for the comfort of knowing he/she is with Him. I thank Him for giving me the incredible experience of carrying a life inside me, and for the hope that I can be pregnant again.

We named our little one Francis/es Raphael - names meaning: Free, and God heals. We are so thankful for wonderful family and friends who have consoled, prayed, encouraged, and loved us during this time; we truly have much for which to be thankful - thank you all.

Francis/es Raphael, Mama and Daddy love you SO VERY much and will see you again someday.

There are 3 of us!!!

Thursday morning, November 5, 2009, we discovered that we have been blessed with a new life and are 3 weeks along!!! We are SO excited and overwhelmed at God's goodness and perfect timing, as it will be an early July baby. We went out to breakfast to celebrate, stopped at Whole Foods for prenatal vitamins, then at Barnes and Nobles to browse the pregnancy section. Thursday afternoon, relics of St. Gianna Molla (pro-life witness and patroness of safe pregnancies) were actually being displayed in our parish church - what a beautiful coincidence! We were able to hold the gloves she wore, and I held one to my tummy and asked for her prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
We will of course, keep you updated with notes and pictures, and the gender when we know! I am feeling great so far, no nausea, but have felt unusual twinges and tingling inside, and so begins the transformation of the uterus! Thank you for all of your prayers for this occasion! I will close with the words of St. Gianna- "Love is the most beautiful sentiment the Lord has put into the soul of men and women," and we are overjoyed to announce the fruit of our love in the Lord!

The next day, I came home from class to this...I think hubby is excited, what do you think? The only baby balloon the particular store had was this one, so he added a "maybe" on it. :)

Nothing substantial yet, but we had to take the first "tummy picture."