12-12-12.

On December 12, we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, patroness of the unborn, patroness of the Archdiocese of Seattle...and our special patroness, as we chose her feast day on which to be married. I love how we celebrate the feast of her appearance as a woman with child during the season of Advent; very fitting. Her words to Blessed Juan Diego are so very comforting to us as we struggle through our walk in life.

"Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son; let nothing discourage you, nothing depress you. Let nothing alter your heart or your countenance. Also, do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?"

Remembering the big day 4 years ago...

Marriage is indeed the vocation in which I find myself continuously recalling our Lady's fiat...Be it done to me according to Thy will.

Today was a little busy, as I was asked to cantor at Mass this morning, and realized just before leaving that Wednesday is also Andrew's day to lector...Michael was very well behaved in the stroller and was only alone (in a sense) during the general intercessions, but had a clear view of Andrew at the ambo about 15 feet away. Many thanks to his guardian angel! I relish seeing his comfort level increase in our new parish building. Being close to the sanctuary today, he watched the alter servers' movements and enjoyed looking at the statue of our Lady. We found it fitting that we were both asked to serve during Mass today; serving God first and foremost should always be the priority in our lives and our marriage. After Mass, we stayed for the final installment of our Advent mission, which was one 12 character traits of our Lord - a good reminder of those we especially need to implement in our marriage! Andrew then had work as usual and RCIA class tonight, but upon his return, we celebrated with homemade cards, sparkling wine, and a Paleo chocolate cake (delicious; mostly eggs, butter and 14 oz. of good dark chocolate, but I will probably leave out the "kick" of cayenne pepper next time). 

As I spent the day cooking and baking, I gave thanks for this great sacrament that draws me closer to God each day and especially for the little miracle boy that He gifted me through it. We are blessed.

This time.

This is a time of continuous growth - 9 months!

It is a time to observe.

A time to learn new things...for all of us.

A time to hold tightly. 

A time of wonder.

A time to teach.

A time to love and smile.

It is a time of hopeful anticipation. Let us prepare, for behold, He comes!

This past Sunday marked Michael's 9th month mark. Our little baby is fast transitioning into a little boy. It amazes us at how fast he develops at this stage; his cognition and awareness of the things in his little life, of things like pushing and pulling chairs in the kitchen, swinging doors open and closed, an understanding of words like up and down, outside and home. "Mama" and "Papa" are words he has understood for some time and it makes our hearts swell to see his reaction to those words grow increasingly excited and affectionate. He knows that Papa comes home twice during the day and at the evening homecoming, it is not unusual for Michael to bestow Papa with 4 kisses in a row. He prefers to stay in whichever vicinity in the house one of us are located, and will sit and play or pull himself up on our chair for some chatting or smiles. Michael is also learning not to pull books off the shelf, not to pull on wired cords, and not to touch the wobbly leg of the piano. He is doing well on most accounts, but a corner from a book page did disappear into his mouth the other day...I say he is just trying to internalize what is to be gained by book reading, faster. ;) Michael loves being read to and turning the pages; his favorite books are the "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" books, "Trucks" by Byron Barton, and "Babies on the Go" - it is especially fun to see him recognize the pictures of his own kind in the last book. Michael loves children and babies, and tries to talk to, and reach out to them whenever he sees them. I love this, and hope that it reveals some of the loving, concerned characteristics of an older brother. Also especially timely, as I keep referring to Baby Jesus and show Michael His hiding place in the last pocket of the Jesse Tree. And Michael smiles. And I wonder what is being retained in that little head.

During this 2nd week of Advent, we are purposefully taking time for listening...for the arrival of God and to the needs of others. God gave His own Son to descend into the pit of humanity to serve and save; so must we for our neighbors in need. There are cookies to be baked for our parish's Advent mission, a dinner to make for Andrew's co-worker whose father just passed, a coffee-time treat for my RCIA candidate, something for the homeless person who always stands at our freeway exit, and little party to be planned for Andrew's catechist volunteers. We are having a very simple Christmas this year, and are finding that without the monetary preoccupations and distractions of too much gift buying, we are able to focus on simply being present for others; hopefully being that light of Christ that we are each called to be. The necessity for a simple Christmas for us is really making me dwell on the stark simplicity of the stable and the manger, the way our King entered the world. It is making me slow down and listen...for His arrival, to the needs of my family and others, and for this I am grateful. I have so so much for which to be grateful!

An excerpt from my Advent read, Donkey Bells by Catherine Doherty:

"I'm sure that, as a child, Christ rode on a donkey many times. And also as a man, of course. But 'officially' when the donkey carried Our Lady, who in turn carried God, from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The other time was when the donkey carried Christ into Jerusalem as the people laid palm branches before Him, proclaiming Him king. Let us think for a moment: what kind of animal is a donkey? It is a beast of burden, the animal of the poor. Once again, the immense theme of poverty is illustrated in an animal. God chose the humblest, the smallest in status, because among the animals the donkey is considered very low. So God is teaching us a lesson here - a lesson of humility, of poverty, and of simplicity...The breath of the donkey and the ox made the stable warm. So we meditate on several things at once: the poverty and humility of the donkey, which God chose and which should be our poverty and humility; and the breath of our love, which should warm God in our neighbor constantly."

I love how Catherine tells the story of how her mother would emphasize the necessity for goodness during Advent so as to be able to hear "the donkey's bells", carrying the Virgin and Child closer and closer. A perfect image to help remind us to keep our spiritual ears and hearts awake and attentive at this time, and eager for His beautiful arrival.

"Today it is very quiet. Are you listening? If you are listening, you can hear the faint sound of tinkling bells. He who is pure of heart an childlike shall hear the bells of the donkey ringing in his life."

Paleo update.

 I've had a few requests about the Paleo regime we've been (mostly) following for the past few months, and so thought I'd provide a little update. So far I've lost close to 30 and Andrew 20 lbs, which we also attribute to being active. We've also noticed a significant energy increase, digestive clearness, and come to think of it, I haven't been sick at all, and Andrew only once, even during the cold weather shift. We have of course indulged in grains/sugars on occasion and notice its results, and so are learning to lessen our desire for those foods and/or counteract with smaller servings, and to up vegetable intake on the same day we indulge in a treat. :) 

Another benefit to eating this way, has been the ease of introducing Michael to solids. I didn't have to worry about a pre-mature allergic reaction to dairy or grains (although he has since been introduced to whole wheat). Since everything we eat is healthy and in its close natural state, we can mash/break it up and give it to him. He sits with us at mealtimes and we feed him off our plates the same fare we are eating. He quickly became accustomed to seasonings, and now will make a face if something is bland. He loves the taste of curry and chili, and his seemingly most enjoyed foods are squash, yams, tomatoes, and meat. He will eat banana and avocado, (he will eat anything because he wants to be like the cool kids) but doesn't seem to enjoy them as much as I thought he would, being a baby. Eggs were introduce last week...something I was a bit apprehensive about since he is only about 9 months. But I've seen Paleo moms give it to their babies as young as 6 months...so far so good here, but I plan to take it easy with those.

Clamoring for more food...

What's wrong with that?

Michael never got the hang of the sippy cup in the early days, so we've been using this trainer cup with careful monitoring at mealtimes. He still breastfeeds the rest of the day/night.

Some of our Paleo meals...sample lunches:

Eggs and salmon salad. And hot apple cider!

Gingered butternut squash soup. So easy and delicious.

Sample dinners:

Caldo de pollo. (The corn chips are not Paleo, of course).

Seasoned drumsticks, yam, and brussel sprouts w/bacon and apples.

Pork loin and braised red cabbage. The latter is so easy and delicious - I make it with red wine, apple cider vinegar, onions, apples, cinnamon and pepper.

Chicken mole over green cabbage.

Some easy substitutes I use for grain based products:

Noodles - zucchini strips, spaghetti squash

Rice - cauliflower, sauteed green cabbage (this is our favorite for curries and Mexican dishes) 

Bread - lunch meat, lettuce, spinach (fresh or sauteed) 

I make coconut tortillas, almond/coconut flour biscuits or muffins on occasion, but we really prefer to save on the heavy stuff for when we eat actual grains. :)

For snacks, we have Lara bars, nuts, apples/celery with almond butter, fruits/veggies, hard-boiled eggs, a piece of meat from the fridge, or dark chocolate (usually 65-70%ish). I also have this snack mix on hand, which is delicious.

Conclusion: I still have some ways to go to achieve my desired weight, but I now feel that I have the energy to start some intense workouts (my initial goal). Being a mother is hard, tiring work, and with lots of breastfeeding and the lack of a straight-through, good night's rest, I knew I needed to do something to assist my health and nutrient intake. I am inspired by the results of this gal and may go more hardcore like she did after the Christmas season to get closer to where I want to be.  Andrew and I have been impressed with the results of Paleo, and plan to continue eating this way, barring the occasional homemade or outing treat, especially on feast days and Sundays. The basic line: we feel good, are eating many more veggies than before, and I feel comfortable with my current health if I was to get pregnant anytime soon=done deal!

Feast of St. Nicholas.

On December 6, we celebrate the feast of a beloved 4th century Christian bishop and saint, Nicholas. I find his persona and legend a far cry from modern day Santa Claus, and his story one of much worth for our children. Ordained a bishop in Turkey at a young age, St. Nicholas was very devoted to serving his people,  and especially known for coming to the assistance of children on many occasions. St. Nicholas was imprisoned and suffered for his faith on a few occasions during the early persecution of Christians. He is most famously known as the "giver of gifts." Legend has it that the Christ Child commissioned him to bring the story of His birth to the children of the world, while giving them the gifts of faith, hope and charity, along with treats of a material nature, provided they acted as good children should. It has long been a European tradition for children to leave their shoes out on the eve of December 5, in the hopes of receiving a blessing from this good saint, and I have fond memories of St. Nick surprises from my childhood.

Looks like St. Nicholas thought Papa and Michael were good boys this past year...

As Papa had a breakfast meeting for work, Michael and I enjoyed some healthy pancakes cooked in the shape of a bishop's crosier, and oranges, a traditional treat for this day. After lunch I read a St. Nicholas book aloud; since Michael is still too young to understand the importance of these days, I am happy to educate Andrew a little bit about the stories and traditions which were so meaningful to me growing up. :)

I used my newly purchased Julbock (Christmas goat) to decorate today, as Scandinavian legend has it that this goat arrives with the Christmas elves, Fr. Christmas, or St. Nicholas to carry children's presents.

We call upon your mercy, O Lord.

Through the intercession of Saint Nicholas,

keep as safe amid all dangers 

that we may go forward without hindrance

on the road to salvation.

St. Nicholas, patron of children, seafarers, bakers, and the imprisoned (to name a few), pray for us!

1st Advent weekend.

We had a lovely first weekend of Advent, and tried to do some things to move our hearts into a right direction of preparation and thoughtfulness for others. 

1) Winter and Christmas themes are definitely forefront in my mind...we've been on the lookout for a heavy dress coat for Andrew, and found a in-perfect-condition JoS. A. Banks wool coat at an antique store for $40 (normally in the $200 range.)

I picked up a few treasures too....

2 bits I put together for $3! (These cranberry wreaths go for $16-20 at a craft store.) Thrifting is the way to go sometimes most times! I enjoy the challenge of being responsible with the funds God allots us, while at the same time fulfilling our needs and finding ways to keep our home a lovely and useful place. My sentiment parallels this thought of the wise G.K. Chesterton...

"Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance...thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is un-poetic because it is waste...if a man could undertake to make use of all the things in his dustbin, he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare."  

Love it. :)

2) Friday night, we had a young couple from church over for dinner. They are the proud parents of a beautiful newborn girl...it was cute to see Michael be concerned when he heard her cry and he tried to initiate conversation with her - will have to get pictures next time! I'm feeling blessed by the caliber of new friends we are making; so nice to be able to share spiritual and parenting thoughts, and have wonderful options for play dates for Michael.

3) Saturday morning we attended Mass for 1st Saturday, then joined the respect life group for a prayer vigil in front of Planned Parenthood. Michael slept in the carrier for the majority of the time; I was thankful to be able to bring my child to witness to life, but prayerfully protesting abortion is a completely different ball game once one is a mother - quite emotional. We received more positive honks and thumbs-up vs. negative shouts, which is encouraging. This is an activity we feel called to participate regularly in, especially as a young family.

4) On Sunday I put the finishing touches on our Advent wreath, a different one than the one of past years. I have wanted to have a live evergreen wreath for some time now, and our new living location does not disappoint in variety and abundance of winter greens! I gathered 3 types of evergreen from our lane in addition to some holly, and used a plate as a base for my candle ring and greens.

This year, I added an additional Advent candle; this to symbolize He who is the Light to the world. Our beautiful Jesse Tree from Mom was hung in a prominent place in the kitchen.

Little man watched the preparations with interest. Although we have our tree, we are holding off on putting it up, at least until Gaudete Sunday. I will slowly unpack Christmas decor for display throughout the next few weeks. I think adding a little bit here and there will help contribute to the expectant character of this Advent season, and keep me focused on meditating on its mysteries. 

5) This Sunday also marked the Rite of Acceptance for catecheums at our parish. Andrew was in need of sponsors for some of his RCIA group, and so I volunteered. I was able to meet my assigned candidate, Candice, at Mass and stand behind her in support of her wonderful journey into the Church. I'm looking forward to sharing our faith with her and praying for her. If you remember, keep her in her prayers, thanks!

6) Time was also spent this weekend organizing the house, mainly the master bedroom. It is still a work in progress but this part is especially exciting for me. The computer was moved to a smaller desk...

...leaving the large desk free for a craft table!! A shelf found in the garage sufficed to hold supplies, and I am in business.

It is nice to have room to spread out and work on Christmas gifts for my God-children. On a cute, tiny machine that belonged to my Nana. With multiple Skype calls to my mother. The sewing machine world is pretty new to me! :)

7) I love this season, this time of hopeful waiting for Him, minus the complete focus on materialism, with which most of the world seems to be intent on entrapping our spirits. Maybe it just seems more "in your face" here in a bigger city. We hope to combat this mentality with daily Mass, adoration, learning some new Advent hymns, celebrating special feast days that occur throughout December, and reading Advent-themed material. However, we have agreed to go enjoy the holiday sights and festivities around the city, and I have been searching the web for different options. A lot happens around the Seattle area at this time, and I'm looking forward to having some fun family time and introducing Michael to Christmas lights. 

I appreciate these remarks by our Holy Father - 

"Expectation and awaiting represent a dimension that touches our entire individual, family and social existence...We could say that man is alive so long as he expects, so long as hope remains alive in his heart...In this time of preparation for Christmas, each of us may ask ourselves; what do I expect?...This same question can be posed at the level of the family, the community, the nation." 

Pope Benedict continued by pointing out that Mary and Joseph were the humble unexpected parents of the Messiah, and a babe born in a manger was the unexpected dwelling place of a King. This reminded me that many of us do not appreciate or recognize what God is doing in our lives, because it is not the picture we imagine. It is not what we expect. A good meditation to assist us in remembering that "God's ways are not our ways" and that we need to imitate the example of the Holy parents of our Lord who waited in joyful hope and expectancy for the revelation of God's plan. Our world may be in turmoil, our communities in strife, our families in division, but as long as we wait on the Lord and trust in His timing and purpose, He will "make known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and on earth." (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Wishing you all a very blessed and fruitful Advent! 

Giving thanks.

We had such a lovely, peaceful weekend out of the city at my great-uncle and aunt's for Thanksgiving. Truly an environment to awaken our minds to the presence of great blessings in our life. I will let the pictures speak for themselves, and there are many (mostly for my family's benefit); be fore-warned. 

 Late afternoons were spent near the wood stove with wine or tea, conversations and laughs.

 Beautiful Thanksgiving dinner table.

 My lovely great-aunt preparing.

 Michael got to indulge in semi-antiques; a block set and a highchair passed down in the family.

 Aunt Patricia had planned a lovely meal blessing song. We then proceeded to go around the table, giving thanks for one thing as we lit our individual candles. 

The food was delicious, the turkey moist and tender, contributions from everyone, dessert in abundance=perfect Thanksgiving feast.

Friday afternoon, some of us ventured into downtown Leavenworth to check out the Christmas market. I only had my camera phone with me and it was raining, so we didn't get many pictures, but we sure enjoyed the shops.

 Michael enjoyed the Christmas lights and watching the passers-by. 

 Saturday breakfast table; Allison is great with babies!

 Uncle Frank made me delicious espressos. 

 So nice to see cousin Kerry!

 Saturday morning we headed up into the hills for a Christmas tree hunt. Michael took his morning nap at that time.

Lots of snow! The views were breathtaking.

 

 Greg and Al with their tree.

Good find, Andrew! Definitely a different type of tree than we have had in past years, but perfect and cute nonetheless - thank you, Greg!!

 Michael checking out his first snow!

 Loading up the trees.

What a beautiful couple of hours. 

So thankful for this weekend. Thankful that I am usually near some extended family for the majority of our holidays...I feel very blessed. God is good.