The Lord shall come

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!

O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Gaude! Gaude!
Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!



While we await Christ's coming in the season of Advent, we reflect on many of the words you hear playing in these songs. We also pray for our hearts to prepare to receive Him, lowly, lying in a manger, simple, poor, yet clothed with the richness of a KING! Our King! This is a very special time of waiting, hoping, praying, and hopefully someday making many traditions together with young children (like a Jesse Tree, Advent Calendar and helping them to remember their charity in all things by laying a piece of hay on the small pile that baby Jesus will lie in...the more love we share the softer His manger!)...

Of course while we wait, we also know a GREAT feast will be upon us soon too. So we prepare for Christmas, but try not to celebrate yet :) Together we make a great team. There is lots of work to do on the outside and inside of the house to prepare for Christ's coming! How symbolic of the work necessary to prepare our hearts too.

Gary put much hard work into this year's lights display (something he hasn't been able to do in three years!) He has been doing this since he was very young and really enjoys it. He has fond memories of helping his Dad do their lights display-which is also beautiful-and still gets displayed every year! Gary makes it look very easy. (All I had to do was the hold the ladder :) )










And the result is magical! I am so proud of him. We were blessed to win a town contest. First prize was $300 to Publix. Yay!!




He even incorporated our projector this year. He had a movie of Santa unpacking gifts and eating cookies that projected through the front window. And if you tune your radio station to Gary's local station...you could hear Santa's bells and his "Ho ho ho" and even a playlist of wonderful Christmas music.







While I couldn't do much to help on the outside I really enjoyed decorating our home inside. Last year at this time we were getting ready for our wedding and then on our honeymoon. Our first Christmas together has already been so special.



Our homemade advent wreath...



Our Christmas table



where we can enjoy delicious meals like this (half-eaten) homemade mac-n-cheese!



Gary's family has a neat tradition of having two trees...usually one with colored lights and one with white lights. We found this one in the garage. We forgot we had it (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and it's neat that we have both too.



The Holy Family (a wedding gift from Mom and Dad Spenik) and a delicious bowl of winter nuts!



Holly and bows!





A beautiful wedding gift from Alex and Mary. Our first Nativity Scene :)





And finally, our tree. We found one quite affordable at Lowe's. It was so nice to finally be able to use so many of the decorations we had found previous years but never had the chance to see together in our home until this year!

Happy First Anniversary, My Love

Thank you, Lord for an amazing first year of marriage. Please bless us with your kindness and mercy. Strengthen us to follow your holy will and serve one another. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we love you, save souls!



Set me as a seal on your heart. Set me as a seal on your soul. For strong as death is love, unyielding as the grave...nothing can quench its thirst.



Kiss me, my love. Let your name be on my lips. You intoxicate my being with the fragrance of your presence. How beautiful you are my darling! Show me your face, let me hear your voice. Sweet as the dew in the early morn...like a lily among the thorns.



I looked for you...the one my heart loves. I looked for you, but did not find you. Searched through the night, til I rested in your sight. Now I will never let you go. ...You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride. You've stolen my heart with one glance of your eye. Your lips are so sweet...adorned with honey. Your hands they drip with myrrh.

Thankful

Bless the Lord, O my soul! I am so thankful for God's many blessings. What a time to give thanks, to remember, to reflect, to look ahead, to spend time with loved ones, to laugh....thank you Lord for filling our hearts with so much love!

Fall!

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Time is passing so quickly and life is full of tasks to complete. I can't believe fall is upon us. Of course where we live, we haven't yet "felt" a difference, because it is still quite hot, but we do have occasional breezes. I know the seasons will change soon and with it many more wonderful memories.

Lately, we have completed several "around-the-house projects." Our new vertical blinds should be arriving soon, we've begun the process for building a back porch and in anticipation of a cool breeze, we had a front door screen installed...we can't wait to use it when the weather gets cooler. Fresh air is so cozy!




I love "last year at this time..." reflections. They give me a chance to renew, revive and be thankful. (Especially thankful that we can go in a store and enjoy a fall wreath instead of searching for some wedding detail! I feel like fall completely passed us by last year since we were so busy planning our wedding!) We had a blast going to Joann's to find some fall decorations (instead of wedding favors, invitations, tulle, you name it :)

Last year we were looking at these:



This year, we found these:



And here is the heart of our home, where we come to be nourished by God's gifts of delicious food and drink, warm conversation and lots of laughter!



Our first fall together brings a chance to prepare our home for another season. Gary and I did some deep cleaning and got rid of many things which we weren't using or didn't need. (This is a process we've completed several times now since we've been married.) It felt great to reduce and to give to charity! There's a "spiritual cleaning" too that occurs in this process...a chance to relfect on God's blessings, serve the poor by sharing what He's given to us, create great memories, dream about the future, and with all this...the quiet of peace. Having things in order brings much peace. And with the new season...decorations of course! A time to notice a change, ponder the season of harvests, giving thanks, All Hallows Eve :), prayers for our beloved dead, a time of preparation too-as we prepare to meet our Lord at Christmastime...warm apple cider and apple crisp, and a time for me to be even more grateful for all of that delicious fruit I will miss (canteloupe, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries...)

It's great to consider God's beautiful design in the 4 seasons. A chance to see, smell, taste, hear and touch things that aren't available all of the time. Which brings me back to gratitude. Lord, help me to be gracious, to be thankful for the season of each day-and for the many gifts you shower upon your children. Amen.

New Life

Welcome to the Church, Olivia Katherine!



"Holy Baptism holds the first place among the sacraments, because it is the door of the spiritual life; for by it we are made members of Christ and incorporated with the Church. And since through the first man death entered into all, unless we be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, we can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven, as Truth Himself has told us."

- "The Decree for the Armenians," Pope Eugene IV





Our Precious Olivia,

May you walk always with Christ. Let Him guide your feet and control your heart. Trust in the Lord always, and look to Our Blessed Mother, Mary, for perfect examples of holiness, love, trust and beauty. We will pray for you daily and love you more than you could know. God bless you always!

The Dinan Family

We were blessed to spend some time with our friends, The Dinans, in early July. Here are some pictures of our time with them. It went by so quickly and they were all simply a joy to work with. The children are just beautiful and there were so many great shots! What a blessing it is to have such great friends who can set such a holy example for us as spouses and parents. God bless you, Dinan Family!














"Happy are all who fear the LORD, who walk in the ways of God. What your hands provide you will enjoy; you will be happy and prosper: Like a fruitful vine your wife within your home, Like olive plants your children around your table. Just so will they be blessed who fear the LORD. May the LORD bless you from Zion, all the days of your life That you may share Jerusalem's joy and live to see your children's children."

Psalm 128:2-6

Psalm 100:5

"Good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age."

Please pray

for the repose of the soul of Alex Klucik, 18, who died tragically in a car accident on August 2nd, 2010.




Alex was a recent graduate of the school where I taught. You can read more about the life of this wonderful young man here. Please pray for his soul, for his family, including his six siblings, his classmates and for the entire Ave Maria community who mourns this loss.



Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Happy Annviversary, Mom and Dad!

Thirty-seven years ago, two beautiful people said, "Yes" to God's perfect plan as He called them to Holy Matrimony. Thank you, Mom and Dad for all the love and support you have always given. Your example is one of humility and strength. We love you! May God bless your marriage always.




"Two are better than one...a three-ply cord is not easily broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:9,12

"...being confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6

A New Chapter...Proverbs 31

Today I continue the journey to becoming a more virtuous wife with a very important step... I resigned my full-time teaching position to make more time for my Vocation as a new wife. I am immensely thankful for the opportunities to grow in grace, humility, love and faith that I received while teaching there. I will miss the children tremendously, but I know now that God is calling me to a new quiet. Praise the Lord that He has fulfilled my heart's desires. I look forward to having more time to rest, study, prepare meals, take care of our home, and work on the many projects I've become interested in. This change will certainly allow for our marriage to blossom. And I pray I can become more like the Proverbs 31 woman:




"When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize. She brings him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She obtains wool and flax and makes cloth with skillful hands. Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar. She rises while it is still night, and distributes food to her household. She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms. She enjoys the success of her dealings; at night her lamp is undimmed. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle. She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy. She fears not the snow for her household; all her charges are doubly clothed. She makes her own coverlets; fine linen and purple are her clothing. Her husband is prominent at the city gates as he sits with the elders of the land. She makes garments and sells them, and stocks the merchants with belts. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel. She watches the conduct of her household, and eats not her food in idleness. Her children rise up and praise her; her husband, too, extols her:
"Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all." Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates."

Proverbs 31:10-31

Engagement Anniversary!

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel!

One year ago, our prayers were answered as Gary asked me to be his wife and I said, "Yes!" He romantically waited until her Feast Day as this had been our intention during the novena. What a day that was...He wanted to surprise me, and boy did he ever!



I love you, Sweetheart!

And now one year later, our intentions for the novena were quite different, but beautiful to receive answers on this special day! We received more clarity about how God is leading us and received great news about those we've been offering this novena for as well. And finally our dear friends Tyler and Dene' Rosser are NOW MARRIED! We've been praying for a beautiful wedding and marriage for them full of peace and joy.

As for our celebrations today, we're off to noon Mass (during Gary's lunch hour) and then a quick visit to Tropical Smoothie for a bite to eat, where we ate a year ago before he proposed. Of course a visit to the chapel to top off the night, to thank Our Lord for His choicest blessings.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Domestic Church

"Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church."- Pope John Paul II

One amazing couple

Let us pray for Tyler and Dene', who will be married on Saturday, July 17, 2010! They radiate love for Our Lord and Our Lady and they have a beautiful story! Gary and I are blessed to know them and to be able to add them to our group of married couples here in Ave Maria as they will be living here after they are married! Tyler will be coaching AMU soccer-an amazing accomplishment. We are thrilled to be encouraged by another couple who is striving for holiness and is so kind and fun to be with.

I've had a blast spending time with Dene' talking 'wedding talk' and just chatting about the magnificence of the Vocation to the Married Life. They are both gems. We are so happy for you both, Tyler and Dene'! God bless you!

Hope in the Lord

My portion is the LORD, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the LORD to one who waits for him, to the soul that seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence for the saving help of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24-26

Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16th)
To be prayed 7 to 15 July or at other times of the year

First Day (7 July)

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy
and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother! (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Second Day (8 July)

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy
Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness. (pause and mention petitions).

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Third Day (9 July)

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we
might be known as your faithful children. may we always wear it with honor
by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this
desire of ours. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Fourth Day (10 July)

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us
to be not only servants, but also your own children. We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as you children in joy, peace and love. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Fifth Day (11 July)

O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are
called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God's people. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Sixth Day (12 July)

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the Evil One. Through your
assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Seventh Day (13 July)

O Mary, Help of Christians, you assured us that wearing your Scapular
worthily would keep us safe from harm. Protect us in both body and soul
with your continual aid. may all that we do be pleasing to your Son and to
you. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Eighth Day (14 July)

You give us hope, O Mother of Mercy, that through your Scapular promise we
might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory to the Kingdom of your
Son. Be our comfort and our hope. Grant that our hope may not be in vain
but that, ever faithful to your Son and to you, we may speedily enjoy after death the blessed company of Jesus and the saints. (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.


Ninth Day (15 July)

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant
privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly
love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son. Behold us, your
children. We glory in wearing your holy ha bit, which makes us members of
your family of Carmel, through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death. Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony! Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help! Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children. Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls! (pause and mention petitions)

Recite: Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

....and SMILE!...

Well-it's almost done-we're just putting the finishing touches on our photography website! Gary has such a gift in taking pictures, finding the right angle, lighting and concept for a shot and I couldn't be more proud. We are praying this gift can also help our family earn a bit of extra income. We already have a few jobs scheduled, and more to come once our website is finished. I have really enjoyed working on it with him, putting my business degree to good use!



Okay, so here's just a taste of a wedding we shot in February. The BEAUTIFUL BRIDE, Maria...




Congratulations, Rich and Maria! The wedding was beautiful and they couldn't be happier!





Photography Website link coming soon...