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...

Do you wear a....

PEDOMETER?!

I am really enjoying wearing mine. My daily goal is 10,000 steps (recommended by weight watchers). It's just lunchtime now and I'm already at 9,000 steps! Working out for just a couple miles a day really helps boost those steps. Get one and try it. You'll be amazed at how active it reminds you to be. Mine even tells me how many miles I've walked throughout the day (even just doing things around the home). Being active, managing stress, eating right...it's all part of being healthy-which feels so great!

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Want a great deal on photo prints?

Through July 11, Snapfish is running a special offer of 50 prints for 50 cents + shipping!





....and when checking out use the code JULY4PENNY.

Also, if you are a first time user you will get 50 free prints for signing up.

Yay! It seems like I always have pictures that need developed, so I was excited to find this deal today (thanks, Bethany!) I have at LEAST 50 prints to print, but for only 1 cent, I will start with 50! Can't wait to get those scrapbooks started!

St. Maria Goretti, Pray for us

Feast day: July 6th
Saint Maria Goretti was of a pious nature and often at prayer. In 1902, at age 12, she was stabbed to death, preferring to die rather than be raped.

From a homily at the canonization of Saint Maria Goretti by Pope Pius XII:
"...So let us all, with God's grace, strive to reach the goal that the example of the virgin martyer, Saint Maria Goretti, sets before us. Through her prayres to the Redeemer may all of us, each in his own way, joyfully try to follow the inspiring example of Maria Goretti who now enjoys eternal happiness in heaven."