Another little blessing

It has been over a month since the last time I wrote.  I have not been in the mood to write but for justifiable reasons.  I have been sick and I mean really sick with morning sickness.  I am pregnant!!!!  The Lord has blessed us with another little miracle.  I am currently 13 weeks.  Yes, I still have morning sickness but it is getting better day by day.  It is a challenge to be sick and to take care of a toddler but it is all worth it.  My husband and I are very excited and thankful.  Our daughter has no clue but she loves babies.  So I am hoping she will welcome her little brother or sister with open arms.  

Will we find out if the baby is a boy or girl before I deliver?  No.  We did not find out with our daughter.  When she was born and my husband announces that our baby was girl, it was an amazing feeling, a beautiful surprise. 

I will like to ask if you could please keep our little one and our family in your prayers.  Thank you.  

Living in Love

This past weekend, my husband and I went to the Living in Love couples retreat.  We have been on a treat before, we have been part of the team on a retreat but we have never gone to a couples retreat, until now.  I heard about the retreat months ago but I thought that there was no way we could make it.  Our lives in the past two months have been very busy so a retreat was out of the questions.  But God can make anything possible.  In the less than three days we were able to schedule everything around the retreat.  All the effort was worth it!  My husband and I enjoyed the retreat.  We came back refreshed and renewed.

So let me tell you about the retreat.  Obviously, I cannot give you specific details about the retreat because you need to experience it yourself but I can give you an overview.  The retreat includes teachings from the Theology of the Body by Blessed John Paul II.  If you have never read Theology of the Body, let me tell you, you are missing out.  Theology of the Body is deep and deserves its own post so just click on the link above for more information.  
Back to the retreat. Here is what was on the flier for the retreat.  

“Living in Love offers liberating insight into how differently men and women prefer to achieve intimacy and helps couples get in touch with the resources that draw them to each other and fuel the passion of love.”

The retreat does exactly what they mentioned on their flier.  This retreat was like a mini honeymoon but with a deeper understanding of how you can achieve that greater intimacy.  I recommend this retreat to all married couple.  It does not matter if you are a newly wed or married for many years.  It is a great retreat and your marriage deserves it.  

At the retreat they gave us some websites with different information for engaged or married couple.  The website is called For Your Marriage and they also have it in Spanish which is called Por Tu Matrimonio.  This website has great resources like I mentioned before for engaged and married couple and family.  Check out the website and share it.  If you are interested or would like more information on the Living in Love couples retreat, just go to livinginlove.org.

Viva el Amor!!!

Sacred Triduum

Lent ends tonight and the Sacred Triduum begins.  I remember growing up my mother would not allow us to listen to music or watch TV staring Holy Thursday night through Good Friday.  My mother tried to explain to us (the best she could) that the Sacred Triduum was a time of silence and reflection.  Now as wife and mother, I practice the same tradition with my family.  Instead of watching TV or listening to music, we reflect on the last 40 days, pray, do some spring cleaning in preparation for Easter and some reading before bed.  

Easter is coming and we must prepare for the Lord.  I hope you all have grown closer to the Lord these past forty days of Lent and are ready to receive Him on Easter.  

Have a blessed Triduum!  

When you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death, until He comes again.  -I Corinthians 11:26

Get Clean

Student from JPII College put this video together.  The video says it all in one minute.  Great reflection for Holy week.  Get clean!

The Budweiser Room

You might be thinking, what is the Budweiser room?  Let me explain.  A few months ago we moved into our new home.  Our home was built in 1968 so it is a little bit outdated but it has great bones if you know what I mean.  We look at our outdated home as a white canvas.  We can fix it up to our taste.  But there is one room that I just need to mention which is the Budweiser room.  One of our bedrooms has a mural of the Budweiser logo.  Take a look.    

According to the previous owners, their son (who was a teenager at the time) asked if could paint the Budweiser mural is his room.  As you can see, they agreed.  The amazing part is that the young man painted this mural by hand.  Yes, by hand.  The mother so loving made specialized window valances to match the mural.  Let me clarify, I believe she made it because I do not think they made Budweiser valances in the 70’s.  Plus eBay did not exist at that time.  Check out the valances.  A madres love.  I feel bad taking them down and painting over the mural because it was all done by hand.  So I had to make a tribute. 

Our project this week is to finally paint this room.  It will no longer be the Budweiser room but a prayer/study room.  I am excited!  I think every home should have a special place for prayer time.  It does not have to be a room but a reserved area for prayer.  Plus it is a wonderful example to your children.  It shows you take prayer time seriously and it reminds them (and you) that we all need to take some time to pray. 

The Catholic View for Women

EWTN has a new show called The Catholic View for Women.  Finally a show for Catholic Women! Check out their website at TheCatholicViewforWomen.  


Here is their first episode.  No commercials online ;-)  Enjoy! 

Through the eyes of a child

I enjoy taking my daughter on walks.  She is at awe of how it feels to walk on grass or any other surface.  She pull my hand so we can walk on the grass instead of the sidewalk.  I take her to the park but she does not want to be on the swing.  She want to walk on the mulch.  She want to touch the trees, bushes, flowers, cement, everything else, except the swings.  She is so curious because everything is new to her.  

As adults we sometimes forget the beauty that surrounds us.  But if you take the time to look at the world through the eyes of a child, you definitely can appreciate all the Lord has created and all the blessings one has received.

I remember when a load of laundry was just another chore but not no more.  I actually look forward to laundry day.  My daughter enjoys helping out with the laundry.  She enjoys throwing the dirty clothes down our laundry chute, sort out the dirty clothes, watch the clothes in washer and dryer, fold the clothes and finally putting them away.  Seeing the joy in her face makes laundry day a day I look forward to.  

Children also help you take care of yourself a little better.  They definitely remind you when it is time to eat.  You go to sleep at a decent time because you know they will wake up early.  They keep you fit because they love for you to chase them around.  And they give you all the love they can give from their little heart.  The amazing thing is how much love comes from their little hearts.

What are some ways your little one has help you appreciate life?  Feel free to comment.  Help us see through the eyes of a child.