Birthday – Page 4

Another Year Closer to….

November 23, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, Dad

…Our Heavenly Father!

Dad celebrated a birthday on Nov. 18 – Dedication of the Basilicas of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

We celebrated Dad’s birthday by fulfilling his simple requests. This included a deviation from our normal diet to accommodate his cake request–Tiramisu Cake. It was delish!

He was showered with gifts from our GFG. They gave him slippers, shirt and tie, suit, iPhone accessory, money, and plenty of drawings. Rose also gave Dad, my favorite gift, a weekend of babysitting for the Little’s so that Dad and I could take an overnight trip.

In addition to celebrating Dad and gift giving, I love reflecting on they ways that Dad blesses me.

I am blessed to…

grow in faith with you.

have you by my side for constant encouragement and a good laugh.

receive your unconditional love.

watch you shower our GFG with love and affection.

be led by your humble headship of our family.

have my needs met by you on a regular basis.

serve you.

grow old with you.

hear from you on a regular basis via phone/text while you’re out.

have you include me in all of your experiences.

witness your ever growing devotion to all that is good and pleasing to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

reach a higher level of intimacy with you, year after year.

share everything with you.

be called your wife!

May the Good Lord continue to lead us closer together so that we can truly become one and give Him glory.

eight

May 28, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, Sparkles

Sparkles turned 8 on May 18. She had been planning her birthday party since she turned seven. She went into full gear in January. Papa and Nana got word of her plans and decided to make her wish come true.

Sparkles invited a few friends and her cousins. I had to significantly cut her long guest list. I’m afraid that Papa and Nana would of needed to take a second mortgage on their home just to cater to Sparkles initial guest list. She didn’t mind one bit. Sparkles was beyond excited to be able to share her big day with others.

She worked on finalizing her invitations in February. Sadly, they didn’t get out since we misplaced them. That’s why I like waiting till the last min. ;-) She did managed to decorate the house. The chalkboards were my favorite creations.

Here are the goodie buckets that she put together.

Sparkles even created her own cake. She requested a chocolate cake with cream puffs and chocolate dipped strawberries. I was delighted to fulfill her request since it reminded me of my favorite cake, Buddy’s Cream Puff Cake.

We headed to her requested destination. The kids ate and played for two hours. Oh, I almost forgot, they watched T.V. It was the funniest thing. The dinning room that Sparkles chose had a T.V. showing classic cartoons. You could definitely tell that the girls do not get the average fix of TV viewing, they were glued to the screen.

The girls moved to the arcade area after lunch. They had a whirlwind of a time. The place was pratically empty. That’s a perk of homeschoolig.

Sparkles and her friends returned home for some free time.

They opened presents.

They jumped on the trampoline.

They played charades.

They ate more pizza.

They sang happy birthday and enjoyed cake and strawberry ice-cream.

Sparkles was graced by her friend C’s joyfilled version of Happy Birthday.

You have to listen to the video in it’s entirety.

Then they played outside some more.

The girls ate plenty of candy and ran all over the house throughout their various sessions of fun. It was wonderful to see the girls enjoy their time together in the most innocent and joyful manner.

~~~

Dad informed me after the party that Sparkles even planned what he was to wear, his shirt of her beloved Our Lady Of Guadalupe.

~~~

Thank you GOD for adding some Sparkle to our lives.

one

May 25, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, Dragonfly

My little guy turned 1 last week on May 17. Sparkles birthday followed on May 18 so I stretched Dragonfly’s birthday out over 3 days. I hope to get better organized by the time he gets old enough to care.

He had a great time on some rides at the impromptu party that Sparkles planned.

Dad and I had a simple (traditional) birthday date with Dragonfly. It was an evening of fun on the floor, doing whatever Dragonfly proposed. He couldn’t have been more thrilled.

Dragonfly had his first taste of cake! He was all business.

Rose took the time to describe our precious 1 year old.

Dimples

Rambunctious

Adventurous

Go-getter

Necessity

Funny

Loveable

Yummy

~~~

Dragonfly is in good company with saints whose feast day is May 17.

17 May Saints

Adrio of Alexandria Andronicus Antonia Messina Aquilinus of Nyon Basilla of Alexandria Bruno of Würzburg Cathan of Bute Giulia Salzano Heradius of Nyon Ivan Ziatyk Junias Madron of Cornwall Maildulf of Malmesbury Maw Pascal Baylon Paul of Nyon Peter Lieou Rasso of Grafrath Restituta of Carthage Silaus of Lucca Solochon and Companions Thethmar of Neumuenster Victor of Alexandria William Panhausen

my List 2011

April 6, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, my List

I created a list of 32 things to do before I turned 33. It served as a great reminder of my heart’s desires. Praise God, I completed over 80% of the items on my list.

This year’s list is simple and focused on finding Jesus in those that are placed before me.

All for Jesus through Mary!

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." ~ Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Top 10 Facts About My Love and Me

March 30, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, Dad, Marriage

i was inspired to do this post by betty beguiles. it’s the perfect birthday reflection for me!

ALL FOR!

~~~

my husband and i have been together for longer than we’ve been apart. we were high school sweethearts and have been together ever since, 19 years!

because we’ve been together 19 years, we know every cross and weakness of one another. we also know the great gifts that He has blessed the other with.

we did not always practice our faith, despite the fact that we were both cradle Catholics and in a Catholic high school. but one yes was our saving grace. that yes turned 16 on tues.

we have a secret longing to form a Catholic homestead community.

he takes care of the bedtime time routine (while i’m pregnant or nursing). i’ve been pregnant or nursing perpetually for roughly the past 7 years. : )

he gives a blessing to me and the children every morning and night.

we have three angels in heaven and long to be untied with them.

we have been stripped of our material wealth and health. we trust that He is refining us.

we are in our final year of LMC formation and God willing, we will be starting a local community.

The spirit of the LMC is one of total abandonment to God’s holy will, child-like trust in His Fatherly care and readiness for service in profound humility after the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Slaves to Jesus through Mary.

10.

we trust that we were designed for each other and we give thanks to the Good Lord for bringing us together and offering us the graces to persevere through our own failings — to lead us to a life that glorifies Him.

“To me Jesus is the Life I want to live, the Light I want to reflect, the Way to the Father, the Love I want to express, the JOY I want to share, the Peace I want to sow around me. Jesus is my everything.” ~ Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

~~~

our song

17 May Saints

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