GFG

Saintly Festivties

November 1, 2014 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: All Saints Day, Costumes, GFG Leave a Comment

Our Parish held their Annual All Saints Eve Party. It is a great joy for us to celebrate in anticipation for the blessed feast day.

This is the great family feast of the Mystical Body in its final triumph. The unnumbered and nameless multitude of saints, “out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues,” are our brothers and sisters in Christ at home with our Redeemer-Brother. Their sainthood is the fulfillment of living the eight Beatitudes. They are the great Christian heroes. “Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what things God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Cor. 2:9).

JOYfilledfamily Saint Line-up

(Missing – San Gennaro) St. Florian, St. John Bosco, St. Kateri, and St. Olga

St. Florian

Patron: against battle, against drowning, against fire, against flood, barrel-makers, brewers, chimney sweeps, coopers, drowning victims, fire prevention, firefighters, harvests, soap-boilers, Austria, Poland, and Chur, Switzerland.

St. Olga

She was the first Rus’ ruler to convert to Christianity. Olga was one of the first people of Rus’ to be proclaimed a saint, for her efforts to spread the Christian religion in the country.

St. John Bosco

Patron: Apprentices; boys; editors; Mexican young people; laborers; schoolchildren; students; young people.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Patron: Ecologists; ecology; environment; environmentalism; environmentalists; exiles; loss of parents; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety

St. Gennaro

Patron: patron of Naples, Italy; blood banks; volcanic eruption

Sweetness to My Ears

October 23, 2014 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: GFG, Lil' Man Leave a Comment

Lil’ Man likes to serenade anyone who will give him an ear. He especially likes Gregorian Chant but settles for almost any melody. It is sheer sweetness.

Qui bene cantat bis orat

He who sings well prays twice

Nine is Divine

September 30, 2014 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Birthday, GFG, Sweetie Leave a Comment

Sweetie turned nine this summer. We opted for a simple celebration in keeping with tradition.

Here is a photo montage of our precious Sweetie over the last nine years.

Baptism – Days Old

Weeks Old

Months Old

1 Year Old

Toddler Years

Early Little Flower Years

Welcoming Baby Brother – 2 Years Old

Standing for LIFE – 3 Years Old

Birthday Treasures – 4 Years Old

Birthday Buddies Celebration – 5 Years Old

Ready for School – 6 Years Old

Enjoying the Sweetness – 7 Years Old

7 Years Old

8 Years Old

Praise God for Sweetie!

{phfr} intagrams from august

September 14, 2013 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: {phfr}, GFG, Picture Recap Leave a Comment

we have officially entered into this new season that has been lingering before us. it is bittersweet and full of joy. we have much to give thanks for.

i will continue to strive to live in the moment and find Him in those before me—NOW! i will continue to seek to live in the moment so that i am part of the action not merely capturing the memories from behind a camera/phone.

may my mind and heart be the blog that pleases Him. may this physical blog be, only, a tool to help me better live out my vocation and share my JOY.

~~~

let the adventure begin. lil’ man and i accompanied rose on her college move. 6 days — good times for us all.

the final send-off

dialing in our eating. stuffed bell pepper casserole.

captain birthday boy

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E Birthday celebrations. Papi turned 6 on 8.24 and Sparkles turned 8 on 8.25. Dad and I also celebrated an anniversary on 8.25. DEO GRATIAS!!!

birthday buddies.

this is our planner of preference for this year. each family member (8+) has their own copy.

The three ballers enjoying their last few weeks of basketball before sis/coach leaves for college.

glow swimming into the wee hours of the night

we have the tooth fairy (aka papa) on speed dial

rose had to purge a bit but she managed to pack all her clothes and some books into 4 suitcases

thanks to space bags. we had to purchase everything else once we arrived in tx.

we crafted like mad-women for her college accessories

life of a teething baby

teething baby sleeping through the tears

the perks of having a sis who own’s a sweet shack, boba stop.

sweet baby cuddles

rose’s final send off.

my favorite [pastime, baby watching

we turned the highschool homeschool room/craft room into a guest room, fit for a “king.” we hosted the president of FMC. it was a great blessing to be able to share our home and time.