Liam's Baptism

Liam, you were baptized on April 19th at St. Joseph Church here in our little town. It was special and beautiful. I will work my hardest to teach you all about Jesus and why we live our lives to help others in our own unique special ways. We should always try our best to love others, no matter what. We need to pray for those who are in their hardest times and know that we are all equal and children of God. Every person matters and every person deserves love and an amazing life.
We love you little peanut!

Here you are with your proud Godparents (Auntie Anne and Uncle Brian) and Daddy making funny faces...


 

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I'm a Catholic but so much more.

I officially became a Catholic at Easter Vigil this year! What a special night in a zillion ways. My relationship with my Heavenly Father has deepened and I'm grateful for that. He has shown me the way to so much healing and I'm grateful for that too. Here are a select few photos of the ceremony.

Before the ceremony; that's the baptism font behind me there.


Going through the Mass but before baptism


Kneeling in the font (filled with Holy Water) and getting baptized. Wow!


I was glad the water was heated!


Here I'm going through my Confirmation and there's Holy Chrism (scented oil blessed by the Cardinal) being rubbed on my forehead (sealing me)


Father Peter giving me my First Communion


The whole experience is something I cannot describe...nothing is fitting. But I can say it was more amazing than I'd hoped.
I've been on my faith journey all my life and felt a major pull from God to rely on Him more. That all my answers to the struggles in my heart are with Him. I have found healing from past hurts. I've found more peace, too, knowing the losses from my 4 previous miscarriages before Paige came along are in heaven. They are enjoying peace, light, comfort and love. I have 4 other children I will meet one day and I often sit and think about them and wonder what they are like. The love for them exists here and in heaven. That is special.
Now that I belong to a faith community, I feel like I have a place to go where other people feel like I do. I have a place where I can use my gifts and talents God has given me. I can find ways to show love to others through ministry and self-donation. Wherever I go I like to look around to see if there's a way I can help someone...carry their bags, look for an item, help with their kids, etc. It feels nice even when I can do something little. And now, I can teach my love for God to my children so they can know that they are perfect and special and part of an amazing creation.
As I move forward in my life, I will include God in my plans, goals, thoughts and decisions. I know that He wants the best for me and I want that too!
I am a wife and mother first, I'm a friend, an artist and a helper. God has blessed me with these callings and I will do my best to carry them forth with a happy content heart!

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Becoming a Catholic

Have I told you that I've been working on becoming a Catholic? It's true. Chris is a devout Catholic and the kids have been baptized Catholic. I grew up Christian, but without a religion in specific. And that's been fine by me. I've forged my own relationship with God and have found so much peace and comfort through Him on my own. But over the past several years I've found myself wondering about my purpose. What am I here to do? What are my gifts and talents for? What is the plan for my life? These are mysteries we all live with but the questions have been tugging at my soul. I felt such unrest! I kept thinking maybe I needed a new job, or a new house, or a change of scenery. I never felt all the way fulfilled. But after a particularly hard day, I realized that I was missing a stronger relationship with God…the kind that comes through a community of others who share and celebrate the same beliefs. I spent the better part of a year or more researching religions and reading everything I could about different faith groups, their traditions and histories.
I realized, after my research, that your faith is what you make it. And that has made all the difference. So, I decided to join the family in celebrating within the Catholic faith. I've been learning about it for well over a year now and I will be Baptized, take my first Communion, and have my Confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass this year. I'm so excited about it! I'm looking forward to ways I can share my gifts and talents with others and my children through Ministry. I'm so curious to know how God wants me to help others in the best way. I'm praying about it and know an answer will come in time. I have plenty to do in the meantime!
I must say, I've come to really appreciate and respect people and all their different beliefs. It is fascinating to see so many people looking for ways to make it peacefully and purposefully through the lives they've been given. I even have several atheist friends who have their own ways of finding special meaning in their days here. I'm so happy we have the freedom to believe how we would like to. We can care for one another no matter what our beliefs and that is a special privilege. I'm hoping to share more about how my faith journey has been changing my life for the better.


Here is Cardinal Sean O'Malley declaring us Elects.


Here's Chris and Me at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston for the Rite of Election.

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