Mother Cabrini Shrine and Pilgrimage thoughts

On Saturday, after our visit up to Mt. Evans, we stopped at the 

Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO. 

There was more there than we realized and we made a little pilgrimage of sorts 

(and as you'll read, I'm still making one in my heart...)

The Shrine is in the hills and used to be a summer camp for the girls of Queen of Heaven Orphanage. 

The building above is where the Main Chapel as well as the Gift Shop is located.  We made a quick stop there first as that is where the Doors of Mercy are located.  How blessed we were as a family in this Year of Mercy to enter two different sets of Doors of Mercy!

Door of Mercy

In a side chapel of the Main Chapel, there were three walls of beautiful stained glass windows depicting some main events in her life.  There are descriptions that we read together every few windows and the girls learned a lovely, brief overview of her life through the descriptions and pictures put together. 

 

Just outside the Main Chapel are the Cabrini Gardens, the Cabrini Museum, and a Meditation Walk. 

With the kids, it's difficult to truly be a pilgrim, taking the time to pray and reflect in the same way you could if you were on your own or with other adults.  We walked through the Cabrini Gardens reading some of the interesting facts (That statue is from the Gardens) and we also passed through the Cabrini Museum (picture on the right above).  Inside the "museum" (it is housed in what used to be the pump house) was a corner with coloring sheets of Mother Cabrini so that we could explore a little while the girls colored briefly. 

A view from the Cabrini Gardens down on the property.  The hillside with the pines leading up is where Stairway of Prayer leads up to the large Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue. 

 

Just as you begin the Stairway of Prayer, there is a large crucifix. 

 It is here that I'll begin sharing just a little of how my week has been one filled with many personal trials.  If you know me, I'm a do-er.  And I'm prone to worry and anxiety because I want to do all the things, make everyone happy, and unfortunately, that just can't happen all the time.  I can't do everything all the time.  And most of all I can't control what others do, say, and feel, and thus I can't make everyone happy all the time. 

As you walk up the 373 steps (quite a workout in case you were wondering), there are beautiful Stations of the Cross to pray along the way.  Again, with kids, we can't make it as prayerful in that sense, but we said some Hail Marys along the way up for loved ones and special intentions we each had. 

Over the course of the next few days after our pilgrimage, I have had some days of deep discouragement.  As I noted, I have a hard time letting things go that I can't control and giving them to God.  When I'm tired, I just keep pushing myself--too hard and get burnt out.  When I'm hurt, I just keep trying to find new solutions to resolve the situation.  And eventually I just can hardly even function.  I got to that point about some personal things in my life right now on Sunday (the day after our pilgrimage) and just felt so much attack from the devil.  I cried hard.  I tried to pray.  And I was just broken.   

 

After the Stations, there are beautiful depictions of the mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious).  Little Sophie walked up most of the 373 stairs on her own and stopped at most of the mysteries of the Rosary to find Jesus as well.  

And in my brokenness, I'm realizing that I'm still on my pilgrimage.  

This pilgrimage we made as a family was really just the beginning of some time I needed to give myself to pray and reflect on some of my personal crosses.  

I don't often share about this sort of thing, because life already has so much negativity, and it seems to be everywhere I look these days.  I try to fill our lives (and thus our blog) with as much joy and love and peace as I can instead.  But the reality is that sometimes the suffering and the crosses are necessary to get to the joy ahead.  

Mother Cabrini had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and this statue (made in Italy) stands atop the hill visible from many points below.  It was erected in 1954. 

This heart made from stones was arranged by Mother Cabrini and some of the sisters and girls from the orphanage on her last visit in 1912, dedicating the hill to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is enclosed in glass now.  

At the top of the hill, surrounding the large statue are the Ten Commandments on these stone structures.  So much to ponder atop this mountain.  

For me, there was a lot of suffering and hurt that I've been carrying with me.  I'm still on that journey of pondering, but in the last few days I have come to recognize that I have a VERY hard time surrendering to Christ.  

I see a need and I want to meet it.  I see a problem and I want it fixed.  

But as I said before, I can't.  Because the only person I have control over is myself.  And sometimes the problems I want to fix involve others.  I want everyone's lives to be full of love and peace.  But I can't make that choice for others.  It has to be their choice.  

And honestly, as I found out in the last couple days, I have a very hard time making that choice for myself.  To let go.  To let God's will be done and not mine.  

We descended the stairway and headed to the Grotto.  Chris snapped that picture of the girls and I kneeling to say a quick little prayer there for family, friends, and other random intentions.  

Below the Grotto is The Spring.  The property did not have easy access to water for drinking and cooking, and when the sisters complained of the inconvenience, Mother Cabrini pointed out a place to dig in 1912 and a spring sprung up from there that still runs today (though it is now housed in a large tank and comes out of faucets).  We all had a drink of the cool, refreshing water.  

Not pictured is a Rosary Garden that lies next to the Spring.  

It was a beautiful day, filled with family and prayer.  

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us. 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. 

In closing, I would ask for your prayers as I continue on my personal pilgrimage.  It's one that lasts a lifetime because it involves me continually saying "Not my will, but yours be done, O Lord." and living it out.  

It's so easy for me to get discouraged because I want so much to love Christ, and I feel so often that I'm failing so horribly at it.  And in fact, I often truly am failing horribly at it.  But this small pilgrimage within my lifelong one reminded me that GOD is BIGGER.  His grace is sufficient and I need only to call out to his mercy, "Jesus, I trust in You." and "Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief."

He will surely do the rest. 

Witness to Love- a Book Review

Several months back (I'm rather ashamed to say just how many), I received this book, Witness to Love by Ryan and Mary-Rose Verret, to review.  It's full title includes this description "How to Help the Next Generation Build Marriages that Survive and Thrive".  As I'm sure you've gathered at this point, it's a book about marriage.

The book can be read by any number of persons though, not just those that are married which I think is what makes it somewhat unique in the realm of books on marriage.  You'll see why when I explain a bit more about the book itself, but it can be read by those discerning the vocation of marriage (single people), clergy, engaged couples, newly married couples, and couples who have been married for years.  Each of these groups has a part to play in the strategy that this book outlines.  

The very basic and general summary of the Witness to Love is that it's a book about marriage mentoring.  In other words, Ryan and Mary-Rose suggest that a key to strong marriage is having strong mentorship in the vocation of marriage--a couple that you and your spouse can look up to, learn from, and share with as you live out your marriage vows each and everyday.  

Ryan and Mary-Rose do an excellent job of citing research about divorce rates and other causes of strife and struggle in marriage to solidify their point that a sense of 'community' and 'accountability' and yes, 'solidarity' are needed to build strong marriages that last.  

They have developed a program (I strongly suggest checking out their website for additional info) for marriage prep that takes this idea of mentorship and puts it into practice.  Each engaged couple is encouraged to think of a couple whose marriage they admire and ask them to 'mentor' them.  Parts of the book offer wonderful guide questions for mentors to ask as well as questions for those seeking a mentor to ask themselves when seeking a mentor couple.  And Ryan and Mary-Rose establish very clearly that there is no "perfect mentoring couple".  We are all on a journey and our experience AND our continued struggles have a place in  our own growth as couples as well as the mentorship we can offer others.  

Additionally the book explains and discusses different situations that engaged couples approach the altar in--some might have been civilly married and are now being married in the church, some might be young couples, some might have long history of divorce or infidelity in their families (or themselves), some might be living together etc.

One of the other important points is that this marriage mentorship doesn't end on the wedding day.  It's meant to be a relationship going forward that can help and support the couple as they navigate the journey of the marriage vocation.  The wedding day is really just the beginning of the journey and it is so important for couples to have someone they can turn to who will love and support their marriage.  So often when people struggle, they turn inward or they feel as though they must be the only ones struggling.  The reality is that every marriage, even those who have been married for 5, 10, 20, 50 years, requires daily love in action, prayer, encouragement, and work.  No one's marriage is perfect and we all need help, support, love, encouragement, and prayer along the way.

The beauty of this type of marriage prep program is that it isn't just about preparing you for a day, it's about giving you the tools to keep your marriage alive 'until death do us part'.   And it's not just the young couples being mentored who gain from this.  As the book points out, often the mentor couple, too, learns, grows, and is encouraged through this kind of relationship.  In fact, the book encourages those who may be interested in being a mentor to find a mentor couple of their own if they don't already have one.  And it's not about 'knowing more' than anyone else; it's about humbly and honestly seeking support and encouragement from other godly couples.

Chris and I don't have a "formal" mentor couple, but we have discussed the question of which couples we know whom we admire greatly.  As a result of that conversation, we have at times in our marriage sought out a couple who have been married several years longer than us and whom we admire in their prayerfulness, commitment to each other first and foremost (after God obviously), and in the witness to love we have seen in their Marriage Sacrament from being friends with them.  I  know I can go to her when I am frustrated by something Chris has said or done and I can be sure that she is a safe person because we have had the honest conversation that my marriage is the priority not my feelings.  Certainly she gives me comfort, but not to gossip with me or disparage my husband.  She knows that when I'm coming to her it's not because I want to be told that I'm right, it's because I want to improve my marriage and I'm having a hard time seeing past myself and my feelings in the moment.  And I know I can tell her anything about myself or Chris and she won't spread it and she won't judge us.  She is there to pray with me, to support me, and to help me work on loving without counting the cost.  I can't say that I'm always perfect and that I always seek out help immediately.  Sometimes I sit and stew about things.  But when I DO go to my trusted friend, I never regret it, just as I never regret pouring my heart out to God.  This kind of support and love from others is a huge help in the journey of marriage.  

(How can I not share a picture from our wedding in a post like this?  

It's hard to believe that was almost 8 years ago already.)

I received this book to review and my views are my own.  I sincerely think that this is a marriage prep program that every parish could benefit from and even if it's not actually implemented by your parish, the idea of marriage mentorship is one that should be shared with others and implemented personally.  If your parish doesn't offer this as part of marriage prep, seek out a mentor couple whom you admire on your own and get support for your marriage whether you are engaged, newly married, or have been married for 10 or 15 years.  Surround yourself with godly people who can help you live out this very important vocation.  Better yet, be pro-active.  Help get this program started at your parish!  There's all sorts of info about that on the website. 

I'll end with this quote from the book:

"We need to be reminded continually that there is nothing in God's plan that calls us to mediocrity.  If marriage is your vocation, then settling for something less than God wants for you means that you are not living out your vocation."

Hiking and Thoughts

Hidden among the fun and peacefulness of the last few days has also been some anxiety and stress that Satan loves to slam me with in the form of news that hubby will be out of town several times this month for various reasons.  He's taking Kayla on her annual backpacking trip soon and he'll also be traveling for several days for work this month. Anyone who really knows me knows I turn into a hot mess when Chris is gone.  I realize many people have it far worse than I do, but that logic doesn't work because I don't live my life by comparisons.  My cross is my own and for me one or two nights is a heavy cross to bear.

And, as is the case with him taking Kayla backpacking, I obviously am a fan of him taking our daughter on a special trip and them getting to spend time together doing something they love, but again, that doesn't make the "him being gone" part all that much easier for me.  I still miss him a lot, I still have to bear the brunt of parenting on my own while he's gone, and it's just a big weight on my heart.  I know that all sounds ridiculous to most people, but this is who I am, and this is a big struggle for me.  The past week preparing for the backpacking trip separation was already beginning to weigh on me a little, and then the additional news today of business travel froze me.  Ugh.  

Anyway, I'm just asking for a few extra prayers for a little extra grace and peace in my heart.  

That's it. 

God is ever reminding me to put my trust in Him, and He's constantly giving me opportunities to trust Him...

This past weekend's hike was lovely and peaceful and though I can't say it lifted all the weight off, it was a beautiful opportunity to be together, get exercise and fresh air, and bask in the splendor of our incredible Creator.  

 

 

Life as a Prayer

Last week, I saw this post by Haley (Carrots for Michaelmas) about moms and prayer shared on Facebook.  The following quote really stood out to me (and no, it wasn't just because it was the first line and it was in bold-hehe).  "Sometimes I make the mistake of separating my spiritual life from my vocation as a wife and mother. I see my children as distractions from prayer and spirituality, rather than an opportunity to love God. "

That same week, I finally listened to this amazing Building Bridges Podcast featuring guest Mark Hart.  I cannot stress how amazing this podcast was for me.  The title is a little deceptive because suffering is only part of the conversation.  He also chats about prioritizing, PRAYER, marriage, and so much more!  

Additionally, I have been reading a book called Breathe- Creating space for God in a Hectic Life the past several weeks.  The basic premise of this book is about prioritizing your life and allowing yourself the freedom to say no to things that don't bring you closer to Christ.  That sometimes means saying no to GOOD things.  Because sometimes, we are doing things to "maintain an image" instead of because we love Christ and want to bring Him glory.  I know if I'm being honest, there are many times that I just say yes when people ask for help because "God would want me to because it's the nice, helpful thing to do".  And sometimes that means that I am stretched really thin at home and lash out at my husband and kids.  Every choice isn't between good and evil.  Some choices are between good and good, but you have to listen to the still small voice inside and do what God is asking of you.
 

   

It shouldn't be news to most of you that I am a perfectionist.  I like to do things, and I like to do them well.  Now there's nothing wrong with that, in and of itself, but words of affirmation is also one of my primary love languages.  This means I struggle all the time with doing the right things FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.  I thrive on people's affirmations and praises.  

So when I put on a party for my daughter's birthday, if people tell me that everything looks awesome and the food was great, I'm happy.  But I sometimes, forget that the reason for the party was not for me to feel awesome, needed, or helpful--it was to celebrate my daughter's life and to put a smile on her face and have fun creating.  Sometimes I am able to throw a party that is nicely put together, but my focus stays where it should on the celebration of life and on my daughter, and I enjoy the creative aspect as a side.   BUT sometimes, I get so carried away in the details being just so that I end up missing out on really participating in the party, because I'm running around taking care of everything.  I'm really trying to pray about how I go about things these days and making choices that fall into God's plan for my life, not feed an image.  

My plan to simplify really has a lot to do with putting priorities back in place.  I do pray.  I have always prayed.  But it's often shoved to the background because, well, did you read Haley's post?  Life is hectic with kids.  Who has time for a lot of quiet, alone time and daily Mass and adoration?  But in reading Haley's post and listening to that podcast, I'm realizing it's about understanding that my life is a prayer if I make it one.  It's about my heart and my attitude.  If I'm intentional, there are so many different, exciting, unique ways to center my life on Christ each day.  

Out of curiousity, I wrote down ways that I have tried, at various times, to pray throughout my day as a mom.  I was surprised at how many different ways I do pray, and thrilled to find that I could feasibly do most of them every single day.  WOW!

Here's my list:
**Please note that these are all things I do sporadically now.  It's my hope to be more intentional and make my life more of a prayer by using things I already do here and there on a more regular basis and "pray with my feet" more (as Haley put it.) ** 

My Favorite Ways to Pray:

Prayer Journal
(the girls and I have quiet time and do our own prayer journaling for 10-15 minutes after breakfast in the morning)

Gratitude Journal 

(sometimes, I do this through a less formal medium like a post on Instagram with Blessed Is She's #projectblessed hashtag, which is a fun way to get connected with other Christ-centered women as well and be encouraged!)

daily Mass
(I aim for 1 day a week with the girls)

Reflect on Saint quotes and/or Scripture
(I like to write verses/quotes on note cards and decorate them a little and put them around the house.  I switch them out and use old notecards as bookmarks or glue them into my prayer journal.  I also use dry erase markers to write verses on the mirrors sometimes).

Rosary
(I sometimes do it decade by decade as I have a chance throughout the day.  Sometimes I use these YouTube videos and pray while I do chores or even in the middle of the night when I'm nursing)

Praise and Worship
(Chris plays guitar, and we try to set aside Friday evenings for family praise and worship.  Additionally, I play my "Matt Maher" station on Pandora during the day and jam out while I'm cleaning or while the kids eat and of course, in the car!)

Offer it Up
(I try really hard-and often fail-to offer up doing chores I hate or keeping my mouth closed when I really want to say something as little sacrifices throughout my day.  I can almost hear my mom now, "Don't waste the suffering, Laura.".....

Prayer Places
(We have certain places/times that we often end up praying.  These include, but are not limited to:  before meals, before bed, in the car, when someone gets/needs a timeout, when we pass a Catholic church, when we hear a siren, etc. Obviously our bedtime routine with the kids is more drawn out and we say several prayers together and talk about what we're thankful for and pray for others, but a quick Our Father with the kid in the timeout corner, or a Hail Mary when we hear a siren etc. all help us lift our eyes to heaven throughout our day)

Daily readings
(I follow Blessed Is She on Facebook or you can find the devotions on the BIS website and they have the daily readings plus a little reflection.  On good days, I start my day off by going there.  I also have my Magnificat that I can use.

Go outside
(Seriously, it is incredible how getting outside and taking some time to enjoy God's creation can be so, so good for one's soul.  Whether I just step outside and take a few deep breaths or whether I am able to get outside for a run or a walk with the family, it is so peaceful.)

Family Consecration
(We fell out of routine with this when we moved, but we wrote a Family Consecration which I love, love, love!)

3-minute Retreat
(This is through the Loyola Press website, but I was introduced to it by my mom's group and it's a really nice way to take a quick pause in your day and regain your perspective and your peace.)

Chaplet of Divine Mercy
(I love the Chaplet, and after listening to Mark Hart on the podcast, I think I might set a 3 O'Clock Mercy Hour alarm and try my best to stop and do a quick chaplet each day at that time.)

Serving my family
(Every little aspect of the daily grind can all be a prayer as well if I do it with love and joy and for the glory of God!)

What are ways that you like to
  "pray without ceasing"
throughout your day??? 

I'd love to hear your ideas for keeping
 Christ at the center of your thoughts each day.


Check out more amazing posts about the power of prayer here.
#BISsisterhood

Why the Merge?

Long ago when I first started blogging,it was here in this comfortable, little B is for Bissonnette blog space.  As time went on, I felt that perhaps I wanted to share more in the way of crafting and educational ideas and faith-filled reflections.  But I wasn't so sure I wanted to share our family so publicly, and thus was born the idea of my second blog, Roses for Mommy.  

During the 2 1/2 years that I maintained the two blogs, I continued to keep a record of the goings-on within our family unit at B is for Bissonnette and used the Roses for Mommy blog as a platform to be able to share educational ideas, recipes, reflections, etc. in a more public setting.  My hope, at the time, was to reach further with my reading audience and be able to cast my net deeper to reach out to others (moms especially) who were going through similar struggles and to share and encourage. 

And I really enjoyed it for awhile.  Eventually, as more and more kids came along, and we made the choice to homeschool Kayla for Kindergarten (and now First Grade), I began to feel the strain from trying to keep up with not one, but two blogs.  I could always find inspiration to write in the Scriptures when all else failed, but all I did was write.  It left me very little time to really reflect on and live out the words the Spirit was speaking in my life.  I kept trying because that is what I do.  I don't give up.  I work harder.  

But my health and my family end up taking the toll, and after listening to this Building Bridges podcast, it suddenly became just so apparent that I needed to let some things go.  Jenna Guizar spoke in the podcast about how she made the decision to stop blogging and it opened up time and talent for God to use her gifts to found Blessed Is She.  And most of all, she felt peace.  

I didn't hear an actual "voice", but I heard it in my soul.  It was a whisper, an affirmation, that I didn't have to do it all.  I wasn't letting God down by giving up on expanding my blog and reaching more people.  I thought back to when I was really and truly excited and at peace about blogging.  Most of my thoughts centered around blogging about my simple, ordinary, real life with my little family.  

As a little girl, my mom would tell you that I only ever really wanted to be a mom.  Eventually, I also found that I loved teaching and child development.  I loved creativity and music.  I loved pictures and poetry.  I loved reading.  I still do.  

And I have all those things in my family blog.  I am blessed to be a mother to 4 beautiful little ones, and we are currently homeschooling our oldest, Kayla.  I am teaching.  I am writing and reading.  I am singing to my little ones and exploring God's vast world with them and my incredible husband.  And I don't need to share those experiences with the whole world to fulfill my vocation.  

So I am returning to blogging from that simple, honest perspective here.  

This is my vocation.  To love and care for the family God has given me.  Simply.  

Filled with peace. 

Happy 4th Birthday, Elise!

Dear Elise,

 How in the world can you be 4 already?  Your daddy and I were looking back at old blog posts the other day, and you were just so little!  And now, we've blinked and you are somehow 4 years old already!  But though you may be getting taller and wiser, you still give us the same goofy grins and make (some of) the same (plus more!) hilarious faces.  

 

You continue to be a spirited bundle of energy.  When you and Kayla play together, games often end in a laughing 'rumble' because you get so giddy and exhilarated in your pretend play.  You begin with a few giggles, then suddenly you are pouncing on your big sis amid chortles and loud squeals of delight.  You love to laugh, plain and simple.  

 

 

This year, you have followed closely behind your big sister, wanting to do many of the things she does.  It took awhile, but you finally got your turn (and then a few more!) on Jingles, the favorite horse of Walt Disney and the favorite horse of Kayla.  And of course, your favorite horse as well.  You defend her, look up to her, fight with her, play with her, and love her with all your heart.

You even beg to "do school" with her!

When Kayla is around, you can be a bit of a bully with Ava at times.  You are quick to come to Kayla's defense at those times; though you needn't.   I love watching the three of you play together: laughing, dancing, and singing.  It truly does remind me of the March sisters in Little Women; happy, light-hearted, full of imagination, and fun!

 

When Kayla isn't around or when she wants some alone time, you jump right into clowning around and playing with Ava.  You still have spats from time to time, but usually you girls are quite gracious and amiable toward one another.  I love that you have built-in playmates and are learning to get along so nicely with each other.  My heart delights when I hear the sweet giggles and watch your vivid imaginations run wild as you play together.  It is certainly our hope and prayer that you will all be close and remain good friends as you grow up and leave our home.  

   

Elise, you are our auditory learner and as such, tend to be more "touchy-feely" than the rest.  It's not at all uncommon for you to meet someone and be reaching out to feel the texture of their clothing or caress their arm.  You don't often let us simply sit and hold you, but when you do, you are always and forever stroking our arms or back.  

You learn much differently than Kayla does, so there was awhile I wondered if you'd ever show a true interest in learning letters, numbers, colors, shapes....but then you'd suddenly pipe up with a "B is for baby, Mommy! That's a B! (or something similar).  I realized that I needed to step out of the learning "box" I'd tried to fit you into and work more on speaking the lessons and finding ways to allow you to touch and feel the learning I wished you to master.  Sure enough, you are really coming out of your learning shell and showing us the knowledge you have already gained by listening.  

For example, Kayla is almost always willing to say a few Hail Marys or a decade of the Rosary with me, but you usually show no interest and sometimes would flat out refuse to even repeat the prayer after me.  But one day, when you had heard us pray it many times over and felt confident, you suddenly piped up and vocalized the entire Hail Mary just like that.  

You are also beginning to love games.  If we allow it, you would play game after game after game of "Saints Go Fish" and "Frozen Uno".  

And ever the goofball with an expression for your every emotion, here are some pictures where everyone else looks mostly the same from photo to photo and you, my dear Elise, change your facial expression for each and every single picture.  

You crack us up.  All. The. Time.

Ok, most of the time....

You have always been very passionate and emotionally charged.  For years, we've called you our little bird because you flap your arms like wings in the thrill of the moment when words just don't seem to be enough.  In the past year, your arm flapping has lessened and you formed a new habit, one that stresses me out.  When you are excited or upset, you bite your left hand.  So now, we try to put a bandage on your hand in the hope of dissuading you from further injuring yourself.  And of course, we take any and every opportunity we can to help you slow down and express yourself in words. You are so very expressive and enthusiastic, and it just wants to spill out in every way possible; some better for your well-being than others. 

 

You have many rather irrational fears.  And you tend to lose your marbles over them.  Things like your headband falling under the seat of the car while we are driving.  Or Ava touching Kayla and/or using something that Kayla may have been possibly perhaps thinking about playing with.  You also have some normal childhood fears.  Actually you have them all.  Pretty much any childhood fear that you or anyone you know ever had, you have them all, Elise.  You are afraid of the dark (there were a good many rides at Disneyland that you wouldn't and/or still refuse to ride on).  You were sure there were monsters in your closet/under your bed/in the bathtub/on the ceiling...  You constantly think we are just going to leave without you.  We don't watch movies that have even close-to-scary-villains, because the sharks in Nemo, the mouse running around in the kitchen in Ratatouille, and the Teddy Bear in Toy Story 3 freak you out enough...  You will go in the pool and enjoy swimming, but you hate being squirted with water (so no sprinklers, water park fountain play, or squirt guns) because they cause an entirely different kind of water works.

 


Currently you love to read (look at books extensively), do "school" (letters, numbers, colors, projects), dance, sing, dig in the dirt, imaginative play, "house".  You are very affectionate and love to remind us that you love us (and we love to be reminded).  Smack in the middle of Lent, you started singing "Christ is risen from the dead! dadadadadadada! Come away!  Come away!" at Mass one Sunday.  haha, you liturgically incorrect rebel, you!  I guess we'll have to go over the words of the song before Easter though.  You don't quite have them down.

 

You are our "Leesie-B", "Elisey", or "Leesie".  You are still our silly bean.  You are my little squirt.  You are our total goofball.  You are a big goob, and our precious little angel.  What a gift we received from Heaven when you were born.  We love you, Elise Marianna!

For your special birthday meal this year, you chose Daddy's specialty chicken wings, Mommy's homemade mac and cheese, and fresh pineapple.  

The cake choice was "strawberry"....

Mommy interpreted that to be homemade vanilla pound cake (using the vanilla extract that Daddy made a couple months ago!), homemade whipped cream, and fresh strawbs from a local farm.  Mmmmm, Strawberry Shortcake.

 

The majority of the pictures from you opening your gift were of you holding something in front of your face...like this one (and many others that I did not share here)

 

My favorite ^^

Happy Birthday, sweetie pie pants!  We love you forever and always.