What I found in the Living Room

While I was creating the last post about our Ravens game I asked Inch to take care of G-MAC. Mallu Mom was at a confirmation parent meeting with "U". Rose called me into the living room and this is what I saw.


All of the kids do such a great job taking care of G-MAC

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!

Our church has a pretty great High School Youth program. Prayer, Worship,the Sacraments and Service are all emphasized to the teens. Our teens help feed the homeless in Baltimore, and we have annual missions trips to Mexico and Mississippi.
This past Sunday our Church was recognized for our service by the M&T Bank Honor Rows Program
We were able to go see the Ravens play against the Browns. Inch and I went with about 80 others. Before the game they allowed us to get on the field (well only the sidelines) and watch the players warm up. During the third quarter they put us up on the Jumbo tron . The seats were not the best ones but it was still really great.

- Crucian Dad

#5 Joe Flacco warming up

Inch and the rest "giving advice" to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron

I told you the seats were not the best
I had to remember not to jump up too high or I might've hit the blimp

Humility

At Mass this morning the priest shared something he was meditating on from FURROW by Josemaria Escriva.
I was asking him about the book and he said I can borrow it since he has an extra copy. It was a wonderful lesson in humility, so I thought of sharing.


"Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:

—Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say;

—Always wanting to get your own way;

—Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners;

—Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so;

—Despising the point of view of others;

—Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan;

—Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own;

—Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation;

—Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you;

—Making excuses when rebuked;

—Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you;

—Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you;

—Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you;

—Refusing to carry out menial tasks;

—Seeking or wanting to be singled out;

—Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige...;

—Being ashamed of not having certain possessions..."


I think I will print this out and put it on my fridge as a reminder.... it's so easy forget. It's so difficult to live it out.
--Mallu Mom

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading:Numbers 11:25-29

Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14

Second Reading: James 5:1-6

Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48


How many sins have entered into the soul through the eye as Holy Scripture indicates? [1 Jn. 2:16]. That is why they must fast by keeping them lowered and not permitting them to look upon frivolous and unlawful objects; the ears, by depriving them of listening to vain talk which serves only to fill the mind with worldly images; the tongue, in not speaking idle words and those which savor of the world or the things of the world. We ought also to cut off useless thoughts, as well as vain memories and superfluous appetites and desires of our will. In short, we ought to hold in check all those things which keep us from loving or tending to the Sovereign Good.

-- St. Francis de Sales

* from www.ewtn.com
--U

Field Trip to the Science Center

Make a Smilebox slideshow

September 23rd, 2002

Rose, just weeks before diagnosis.
We used to play with her tummy and say you are finally gaining weight! little did we know.....

Seven years ago yesterday, we heard the words that no parent wants to hear " Your daughter has a tumor." Rose was under two years old and was diagnosed with cancer in both her kidneys. We had just moved state side from Turkey a month prior to that. We had tried hard to get orders to Italy but those fell through. As disappointed as we were that we didn't get to stay oversees, God had a better place in mind for us. He send us back to the states where there was a top notch children's hospital, He always knows best! After 2 surgeries and 5 months of chemo,we are blessed to say she is in good health. Although I wouldn't wish to go through this again, I am grateful because we grew closer to Our Lord as an outcome. We offered up so much of her suffering for conversion of souls. We are very grateful that God send many people our way to help us in our time of need.

On another note, September 23, 2002 was Padre Pio's first feast day! When we lived in Turkey we meet a priest who witnessed Padre Pio bilocate! It was through him we heard of Padre Pio, so I did ask the good Padre for prayers for Rose. I didn't realize the significance of this date until a couple of years later.
--Mallu Mom

Adventurers we are!

We have a huge amount of trees in our backyard.

That's only part of the forest

I would call it a forest. We were bored Sunday so we called over some of my friends to explore it with us.

Adventurers we are!

There were several rivers, ("U" tried to vault across one. Emphasis on tried)
We also came upon a strange fence in the middle. We found a hole in the fence and got to an abandoned construction lot...it was cool.

"U" using his superpowers to make a hole in the fence

Also I learned an important lesson...

Never let your brother know you are going to take a picture of him, he will hog the camera.

-Inch

Where's the fish?

In the past week we've been to two different churches that has a baptismal font with flowing water. As soon as GMAC heard the flowing water, she started to sign water, then she signed bath. When we went to look at the font she signed and said "fish" and was looking for the fish. She was quite facinated . It is the cutest thing to watch.

Sigining

A friend of ours gave GMAC a gift, Baby Signing Time, Dvd's & CD's. It has opened up a whole new world for us. We didn't realize how much really goes on in that little mind. We don't let GMAC watch the tube at all, the only exception is Signing time. She watches it once, maybe twice a week. It's amazing how much she has learned, and how well she can communicate with us by singing. She asks us to eat, drink, to take a bath and so much more by signing. She also knows how to sign Jesus, and Mary, no she didn't learn that from the DVD, she learned that from one of my friends. When GMAC listens to the CD in the van, Rose and even the boys sign with her. I would have to say the whole family has learned quite a bit of sign language form this wonderful gift.

an unexpected gift

We received a really nice gift in the mail this week. Someone sent us a roll of mailing labels with our name address and a little fish symbol on them. It was nothing extravagant but we all thought that it was really sweet. Thank you to whomever sent it our way. Please give us a call or drop us an email so we can thank you in person

-- Cruzan Dad

Joyfully serving the Lord

Back in the spring Rose was invited by a friend to go to Oratory with the Sister Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara. Oratory is (In Roses own words) " a place to have fun and hang out with sisters and learn awesome stuff about God!! the sisters play lots of games with us too"

My first time there I recognized one of the sisters from our parish, she was part of what our family called "the pajama crew" We would see her and some of her friends at Mass every Saturday morning, sometimes in their PJs! We thought that it was amazing that a group of teen girls would choose to be at Mass early Saturday morning. Sister Porte Caeli as she is now known professed her first vows yesterday along with 7 other young women. The sisters faces were so filled with radiant joy that it was beautiful to witness. We felt blessed be a part of the celebration.

Rose really liked the fact that the sister received a crown of flowers, along with their new blue veils.


-- Mallu Mom & Mystical Rose

PS another one of the "the pajama crew" recently joined a cloistered Dominican order.
Please keep them in your prayers

Mystical Rose and Sister Porte Caeli after mass

Soccer has begun

This is our 3rd year with with a family friendly sports league. All three kids love to play soccer, and what we like is that all the ages practice at the same time in the same place. All of the games are Saturday mornings and are all done by noon. The league emphasizes great values and FRIENDLY competition. It has been really great to see all of the kids improve their skills over the last few years.

My sister was visiting and was able to take picture of the first games. Unfortunately Rose was feeling sick and missed the first game.
---Crucian Dad

Remembering 9/11

We will be offering our Mass and Rosary today for all the victims of 9/11, and their family and friends.

The pictures below are from our visit to the World Trade Center, back in 2007. It was a very emotional experience.

A tale of two sisters

Here is a funny observation

Both Mallu Mom and I have sisters with the same first name.

But the similarities don't end there.

Both sisters

• work with young children in classrooms
  
• are very artistic
• have gotten into photography
• have turned their photography into side businesses
• Look and act younger than they are
• are very funny
• they are both very helpful
• are very loved by their Nieces and Nephews

Eternal rest grant unto him

Today we buried a friend of ours.
We knew him and his wife through World Wide Marriage Encounter
Charles lived by the words "Love Never Fails" He suffered greatly with ALS for the last two years, but he never stopped smiling.
He died a beautiful Christian death, surrounded by family, right after mass was celebrated in his home.
We will miss him a great deal.

8 am didn't work out as well

So, we tried to see how our school day would work after going to 8 am Mass. Overall we had a good day at school but it looks like we will be sticking with 6:30 Mass. The kids weren't as eager to wake up and do their chores, there was a whole lot more traffic, and we didn't start school until almost 9. Yesterday, we got up and out the door in 25 minutes, came home ate breakfast, did chores and started school by 8.... so we will stick to 6:30. Now the only dilemma is to be disciplined enough to go to bed on time so we aren't so darn tired in the morning ;-)

Mallu Mom