Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Happy liturgical new year that is. No you dont have to break out the Auld Lang Syne or the champane just yet, but this is still a cause for celebration. No only because it is a chance to begin again, to make resolutions of prayer and faithfulness but we begin advent (in latin, adventus) or "coming" again. We being the time of joyful patience where we await our Savior coming into our poor land, our lonely broken world to give us hope! (And as an extra bonus, us english speaking Catholics get a new translation of the mass - just enough of a change to perk our ears and make us pay attention to the words we say once again!)
A friend shared with me the words of Pope Benedict XVI during his homily last Saturday on the first First Sunday of Advent. Here are few lines that I thought were delightful.

"Man, in his life, is in constant waiting: When he is a child he wants to grow, as an adult he tends to his realization and success, growing in age, he aspires to his deserved rest. However the time comes in which he discovers that he has waited too little if, beyond his profession or social position, he has no choice but to wait. Hope marks the path of humanity, but for Christians it is animated by a certainty: The Lord is present in the course of our life, he accompanies us and one day he will also dry our tears...Dear brothers and sisters, let us live the present intensely, when we already have the gifts of the Lord, let us live it projected to the future, a future full of hope. The Christian Advent thus becomes an occasion to reawaken in ourselves the true meaning of waiting, returning to the heart of our faith which is the mystery of Christ, the Messiah awaited for long centuries and born in the poverty of Bethlehem. Coming among us, he has brought us and continues to offer us the gift of his love and of his salvation. Present among us, he speaks to us in many ways: in sacred Scripture, in the liturgical year, in the saints, in the events of daily life, in the whole of creation, which changes in aspect if he is behind it or if it is obfuscated by the mist of an uncertain origin and an uncertain future. In turn, we can speak to him, present to him the sufferings that afflict us, impatience, the questions that spring from the heart. We are certain that he always hears us!...Dear friends, Advent is the time of the presence and the expectation of the eternal. Precisely for this reason it is, in a particular way, the time of joy, of an internalized joy, that no suffering can erase. Joy because of the fact that God became a child. This joy, invisibly present in us, encourages us to walk with confidence. Model and support of this profound joy is the Virgin Mary, through whom the Child Jesus has been given to us. May she, faithful disciple of her Son, obtain for us the grace to live this liturgical time vigilant and diligent in waiting. Amen."

Megan's Bday!

So I realize this is way overdue, like a month, but these are some pictures from Megan's Birthday party. It was near Halloween so we had both our families over and made some crafts with the kids and had them wear their halloween costumes. The kids looked so cute and we had such a good time on her 26th birthday (as you can see by her picture with the Birthday sign and the Holy Father). 

A Perfect Dinner

Life Lessons

When one window closes another door opens. How true that is. I found out the literal meaning of that just 3 weeks ago when my dad came over to help us take out a window and put in a new door leading straight out to our patio. Prior to this door being installed we had to walk out the east side of our house and walk around to the west side to get to our patio to enjoy an outdoor dinner, grill, the chaise lounge and even our fire pit. But now we can walk right out to it all. Such a life saver. We were very fortunate that the 36" window which came out had the perfect opening for the 36" door that would replace it. Only some minor adjustments to the header of the door (the wood that goes above the door to help strengthen the wall around it so the ceiling above does not collapse) and we were able to slide the new door right in. Slap some trim on and BAM! we have a nice new entry way, a new opportunity to enjoy the blessings.
Megan and I have been trying to add to our family for quite some time and have been unsuccessful thus far (you can pray for us). And while we are reminded each month that we are unsuccessful we try to keep our hope knowing that the Lord won't keep taking windows out without putting in a new door. I believe that. While things may seem rough the Lord will fill the void with a more glorious blessing. Thanks for reading and for praying.

ILL...INI!

Megan and I ventured down to Champaign on October 1 for the UofI homecoming. We enjoyed an Illini football win, dinner with our friend and presider of our wedding Fr. John, and a beautiful day out at the apple orchard/pumpkin patch - where we got a whole lot of kettle corn and we saw a miniature horse which looked like lil' sabastian from the show Parks & Recreation!

I'm All Beef Baby!

Megan and I went shopping the other night. We bought everything except for beef, chicken, pork and more beef. So we stopped off at GFS (Gordon Food Service) who provides food to restaurants. aka: they have quality food in bulk. Well we took full advantage of the bulk getting this 9lb log of 85/15 beef for just $2.15/pound! Needless to say I had to take a picture with this massive chuck...and Megan wanted nothing to do with it.

Going All...Phillip Rivers!!!!

While doing the Walk for Life in Chicago today, which benefits the Women's Center, I heard about this article on Lifeteen. It's about an elite QB in the NFL, Phillip Rivers, who is outspokenly Catholic and seems to be in love with his faith - making Mass a priority on the one day he has a big test/meeting/examination during the fall & winter. Check this out. Our society needs more role models like him. It makes me even more happy I drafted him in my fantasy league.