Today marks the second day of the year 2016. Wow! Where did last year go? 2015 proved to be a wonderful year. God's grace abounded in our family and Katie and I achieved new levels in our penitential potential. With the arrival of two beautiful new daughters August 23rd, life has catapulted into a higher gear. Who new that twins would be so much work? (ha!) Twice as many dirty diapers, twice as much raging screams at all hours, twice as much demands for a feeding frenzy, twice as much love, twice as much infant-smiles and adorable cuteness, five times the amount of pre-Mass preparation, seven times the amount and unnecessary anxiety, and last but not least, a amazing feeling of God's gracious blessing's poured out onto us. How awesome it is to gaze into these two little gifts eyes and receive their warm, innocent smiles!
2015 has also brought to us the gift of friendship of the Aranda family. This family, of fourteen, has shown us what true, unbiased friendship is. They have been readily available, on all levels, to assist us, to comfort us, to laugh with us, to help us through day-to-day struggles, to witness Gods truth and love with us, and have shown us, most importantly, that the grief, strife and trials of this exodus are all very much doable. Words cannot express how much this new familial friendship is, and that is nothing less than a blessing from God.
2015 also brought about a new career for me. I was blessed with the opportunity to begin work for the State of Oregon. This has proven to be a challenge on several levels, but nonetheless is working out just fine.
May God bless all of you. May He keep you and bring you to eternal salvation in His heavenly kingdom.
Pax Chrisit
“My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”
((1 Samuel 2:2-10))
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever." ((Lk 1:46-55))
2015 has also brought to us the gift of friendship of the Aranda family. This family, of fourteen, has shown us what true, unbiased friendship is. They have been readily available, on all levels, to assist us, to comfort us, to laugh with us, to help us through day-to-day struggles, to witness Gods truth and love with us, and have shown us, most importantly, that the grief, strife and trials of this exodus are all very much doable. Words cannot express how much this new familial friendship is, and that is nothing less than a blessing from God.
2015 also brought about a new career for me. I was blessed with the opportunity to begin work for the State of Oregon. This has proven to be a challenge on several levels, but nonetheless is working out just fine.
May God bless all of you. May He keep you and bring you to eternal salvation in His heavenly kingdom.
Pax Chrisit
“My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation. “There is none holy like the Lord, there is none besides thee; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones; but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might shall a man prevail.
The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”
((1 Samuel 2:2-10))
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever." ((Lk 1:46-55))