Living Saints

On November 1st we celebrate All Saints Day. We celebrate and remember the lives of all the saints who lived before as a true example of how to live as Christ did. Some lived many centuries ago while others lived not so long ago. We could see their examples first hand. We are still touched by the miracles that occur through their intercessions for us.

Sometimes we are are very lucky to have very saintly people touch our lives in the right here and right now. They are people we know. They are people we pray and worship with. They are our friends and family. Although we are all called to be saints, there a few who really take that call to a whole new level.

I have been touched by one such couple. We have been so blessed to have met Terry and Julie Dorr. When I first saw them there was something that got my attention. I am not sure if it was the similarities I could see or if it was something deeper. Over time I really got to know them both. I was welcomed into their hearts, home and family. I saw more and more similarities between us. I also saw something very familiar. They both reminded me a lot of my parents. Terry is very simple. He does not have as he puts it much "toity." He is very caring, generous and giving. He is gentle and kind. All traits I recognized from my own father and now in my husband. Julie comes from a very strong Guamanian background which is very similar to the strong Filipino background I grew up in. There were many of the same rich traditions which made me feel right at home with them. Everything from the foods to the way of life remind me of home.

Not only do Terry and Julie have many similarities to us and my family but they have a marriage that I see us having when we have been married for forty years. You can see that they are as much in love today as they were nearly forty years ago when they first married. They still laugh, joke and tease one another. He brings out the best in her and she the best in him. He is still a gentlemen and opens and closes the car door for her. She still likes to hold his hand and smothers him with hugs and kisses. You can see their love is real and genuine. It is truly a place I want us to be forty years from now.

All of this had helped draw me closer and closer to Terry and Julie but the one thing that has drawn me even closer is their friendship. They have both gone out of their way to help us out. Not just in our marriage but in my personal faith journey as well. They both have prayed along side of me as we have struggled through some tough times in our marriage. They have cried and laughed with us through good times and bad. They have been prayer warriors with me through personal struggle. They have offered their assistance whenever it has been needed. Whether it was a ride someplace even if it was out of their way they were there. They even let me be a guest in their home.

Terry and Julie have truly been saints living among us. We are so honored to have them along side of us as Felicity's Godparents. We know she will have a great example on how to live a good Catholic way of life. We are truly blessed to have them in our lives.

Thank you Terry and Julie for being such wonderful examples and extending more than just your hand to help us. Thank you for letting us into your hearts, home and lives. We are truly blessed and grateful. Thank you for being living saints.

Daybook

FOR TODAY

March 8, 2011

Outside my window... it is a very hot 80 degrees. Spring has come early. It is a gorgeous day outside.

I am thinking... too many things at once. I cannot even narrow it down to just one thought. We have so many things going on right now in so many different areas of our lives. I am waiting for things to iron themselves out and things to start flowing smoothly.

I am thankful for... the most wonderful husband. I am so blessed to have a husband who has a heart for God first and then his family. I knew I have always loved him but I have never loved this much. I grow more and more in love with him each day. 

From the kitchen... I am planning meatless meals to get through Lent. My hubby is abstaining throughout all of the Lenten season this year.

I am wearing... house clothes because it is a doing-all-the-house-chores kind of day.

I am creating... the March meal menu. It is going to take a lot more planning to keep up with no meat throughout all of Lent.

I am going... to the grocery store. I am stocking up and getting ahead for Lent.

I am reading... Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Revisited and The Authentic Catholic Woman. I am trying to get caught up on my book-a-month goal so I have decided to focus on these two books.

I am hoping praying... Novena to St. Gerard. I am remembering and praying the words of Mary to the angel Gabriel: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” It is the encouragement I need to accept the plan that God has for us but most especially His timing.

I am hearing... The Dave Ramsey Show live on the Internet and of course the dryer.

Around the house... I am busy trying to catch up on chores that still need to be done. The chores have seemed to get ahead of me in this game of house.

One of my favorite things... fun times with my nieces and nephews. I spent the weekend visiting with my sister and got to have some great quality time with my almost 11-year-old nephew and almost 6-year-old niece. I am looking for ward to this weekend when we both can spend time with the kids.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Wednesday: Ash Wednesday Mass
Thursday: Seminar week #3
The weekend: More quality family time

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My best friend and oldest friend from high school Chris celebrated his 37th birthday on Friday. We have been friends since we were freshman in high school more than 20 years ago. Here are some pictures from back in the day when we were young. Happy birthday Chris!

Chris and I studying in the Florida room at Chris' grandparent's house in high school circa 1991.

Chris and I with Nan and Charlie in Tolbert Hall circa 1993.

Chris and I in a photo booth in  Daytona circa 1995

Chris and I as gangsters Halloween circa 1996

Chris and I during his fraternity days circa 1997

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/
The Simple Woman's Daybook is a brief outline for women/mothers who blog to use as a way to compose thoughts, plan the week, and keep a grateful heart. It is typically published once a week on Tuesdays.

Make new friends but keep the old

Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendships, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.

Friendships that have stood the test -
Time and change - are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.

For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we our youth renew.
But old friends, alas! may die,
New friends must their place supply.

Cherish friendship in your breast -
New is good, but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold. 

Poet: Joseph Parry

We have not had the chance to make new friends or catch up with old friends since we have been married. Since we had to make changes to our vacation plans, we were able to work in a day trip to Naples just to catch up with old friends.

Catching up with The Mastersons

The first set of old friends we were able to catch up with were David and Taryn Masterson. David also met Taryn through the Collier Catholic Singles group where Kris and I first met. When they were married in July 2005, David passed on the leadership of the group to me. They have 3 kids - Ryan, age 4, Brandon, age 3, and Mary Kate, age 9 months.

We had not seen them since May 29, 2009, the day we were engaged. They have been very influential throughout the course of our relationship. Both David and Taryn have been supportive and encouraging throughout our entire relationship. It was Taryn who kept at us both throughout our friendship. She was always there as our friend no matter where we were in our friendship. At any point if I told her that we were just friends, she would simply say "Okay but are you sure?" My reply was always the same, "Yes, we are sure. It will never work out." We went back and forth for several years and each time Taryn just nodded and said okay. All the while, she kept poking and prodding. Through the years, it was hard to ignore such poking and prodding. David jumped on the bandwagon after they were married and both them continued to support both us no matter where we were at in our relationship. They both were hopeful that God had a greater plan for us and they continued to pray. Taryn was one of the first persons I called when Kris and I resumed our on again/off again relationship. I told her we were certain that this time there would be no going back. As our re-new-ed relationship began to progress, I called them (I usually called to speak with Taryn but she was always busy with one of their 3 kids so I normally spoke with David) to update them on how fast we were progressing this time around. They both knew that this was going to happen many years before we knew it ourselves.

We are so grateful for their friendship and glad to have such a couple in our lives as a great example of true love, marriage, and devotion. We were glad to finally have caught up with them on our visit to Naples.

 David and Taryn and their 3 kids (Ryan, age 4, Mary Kate, age 9 months, and Brandon, age 3)

David and Taryn with Mary Kate and Brandon

Lunch with Ronald and a visit with the Josephs

After our meeting with The Mastersons we were able to have lunch with a our very dear friend Ronald. We met Ronald when he joined Collier Catholic Singles back in 2004. We became instant friends. I saw something very special in him and took him under my wing as a little brother. Despite his Trinidadian background, I knew that Ronald was my "brother" and we have remained close ever since.

We enjoyed a nice lunch buffet at Cici's Pizza. I enjoy going to Cici's with Ronald because you can get a nice inexpensive meal and the company is GREAT, too. I have watched Ronald grow and change through the years and it is always nice to be able to catch up with him. 

After lunch we were able to visit and spend a little time with Ronald's Mom and Dad (Jennifer and Ron). They both have recently been very influential in our relationship. They are both readily available for any kind of advice I need whether it is about faith or marriage. They have a lot to share on both. They are an incredible inspiration to both of us in our new marriage. I chose them to be one of our wedding sponsors and Jennifer just took it to a whole new level. She stayed in the bride's room and helped me get ready for the wedding and she even took charge of my camera during the entire wedding and reception. I had it with me but I was not sure how I was going to capture memories of the big day on my own. It was a hectic day from the start. As we were getting ready, she knew that I would not have a chance to take pictures so she took charge. Thanks to her I have pictures of our big day that even the photographer did not capture.

Jennifer and the bride before the wedding

Ron and Jennifer with the bride and groom

The Joseph Family (Jennifer, Ronald, Sr, Nadiya, and Ronald, Jr)

Meeting baby Michael Alberto for the first time and Jose and Lindsay Kukurelo (The other Mr & Mrs. K)

The last couple we were able to catch up with were Lindsay and Jose. Lindsay and Jose met on a blind date through Jose's friend Terri. Terri and Lindsay became friends through the Collier Catholic Singles group. I have had the privilege of not only watching but being a part of their growing relationship. Lindsay asked me to be her Confirmation sponsor during Easter Vigil in 2008 before they were married. They were married on October 11, 2008, and I was there to help with all the preparations leading up to the big day. I also read the first reading at their wedding (Genesis 2: 18-23) They recently had their first baby, Michael Alberto born on July 28.

I was not able to visit them on my last visit to Naples in July. Lindsay and Jose were in the hospital that evening preparing for the birth of their new bundle of joy, Michael Alberto. I was trying to make arrangements to meet up with them but Michael had an agenda of his own and was not to be interrupted. It had been more than a month since his birth and I was just eager to meet the newest member of the Kukurelo family.

We had an incredible visit with them. I even had a chance to hold him despite my tired and sore shoulder. I certainly was not going to leave there without holding him even if it was for just a moment. We spent much time cooing with him and making faces. I was not sure when I would get my chance to hold him. After a little bit of fussing, I finally got my chance to hold him. I was so warm. He was so small. It was very different after having held both the twins who are bigger than average 7 month olds. After some time in my arms, little baby Michael fell asleep and he even had a smile on his face. Holding him was like having a piece of heaven in my arms.

Jose, Lindsay, Me, and baby Michael (minus Kris)

Lindsay, Me, Kris, and baby Michael (Sorry Jose!)

Baby Michael and Titi Eileen

A very happy baby Michael

We were so glad to have caught up with all our old friends in Naples. There are still a few people that we are hoping to catch up with but this visit was definitely worth a trip south on I-75. It is one I hope we can do again.