Thank you for everything

Ok, so no pictures of Gabriel on this post... but I promise to put some more up soon... I had kinda a reflective day... so here it is.

St. Gertrude once asked Jesus to heal one of her friends... Jesus responded with this: "You trouble me, Gertrude, by asking me for the cure of your friend. I sent her this sickness as a trial. She accepts it with admirable submission to my will which gains great merit for her, and I thus prepare a more beautiful place in Heaven for her for all eternity."

I think this story is perfect for our reflection on holiness... do we accept everything God gives us with submission to His will? Can we really say, "Lord, thank you for everything?" Because sometimes he gives us stuff that we are not happy with in the moment, but we know is for the ultimate good of our souls.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately while I sometimes watch friends or myself struggle with different difficult things God has given. On the other hand, I also reflect on this when I notice the blessings I have in my life, the amazing miracles God has granted me. Do I respond the same to both? Because ultimately the difficult things AND the blessings are GIFTS. He is so good, so holy, so perfect that He wills all things for our well being, even if we do not see it.

There was a night when St. Monica prayed so hard for her son to not leave on a ship to Italy. She wanted him to be converted so badly and she just knew that if St. Augustine left he would have no chance. She begged the Lord on her knees, with sobs and tears... and Augustine left on that ship in the night. You see the Lord had to say no to her prayer in the moment, so he could say yes to her lifetime plee... for him to be converted. It was in Italy that Augustine met Ambrose and was converted.

We have to trust Him. He knows what He is doing. He makes all things new... all things good.

A beautiful prayer a very holy priest once taught me... and I think written by a saint... I say this every time I receive the Eucharist.

Thanks be to Thee, My Lord Jesus Christ

For all the blessings you have given to me,

For all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Oh, Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,

May I know Thee more clearly,

Love Thee more dearly,

And follow Thee more nearly.

Amen.

I think this is all He asks of us every day. A young woman named St. Therese once said something like this (I think I reworded it some... ) If you desire to know God, then it is because you already know Him. And if you desire to love God it is because you already love Him. If you desire to be in His will, then you probably are, at least pretty darn close. He is so pleased with your desire.

This is what He asks of us. To abandon ourselves completely to Him. To tell him thank you for everything and mean it.

Handsome Boy and His Nursery

So, I promised my sister-in-law, Jeanne, to finally put up some pictures of Gabriel's nursery. With her living in Italy she loves to be a part of everything from afar. Even though she lives the farthest away from me, she seems to be most in touch with what is going on!
I love that about her.

So, Jeanne, these are for you!

The CRIB... love those naps.

Rock a bye baby.

Poopy diapers live here.

My sweet boy after waking up from his nap yesterday. As you can see, there is a bear in the corner of the picture. I caught him tickling his ear and talking to him... we are lowering the crib today. I am afraid he is going to try to jump out to play with his friend, the bear.

Classic.
I tried so hard to keep him awake before we left for the chiropractor because I love when he sleeps in the car the whole way there. As you can see, even laying him on the ground on his back did not do the trick. He was exhausted. He played so hard that he decided not to wait on his mama any longer. Ohh, gotta love boys who play hard.

Our first attempt at sitting in a big boy seat to eat dinner. He looks happy here, but after a few bites he was hanging off the seat trying to get down. Time for a high chair.

He is drooling so much, my mom suggested bibs all the time, so we don't have to change him ten times a day from being completely soaked. Therefore, we try to stick with the season and sport our bibs accordingly. Still no teeth.

Always Happy!

His Great Mom Mom Peg sent him a life size train (lifesize for him anyway). We couldn't resist. He didn't like it, but it was hilarious. As my dad says, "Oh, Kristi, you are so laid back with him. You laugh when he laughs. You laugh when he gets mad. Nothing bothers you." I didn't realize that I was like that. But, I think I am. I couldn't stop laughing even though he was mad.

Christmas morning. It was hectic. From the Bentley's to the Zimmerman's. I had to explain to him that I had to pack his clothes in there and he didn't get travel that way... he had to get in the carseat again. By the way, Gabriel did this all himself. I did not help him climb into this suitcase. He is a mess.

Isn't he handsome? He told me he wants to model for Baby Gap.

He managed to find these tins in my bag and then stand up while balancing his hands on them... he thought he was so hilarious.

Yesterday I was trying to work for Vandy+Catholic and did everything to occupy Gabriel in the meantime. I have never tried television with him, so I thought I would give it a try. I found a show with talking dogs. Since we have turned the living room into a play room, the coffee table is pushed up in front of the TV. He crawled over to the table, climbed up and stood watching TV with his chin resting on his hands for like 15 minutes. He was so intrigued. I caught it on video. And laughed so hard.