Brianna was willing to come out Christmas Eve and take some pictures of our family! We took these downtown in front of a banyan tree. Jack thought the tree was going to look ugly in the pictures, but we were all happy with how they turned out! I hope you enjoy them.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sneak Peek!
Of pictures Brianna took of our family Christmas Eve!
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And yes, our daredevil Veronica is sitting UP in the tree!! We had to reach our hands up to reach her... she threw a fit when she had to get down. Isabella wasn't too interested in sitting up there :)
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! We love you all and miss you so much!
Love, Mom, Dad, Vanessa, Robby, Angela, and Teresa.
Christmas Eve:
Christmas Day:
At 12:30 Christmas Day Mass:
Love, Mom, Dad, Vanessa, Robby, Angela, and Teresa.
Christmas Eve:
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Ryan Jr.'s birthday
We hope you will enjoy this slide show recap of Ryan Jr.'s second birthday today. He woke up in a great mood and seemed to understand that it was his special day. He oohed and aahed (or rather, whoa-ed) at the decorations Daddy put up, and was happy all morning as we prepared for his party with his best friends, his Kaza cousins. They made his day by bringing him Buzz pajamas which he insisted on putting on immediately (and he gave Aunt Tabitha a grateful kiss on the cheek as thanks). Ryan Jr. enjoyed some of his favorite foods; hot dogs, french fries, baked beans, chips and dip, and coleslaw, followed by cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. At night he had another party when Daddy came home and was so happy to receive so many awesome, Buzz-related presents. The icing on the cake was the big talking Buzz which we saved until the end. I don't think he's ever been happier. Not too long ago as I listened by his bedroom door to make sure he had fallen asleep, I could hear him laughing in response to Buzz's phrases.
This is from the party with the Kazas. Not sure if he really realizes that we are singing to him, even as he repeats "Happy Birthday to Ryan!" as we sing.
Happy birthday Ryan Jr.!
Happy 2nd birthday to our sweet, affectionate, silly, clever, sociable, Buzz-obsessed boy. We are so very blessed to have you in our lives. We love you very much, big boy!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Faith
Hello Family,
I wanted to share an encounter with the Holy Spirit I had yesterday at Mass.
Sunday, on our way to Mass, Mary was reading the Mass readings out loud to us in the car. Though the first reading and the responsorial psalm were both exhortations for us to cry out for joy because "the Lord, our God was in our midst", that was the last thing I felt and the last thing I felt like doing. I was still too heartbroken and disturbed from the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings. Though I knew the words were pious and true statements, they seemed to ring hollow.
But then when Mary read the beginning of the second reading, "Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always." I almost felt repulsed by those words. "The nerve", I thought, "to hear this reading today. The nerve of the Church to present those words after a day like Friday. What is there to rejoice about?" ...of course, I knew the whole time that they were determined long before Friday as the customary readings for the Third and Joyful Week of Advent. So then when Mary read the next verse, "I shall say it again: rejoice!". I felt St. Paul and a soft whisper arise from deeper within my heart, "It is alright, you have assurance in the Lord." This gave me peace for a short while, but I was still not satisfied.
When we arrived at the church, Mary (as always) was able to get out, grab Lucy's car-seat, grab the diaper bag, unbuckle Cecilia, hold her hand, and start walking into church before I had even opened Ryan Jr.'s door...but as Ryan Jr. and I walked to the front doors, I felt that first voice cry up again. "Where are you God? Where are you Jesus? We have the King of Glory, the King of Justice, the King of Peace, literally dwelling in golden tabernacles in our churches, and yet the Sandy Hook shootings take place. They took place in His Kingdom, on His watch. What kind of King is He?"
As a parent, I felt completely outraged at the injustice. I felt so brokenhearted for all of the parents and especially fathers that lost their beautiful children Friday; especially the fathers who went to work early in the morning and did not get to kiss their children goodbye. I knew that if I was distraught over the loss of their children, then I could not even fathom the pain, sorrow, fear, and regret that was welling up within them, who had lost their own children. The voice kept yelling within me, "Sure, God is real. He is the King of Justice, Peace, and Glory. But you want to know what is really real? The fathers who lost their children! That's real! They had children Friday morning and now they don't. They'll never see them again on earth. You are a father, you tell me. Which is more real to you? If God is a Father and He is real, then the question begs itself, what kind of God is that?" The second and softer voice seemed to be dormant. All I heard was, "Wait."
After the Gospel was read, I felt the urge to go and stand by the speaker so I could hear what the priest's homily. I prayed, "God, You have to speak to me. I need to hear your voice. You have to say something to me." In the middle of Fr. Bob's homily, he said, "I was inspired by one of the interviews I heard from one of the fathers who lost his child. The father said: 'My faith will sustain me going forward.' " When I heard that statement, my immediate reaction was similar to when I heard the first reading and the responorial psalm. "Theoretically, it sounds great. But what does that even mean? How will your faith sustain you going forward? How does one really live out one's faith in the wake of such a tragedy?" Fr. Bob continued with the words of the father: "I was a good dad. But there is always room to be more patient, more understanding, more attentive. I will live the rest of my life striving to grow in patience, understanding, and love, so that when I die, my kids will say, 'He was a good father.' And they will tell their friends, 'My dad was a good dad.' "
And that is when the Holy Spirit touched me. That Father's response is not the natural response of a human being. That is a supernatural response. A response enabled by the REAL presence of the Holy Spirit, amongst us and in our presence today, right now, and every moment. In addition to that, I realized that through the communion of the church and the Holy Spirit, united in our sufferings and prayers, we are also helping them make that supernatural response. If this, a real father who had lost his child, found the strength to not only continue living life, but actually grow in his life, closer towards Jesus, the King of Glory, Justice, and Peace, the True, Loving, Almighty, and Wise Father, how much more should I, who had not lost my child, strive to come closer? And then, the Holy Spirit, the silent, peaceful voice that I had not recognized but was there with me from the beginning of our car ride, answered my last question, "That is faith. That is how faith will sustain you going forward and how you will live out your faith. Faith gives you the 'going forward.' The trust to keep walking towards Jesus, even and especially in the bleakest and darkest moments."
Father Luke, thank you for being a father to us all and your flock at St. Rose of Lima. You are in our prayers and we love you very much! Psalm 118:13-14, "I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help. The LORD, my strength and might, has become my savior."
First Reading Excerpt: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. (Zep 3:16-18)
Second Reading Excerpt: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
Let's see here...I have the podium still...what else can I say? haha.
Love,
Ryan
I wanted to share an encounter with the Holy Spirit I had yesterday at Mass.
Sunday, on our way to Mass, Mary was reading the Mass readings out loud to us in the car. Though the first reading and the responsorial psalm were both exhortations for us to cry out for joy because "the Lord, our God was in our midst", that was the last thing I felt and the last thing I felt like doing. I was still too heartbroken and disturbed from the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings. Though I knew the words were pious and true statements, they seemed to ring hollow.
But then when Mary read the beginning of the second reading, "Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always." I almost felt repulsed by those words. "The nerve", I thought, "to hear this reading today. The nerve of the Church to present those words after a day like Friday. What is there to rejoice about?" ...of course, I knew the whole time that they were determined long before Friday as the customary readings for the Third and Joyful Week of Advent. So then when Mary read the next verse, "I shall say it again: rejoice!". I felt St. Paul and a soft whisper arise from deeper within my heart, "It is alright, you have assurance in the Lord." This gave me peace for a short while, but I was still not satisfied.
When we arrived at the church, Mary (as always) was able to get out, grab Lucy's car-seat, grab the diaper bag, unbuckle Cecilia, hold her hand, and start walking into church before I had even opened Ryan Jr.'s door...but as Ryan Jr. and I walked to the front doors, I felt that first voice cry up again. "Where are you God? Where are you Jesus? We have the King of Glory, the King of Justice, the King of Peace, literally dwelling in golden tabernacles in our churches, and yet the Sandy Hook shootings take place. They took place in His Kingdom, on His watch. What kind of King is He?"
As a parent, I felt completely outraged at the injustice. I felt so brokenhearted for all of the parents and especially fathers that lost their beautiful children Friday; especially the fathers who went to work early in the morning and did not get to kiss their children goodbye. I knew that if I was distraught over the loss of their children, then I could not even fathom the pain, sorrow, fear, and regret that was welling up within them, who had lost their own children. The voice kept yelling within me, "Sure, God is real. He is the King of Justice, Peace, and Glory. But you want to know what is really real? The fathers who lost their children! That's real! They had children Friday morning and now they don't. They'll never see them again on earth. You are a father, you tell me. Which is more real to you? If God is a Father and He is real, then the question begs itself, what kind of God is that?" The second and softer voice seemed to be dormant. All I heard was, "Wait."
After the Gospel was read, I felt the urge to go and stand by the speaker so I could hear what the priest's homily. I prayed, "God, You have to speak to me. I need to hear your voice. You have to say something to me." In the middle of Fr. Bob's homily, he said, "I was inspired by one of the interviews I heard from one of the fathers who lost his child. The father said: 'My faith will sustain me going forward.' " When I heard that statement, my immediate reaction was similar to when I heard the first reading and the responorial psalm. "Theoretically, it sounds great. But what does that even mean? How will your faith sustain you going forward? How does one really live out one's faith in the wake of such a tragedy?" Fr. Bob continued with the words of the father: "I was a good dad. But there is always room to be more patient, more understanding, more attentive. I will live the rest of my life striving to grow in patience, understanding, and love, so that when I die, my kids will say, 'He was a good father.' And they will tell their friends, 'My dad was a good dad.' "
And that is when the Holy Spirit touched me. That Father's response is not the natural response of a human being. That is a supernatural response. A response enabled by the REAL presence of the Holy Spirit, amongst us and in our presence today, right now, and every moment. In addition to that, I realized that through the communion of the church and the Holy Spirit, united in our sufferings and prayers, we are also helping them make that supernatural response. If this, a real father who had lost his child, found the strength to not only continue living life, but actually grow in his life, closer towards Jesus, the King of Glory, Justice, and Peace, the True, Loving, Almighty, and Wise Father, how much more should I, who had not lost my child, strive to come closer? And then, the Holy Spirit, the silent, peaceful voice that I had not recognized but was there with me from the beginning of our car ride, answered my last question, "That is faith. That is how faith will sustain you going forward and how you will live out your faith. Faith gives you the 'going forward.' The trust to keep walking towards Jesus, even and especially in the bleakest and darkest moments."
Father Luke, thank you for being a father to us all and your flock at St. Rose of Lima. You are in our prayers and we love you very much! Psalm 118:13-14, "I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help. The LORD, my strength and might, has become my savior."
First Reading Excerpt: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. (Zep 3:16-18)
Second Reading Excerpt: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
Let's see here...I have the podium still...what else can I say? haha.
Love,
Ryan
Sunday, December 2, 2012
November in Virginia
Happy Advent, everyone! We can't believe it's already here, and we are especially excited that we'll be seeing you all in just a few weeks. For now I wanted to post a little picture update for our month of November. Nothing too exciting to report: we stayed at home for Thanksgiving since my parents made the trip down to VA for the week. Some of the highlights of the week include Ryan's getting to target practice with my Dad and bro-in-law, my doing some Black Friday shopping and other fun girly outings with my mom and sisters, and the kids getting showered with attention from their aunts and uncles. In other news, Ryan is doing well at work and will be having his 3 year review with CACI this month. Please please keep him in your prayers as he'll be asking for a raise at his review! *gulp* I have been busy with the kids and cookie orders, and have my busiest month of cookie decorating coming up for Christmas that I'm not exactly looking forward to. Lucy is not particularly cooperative on the nights that I have cookie orders to do, so there's potential for some serious sleep deprivation this coming month. Prayers for the graces to not lose my mind during that time would be appreciated as well. :) Cecilia and Ryan Jr. are both well. They have been playing together so sweetly now that Ryan Jr. is talking more (in a language that only his family can understand). Cecilia often acts as his translator. One of their favorite activities lately is to play dress up together, Cecilia as Cinderella and Ryan Jr. as Buzz. If Ryan Jr. could, he would never take his costume off. Lucy is getting so big now-- almost 4 months!--and she is especially excited to hang out with her cousin Genevieve very soon!
Now for a few videos from this month. Ryan Jr. singing one of his favorite songs, "Gaston" from Beauty and the Beast. To translate; he says "no one's slick as Gaston" (and repeats that a couple times) as well as "My what a guy....GASTOOON!!" at the end, very enthusiastically. We are a bit alarmed by the fact that Gaston is his favorite character in that movie...
So, guys, what do you all think? Does he have a talent for singing? Or did he inherit his singing abilities from the Suarez side of the family? Here is one of Lucy girl giggling. Gotta love a baby's laugh!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Happy Birthday Nicoletta!!!!!
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| happy birthday Nickle Pickle!!!! I love you so much!!!! YOU are a gorgeous,sweet,funny,fun,understanding,WONDERFUL SISTER~teresa |
Happy Birthday Nickle Pickle!
Happy Birthday Nickle! You have blessed our lives with your thoughtfulness, selflessness, sweet nature, strength, and affection! In each of your stages of life as being a Mother, Wife, Daughter, and Sister, you have radiated with love and grace. We love you so much and may God continue to bless you and let His Face shine upon you!
All our love, Angela and whole Family!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
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