We had a lot of double celebrations this weekend since my birthday fell on fathers day this year. I really appreciated how special my families made me feel, but I just so happen to be one year older, I didn't really work for it. Fatherhood, on the other hand, is something that really warrants celebrating.
Geda. Father to five and grandfather/ great-grandfather to many more. Definition of a family man. I have seen him shed tears on many occasions when expressing words of thanksgiving for his family.
Mike/Pops. Father to five, grandfather to three. Spiritual father to countless. I am thankful for the teacher that he is to all of us.
Popo. Father to 4, grandfather and great grandfather to many more as well. His simplicity and work ethic is rare and inspiring.
Dad/Wuelo. Father to three, grandfather to 3. He has a true servant's heart, and is as generous as they come.
And finally, Michael/ Daddy. Strong and dedicated. He is amazingly selfless and would do anything for these little ones.
Thank you to all of the men who are fathers, both physical and spiritual, that lay down their lives for their family every day.
I am embarrassingly out of touch with the music of today. Unless it is sung by a vegetable or pirate, I don't know it. But thankfully my younger siblings are sweet enough to introduce me to more current music, and on occasion my little bosses in backseat will let me chose the songs. And this week I came across this one . . .
When I find a song I like, I get obsessive and listen to it over and over again. At first I texted the lyrics to Michael because it felt like a very romantic song. In my heart you'll always know There is a place only love can go There is a place only you can go
But the more I listened, I started thinking about the little baby we lost. I only carried her in my body for a short while, and now I carry her in my heart. A little place that is only for her. Then the lyrics in the very beginning of the song led me to another thought.
Pain is alive in a broken heart The past never does go away We were born to love And we're born to pay The price for our mistakes
Losing our baby was not a mistake. But there are a many women who do lose their unborn because of a mistake. I re-started the track from the beginning, thinking about the lyrics from that perspective, and the tears were pouring out of my eyes. I always pray for the unborn babies, for an end to abortion and for those who are contemplating having one. But for the first time, God invited me to truly reflect on what women go through on a deeper level. The agony they must feel, no matter what their situation. Maybe they are extremely confident in their decision, maybe they are a scared young girl who is terrified to tell her parents, an older women in a happy marriage who doesn't feel she can handle another, someone caught in a bad relationship who is forced to go through with it against her will. Or a mother chose to have her baby, but lives with the knowledge that she considered not bringing her son or daughter into this world. There are endless stories, countless unique situations, with a common ground of underlying sorrow. I know that Jesus must weep for his precious, beautiful daughters, as this grief was not what he intended for the crown jewel of his creation.
I have never been faced with this decision, so I cannot pretend to know what it feels like. And maybe this is only my view point because I am pro-life. But political agendas and any trace of judgement aside, I am just overwhelmingly sad for any person that is faced with the option of abortion in any way.
And to my children, I pray that God will always open your heart to the suffering of people. All people. In every situation. It is so difficult to see life through another person's eyes, and all we can ask is that He gives us the grace to do so, so that we may have a heart that is more like His. Please try to fight the urge to judge other people. Keep your hearts clean, and your intentions pure so that you can leave a mark of His love on this world.
Pain is alive in a broken heart The past never does go away We were born to love And we're born to pay The price for our mistakes
Grace, she comes with a heavy load Memories, they can't be erased Like a pill I swallow, he makes me well And leaves an awful taste
Oh I know this song won't do Enough to prove my love to you In my heart you'll always know There is a place only love can go There is a place only you can go
Take my notions and words to heart This is the cry of a man I can't bring you fortune or noble life But I'll love you all I can
Oh I know this song won't do Enough to prove my love to you In my heart you'll always know There is a place only you can go
Oh I know this song won't do Enough to prove my love to you In my heart you'll always know There is a place only love can go There is a place only you can go
How is she already 5 months old?? I feel like she has changed so much over the past month. She rolled over for the first time at my parent's house last week! She finally worked her way over only to find that she was not happy about it at all. She has also put her self on a little schedule and has slept through the night a couple of times. So mature. But don't worry, she is still hangin on to those amazing cheeks.
And check out the rubberband arms. Hahahah babies are just the absolute best! Especially this one!!
She is our little ray of sweet sweet sunshine. We love you so much Evy!!
(Or as Cora calls you, "Heavy," or as Sawyer would say, "Eby," or from Julia, "Onion." Sorry)
For Memorial Day the whole Snoga clan rented out a giant beach house down in Port Aransas that could actually hold all of us! Very impressive. We spent some beautiful mornings on the patio with coffee, prayer and babies.
Ella and I share the same sentiments about the beach.
But this time it was a little more stressful having two little ones out there. Hopefully by the end of summer we will get the hang of it!
Cora was pretty timid about the water at first (fine by me) but she eventually warmed up to it.
Lots of dads and baby girls on this trip!!
On Sunday we celebrated Ella's 3rd birthday with a Little Mermaid birthday party! She is the sweetest most enthusiastic little beauty!
Paweleks!! minus Dave :( who had to work. We missed him so much.
That morning we occupied about 5 long pews at mass. All because of these two. Watching them together always gets me a little teary. On Sunday afternoon they sat out on the patio for the longest time, just the two of them. After 5 kids, 17 grandkids, 10 great grandkids and nearly 60 years of marriage, they still sneak away to steal their little moments of alone time.
Joe's dance buddy.
Here's to many more years of vacations with this wonderful family!
