He Says it Better

Below and in the right column of my blog, there are links to other blogs (Other Friendly Blogs.) Click on "Peregrinus". You will be redirected to a another blog. Once there, click on "36". Then, come back here and read on.

My family and I are participating in the Walk for Life - Home This will be our 3rd year. Believe it or not, I got involved because my 12 year old asked, no, begged me to take him to the walk 3 years ago when he was only 10. He wanted so much to protect the unborn babies. He can't understand why a mom wouldn't recognize the life of the little human she carried in her womb. That first year we attended was amazing. I was so surprised and awed at the sheer number of people that attended. Then next year, he asked his dad to join us. The three of us went along with 2 bus loads from our church. This year, we will all walk. Dad, mom, brother and sister. This year our church had 3 bus loads going.

The San Francisco Wharf is transformed by a sea of people. I am always so moved by the tens of thousands that attend and the peaceful and charitable attitudes of those walking. We join together in prayer, song and conversation. We volley between old friends that came with us, new friends that we meet on the way and with friends we run into that we haven't seen for a while. Climbing on a concrete block, looking ahead you can only see the undulating mass of people moving forward and as you look back, you see the same thing. The sight of so many walking together for such a beautiful cause helps me understand the meaning of the Body of Christ. We are all one, united under God Our Father. We are proclaiming His words by our actions.

It saddens me to see the protesters. I don't think that they shouldn't be there, and to personally judge them would be wrong, but I do feel sad for them. Many of them are so bitter and angry. They yell and scream like rabid animals. The hate and disdain can be seen in their eyes as they get themselves all worked up in their yelling and screaming. All I can do is pray for them. It saddens me to know that they don't know the Mercy of Our all Loving God.

Poking along...

Things have been quiet around here. It is quite a change from the weeks leading up to Christmas. We've had more time to visit with friends. The other day, our friends that let us adopt their chickens came to visit them. While the kids were playing in the yard, they found some Miner's Lettuce.

Miner's lettuce is a native in the western mountains and coastal regions of North America. It ranges is from the north, in British Columbia to to as far south as Central America. It's scientific name is claytonia perfoliata. It is a green weed that grows wild in my backyard and is edible. It really doesn't have much of a distinct taste like watercress. It takes on the flavors that are used when prepared.








As you can see, it has distinct features that makes this plant easy to identify.


The kids decided to make a salad for us. It was the sweetest thing. Unbeknownst to to me, Savanna and one of her friends went in and made a full salad! She came out and told us that lunch was ready; Miner's lettuce, chopped apples, sunflower seeds, grated cheddar and homemade vinaigrette (left over from dinner). We sat down and had a special treat! Next time you're out on a hike and feel a little hungry, look for some miner's lettuce and you can have a salad!

Happy New Year!

Along with a new year, we celebrate Mary, the Mother of God today too. What a great way to start a new year: to be watched over and protected by the Mother of God! Can't ask for much more.

Winter Fun

Enjoy a few pics of winter fun.




Charles getting snow shots to the face while sledding.












Savanna and her friend Carina.









A fun morning ice skating in Folsom.














A note to Cindy: Hmm, it's hard to decide whether I would want the beach or the snow!

Gift Giving

I decided on cookies to give as gifts this Christmas. The kids and I worked slowly making 4 different kinds of cookies. It was quite the sacrifice for us, since I wouldn't let us eat too many. We got to sample a few, but most were given away.

This year I finally learned how to decorate cookies with royal icing. They came out looking really cool and passed the taste test.





Savanna helping out.








Charles having fun decorating.






My favorite.




Along the lines of gift giving, I've got to share this with you. Instead of buying a gift for all the cousins, each family picks 3 names and only buys gifts for the names picked. This year I got Mikey, Nicole and Tristan. When I asked Mikey what he wanted, he told me he wanted duct tape. So, I got him duct tape! Check out his reaction!




I did include 2 hours of jumping at Sky High, a trampoline place where the kids love to go.













Nicole was an easy one too. She loves cool-whip. Yes, the non-dairy topping! She eats it right out of the container. So, I wrapped up some cool-whip. She couldn't figure out why her gift was cold! I think she liked the gift:



She headed straight for a spoon! I did of course, include passes to Sky High for her too. Under the label on the container!

I Promise Never to do it Again!

Sorry about the mishmash of info, to catch up on all the going-ons, my timeline is getting a little mixed up. Anyway, here goes:

Advent season for me is generally unrushed. Since I don't have tons to do to prepare outwardly for Chirstmas, I generally have time to get things done. Somehow this year, our traditional Christmas Tree Hunt was overlooked. Before we knew it, it was coming to be the 4th week of Advent and we still had no tree. Savanna was getting a little worried that we would have to go without. So, one sunny afternoon, after a discussion on tree quality, Mike and I decided to buy a tree from a lot that imported trees from Oregon vs. cutting a tree down at a local farm. The reason was simple, Oregon trees get more water so they tend to keep their needles on the tree vs dropping them on the floor. So it was a done deal. We decided Home Depot would be the place to go, and it was. They had tons of trees to choose from. 3 foot trees, 4-5 foot trees and 6-7 foot trees. They even had a decent selection on types of trees. The only problem was, they were all bound and tied. We had no idea what the tree would look like when we untied it! So, we randomly grabbed a tree, Charles carried it to the car, we tied it down and went home. This by far was the most uneventful tree selection ever! Never again. I think Bryan is taller than our tree and Charles man handled it with ease. I must say though, it did turn out to be a pretty tree. Mike hung the lights and Savanna and Charles did all the decorating.

I sat back and watched my two growing kids. The joy on their faces and the sparkles in their eyes made it all worth it. As I watch them, I am amazed to see them being independent and growing up. They'll be on their own before I know it!

As for next year, we have planned on the day after Thanksgiving in the wilds of El Dorado County. Kato and his family will be joining us, and it will be more like the traditional tree hunting that I grew up with.






Here's Charles carrying our tree.











Decorated and sparkling.






By the way, I'm not sure if our theory was correct. This tree has lost lots of needles too.

Christmas Memories

Christmas Day always brings fond memories. When we were young, I remember traveling from one house to another visiting various Aunties and Uncles. Us kids were always excited to see what gifts were waiting in each house. As time went on, Mom and Dad got smart and held an open house on Christmas day. Our house would be filled with family and friends. Generally, it was like a family reunion. All of my Grandparents, Great Aunts and Great Uncles, Aunties, Uncles, cousins (21 total) and friends would show up and we would have a grand party! Just think about it, there were 25 cousins total (including my brothers and me) but that didn't include 2nd cousins or friends! We had a blast! I remember playing hide and go seek outside, watching movies, singing carols and consuming large amounts of food! There was always tons of food. Everyone would bring something! One year, we had a whole pig; cherries for its eyes and an apple in it's mouth! Christmas was quite a celebration. Our Christmas tree alone was about 20 feet tall. It was huge! I do miss seeing all those people. As we got older, it became a time to catch up with cousins and Aunties and Uncles. As we all grew up and moved away and Mom and Dad sold the house, we have started a new tradition for our children. It is similar to my childhood experience, but on a much smaller scale. The kids get to enjoy their cousins and I get to enjoy my family and the food is always good. God is Good! I couldn't ask for more.

Celebrating Christmas

The Christmas Season is upon us. We welcomed Christmas during the wee hours of the night, celebrating midnight Mass. True midnight Holy Mass, where Holy Mass began at the stroke of midnight. This was a first for the kids. It was beautiful and the music was grand. A half hour before Mass, we sang Christmas Carols with the choir. Between songs, they retold the age old story of the birth of Christ. I was pleasantly surprised at the size of the congregation. The church was nearly full. It brought back many memories from when I was younger. We always attended midnight Mass preceded by a big dinner with the Franciscan Seminarians. While growing up, Christmas Eve was a festive evening full of good food and good company. Keeping in tradition from my childhood, we came home to our stockings stuffed and a gifts from Santa. We stayed up and opened all our gifts before heading to a much needed rest.







All Charles asked for for Christmas was Lego. That's what he got. Lego, Lego and more Lego.












Savanna only wanted a new doll. Now she can be Mama to 4 dolls.



To help focus on the True meaning of Christmas, gifts are kept to a minimum around here. (Though, Mike doesn't observe the rules too well.) Christmas is a time to celebrate Chirst and welcome Him into our hearts and homes. We try very hard not to loose sight of this.

Christmas day was relaxing. We hung around the house, playing, building and enjoying our new toys and each others company. Dinner was as Kato's house with the family. It's funny, though I live very close to my brothers and their families, and we do lots of stuff together, there is still something special about us gathering for Christmas. The cousins ran around and played while the adults got to spend time talking and just kicking back and enjoying good company.








The cousins on the top of the hill as the sun was starting to set on Christmas Day.







This Christmas for Bryan, I made him a recipe book with pictures from his birth to now. When he was little, there were lots of pictures of me with him. As he got older, I noticed there were no pictures of just the two of us. So, to remedy the situation, we took one together this Christmas.














My brothers and me:
Kato, Anthony, me and Joe





Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas Season (which doesn't end until the Baptism of Jesus!) and a Happy and Blessed New Year. God Bless you all!