House hunting . . .

JMJ

Well, we've been planning on moving.  When we moved into out house, we said we were on the 3-5 year plan for getting out.  Well, we've been on that plan for seven years now and it sure does seem like the time is ripe for moving out.  We've had several false starts, a few high hopes, but we're still here.

Right now the rental market here in Front Royal is booming, which is great for us because we want to rent this house out.  On the other hand, it's not so great, because we want to find to rental to live in while we gain rental income history so we can purchase something that we really want.  At this point, our mortgage payment is lower than the rent for every house that would be possible for us.  So, we are looking at buying something cheap.  The problem with that is then we own it!  We're not sure we want to own two houses that are not really the home we are looking for.

Please keep us in prayer as we search for the Spiering home (for a year or so) and look for people who will LOVE to rent this house.  It's great, if you like old houses with lots of garden beds to tend!  :)

On a completely different (sort of) topic, have you heard that the cause for G. K. Chesterton's sainthood is officially being sought?  I guess it's not OFFICIAL yet, but the local bishop has agreed to begin working for it.  You can read more about it here:
http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/st-g-k-c-the-process-begins?fb_action_ids=606195042736592&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UheksjrJyJo.like&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
How wonderful is that?  I was thinking of him, Chesterton that is, and the irony of the situation we are in.  In the middle of this conundrum, I hear about the movement for his cause!  I have begun praying for his help in this matter.  I am sure, if he's able, he will help this come out, not only right, but as a manifestation of God's Glory in a way that we had never dream.  I would assume he will get some converts along the way as well.  He's good at that; MUCH better than I am.

G. K. Chesterton, Pray for us!

John Paul

JMJ

Well, when I'm on a roll, I might as well keep going, right?  Well, I have been meaning to get the word out about this little guy for awhile.  My friends Jill and Patrick's 5th son (that's typed correctly:FIVE BOYS!!!)  has a rare condition in which he was born with shortened arms and bones missing or fused together in his legs.  He is such and amazingly happy little man, you would never know the challenges he faces by the grin on his face.

Craig did a portraiture session of their family and after that we had dinner.  It was a lovely time with this lovely family.

Patrick and Jill are such loving parents and John Paul couldn't have been given to a more welcoming family.

I mean, these boys dote on John Paul!  It's SO sweet to see!  I wanted to get the word out that Azalea Charities http://azaleacharities.com/charities/Storey.shtml is having a fundraiser for help put an addition on to their home which would make it handicapped accessible.  If you are interested in helping this family, please pray, of course!  You can get more of John Paul's story (no pun intended!) at Jill's super cute blog http://dulcedomum.wordpress.com/.

Today is the feast of St. Augustine, and at Mass (yes, we actually went to a daily Mass!  I think it was the first time since Charles was born) the homily was about hope.  If there was ever a reason to hope, it is revealed in the love of this family and this little life.

Blessed John Paul II, Pray for us!
St. Francis, Pray for us!
St. Augustine, Pray for us!

Charles Thomas, 6 mo. old

JMJ

Of course it has been six months since I've posted!  It wouldn't really be true to character for me if I posted more often than that, right?

Kids growing . . .

JMJ

Working with one hand here, but I wanted to share these photos of the kids.

Welcome Charles Thomas

JMJ

Introducing Charles Thomas Spiering.  Born February 19th at 6:26 pm.  8 lb. 12 oz.  All is well and we are so blessed to have him!  Our biggest concern is we won't be able to tell his baby pictures apart form the other children's because he looks just like them!  At least we won't lose him in a crowd of strangers, just his brothers and sisters.

Our midwife, Tierney Dovan of Marshall Midwifery is fabulous!  It is her hot-pink sleeve you see holding Charles out for all his older siblings to see for the first time.  

A Lenten reflection from Reed of God by Caryll Houselander

.  I have been reading Reed of God by Caryll Houselander for a LONG time; I will get a paragraph read here, a page there.  I am finally getting enough of it read for it to be fruitful for me.  This thought really struck me as I was looking ahead to the beginning of Lent, and the birth of another child.

                This is another of the things to be discovered in contemplating Our Lady.  We ask Him to come and abide in us; we ask the Holy Spirit to form Him from our Lives; we believe that He does do this. 

                If Christ is formed in our lives, it means that He will Suffer in us.  Or, more truly, we will suffer in Him.

                "And He was made man."

                Our Lady saw at once what was meant in her case: supernaturally, He was made herself. 

                If He is made man in you, He will be made you. . . . 

                 And we shall thus come to realize that when we resent our circumstances or try to spare ourselves what we should undergo, we are being like Peter when he tried to dissuade Our Lord from the Passion. 

                There is one tremendous answer to the question which is reiterated to the point of utter weariness: "Why should I?"

                It is another question: "Ought not Christ to suffer these things and so enter into His glory?"

That is the question I ask myself every time I am presented with a sacrifice, even the smallest little inconvenience or discomfort.  "Why should I?"  I feel as if I don't deserve to feel that little discomfort, and I ACT like it!  I roll my eyes or sigh when one of the kids spill something or whines.  But, Christ wasn't above suffering these little trials of life.  He, of course, did NOT deserve them, but he chose to suffer them--at first through Mary in her womb and the very body that she formed through Him and for Him, then as His own human body, and now, through each of us.  

So, that is the main thing I am doing for Lent, or more properly said, that is what I am trying to let Christ do for me.  I pray He becomes me, and I Him.  My death to sin will be much less dramatic (not crucifixion and public martyrdom).  Mine will be wiping bottoms, doing laundry (that I just did the day before, but some child decides to wipe his hands on his shirt instead of using a napkin), being so tired from carrying this big belly around, but still getting up to put someone back in her bed for the 10th time that afternoon.  It will be me not showing my frustration when I have to spoon feed every bite to children who are turning their noses up at the dinner I worked so hard to make, with their tastes in mind.  These things aren't really trials at all!  But they sure feel that way to me, and I know there is nothing noble about doing these tasks, but He is so humble, he will help me, and thereby making them the most noble act for me.  He will help me bear this child, He will help me suffer all these little things perfectly.  

And, though the season has passed completely, here is our family photo from Christmas.  Here are my crosses and my salvation--I know I'm their cross, too!  And, yes, we took about 5000 photos (a little exaggerated)  and this tolerable one is the best of the whole lot.  At least everyone is looking at the camera!  

Blessed Lent.  Please pray for me! 

Anastasia--5 years old

Here is a photo of my big girl from each year of her life.  Two months late is better than never, right?

Anastasia at 10 days old:

One-Year-old.  She got that sparkle in her smile right about then: 

Two-Years-Old.  She was so young, but such a good big sister, already:

By Three-Years-Old, Aine really started to looked like herself:

 Four-Years-Old.  She was a big girl in preschool that year:

And by Five-Years-Old, she had lost her first tooth!