The Wedding

Finally, we have some pictures up! Sadly, there are not any of the Mass or of our family with the Bride and Groom. Or very many of the Groom. Thank goodness our love for you is not displayed in how many pictures we have.

We love you both and are so happy for your new call to sanctity.

Friday Photo Favorites

What's gonna work?

Teamwork!

(The Wonder Pets have willing infiltrated my mind!)

Riding Bareback

We were on our way to the bath tub.

Why I Do What I Do

Every now and then, someone will ask me why I decided to study theology. Sometimes, I myself wonder, especially given the length of my previous post. But it is reminders like this, a frighteningly accurate portrayal of far too many of my own experiences, which spur me on. Enjoy

Pray for me

My finalized reading list for the MA comprehensive exams which I take in 6 weeks.


Scripture
Gen 1-11
Ex 1-6, 19-24
Prov 1:20-33, 8
Sirach 24
Wisdom 6-10
Psalms 2, 22, 29, 45, 89, 93-100, 110, 146-150
Hosea 1-14
Isaiah 1-12, 28-33, 40-55
Jeremiah 1-3, 23, 31-33
Mark 1-8, 15-16
Mt 1-7, 26-28
Lk 1-4, 22-24
The Gospel According to John (in toto)
Romans 1-8
The Apocalypse of St. John, 1:1-8, 1:9-3:22, 12, 13, 17-19, 21-22

Church Documents
Council of Trent, Decree on Justification (Neuner-Dupuis p. 806-823)
Vatican II, Dei Verbum
Humani Generis 22-44
Providentissimus Deus
Spiritus Paraclitus
Divino Afflante Spiritu
PBC, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, in Origins 23, 498-524
PBC, "Instruction on the Historical Truth of the Gospels"
"Vatican Response to WCC Document" in Origins, 17, 401-415

Primary Sources
Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, Book IV, 39-48
______, Summa Theologia questions I 1-13, 27-43, 75-89, I-II 109-112, III 1, a1-3, 2, a1-9, 8, 9
______,De Anima II, VIII, XI
Augustine, De Trinitate 5, 9, 14, 15
de Lubac, Mystery of the Supernatural, Chs. 5-7, 9-12
Luther, Freedom of a Christian
Newman, Essay on the Development of Doctrine, Part I, Part II Chs V & XII
Nyssa, The Great Catechetical Discourse
Rahner, Foundations of Christian Faith, Chs I-IV
Von Balthasar, Love Alone Is Credible

Secondary Sources
Anderson, Out of the Depths, 1-20, 49-75, 162-171, 201-211
_____, Understanding the Old Testament, Ch 1-3
Barth, The Humanity of God
Brown, Introduction to the NT, 99-111, 126-164, 173-217, 227-274
Corsini, The Apocalypse: the perennial revelation of Jesus Christ, Trans. Moloney, 11-94, 206- 225, 313-347, 385-411
Eliade, Sacred and the Profane, 116-139
Farkasfalvy, "The Eucharistic Provenance of the New Testament Texts"
_____, Johannine Literature Notes
Fitzmyer, A Christological Catechism, 97-140
_____, Romans 110-124, 341-358, 405-417
Gowan, Theology of the Prophets, 37-50, 59-77, 98-117, 144-162
Hahn, The Lambs Supper, Parts I and II
Kasper, God of Jesus Christ, Parts II and III
Kereszty, Jesus Christ, Part I, Ch VI, Part II. Ch II, Part III. Ch IV
Kereszty Notes, Ch I, Ch V, Part 2 Ch I Sec 4
Kertelge, "The Sin of Adam..." Communio 18, 502-513
Leclerc, Introduction to the Prophets,142-187, 235-274, 304-332
Lowery Notes, Ch XI, XIII & XIV, Ch XV 58, XVII 64, XVIII, Ch I, III & VII
Marcel; J L Mackie, The Miracle of Theism, pp. 150-176
Marshall, "Quod Scit Una Uetula: Aquinas on the Nature of Theology" in The Theology of Thomas Aquinas ed Van Nieuwenhove & Wawrykow
Meier, "Jesus", NJBC 78:3-10
Murphy, Tree of Life, 15-32, 65-96, 111-149
Rahner, Karl. "The Body in the Order of Salvation." In Theological Investigations, 71– 89. New York: Crossroad, 1981
Talbert, Reading John, 69-83, 137-149
Wawrykow, "Grace" in The Theology of Thomas Aquinas ed Van Nieuwenhove & Wawrykow
_______, "Hypostatic Union" in The Theology of Thomas Aquinas ed Van Nieuwenhove & Wawrykow
Westerman, Genesis 1-11

Welcome to the Island of Sodor

The Island of Soder has been in our vocabulary now for 18 months and yet there is more wonder and awe to be discovered. Avery has begun to show interested in this magical land and is displaying advanced engineering skills for his age. The last two months he has master the skill of going up and down a single bridge and just recently has learned how to connect his train. He is currently working on pulling his train verses pushing. He has also learned a few tricks of the trade from PT.

After watching his brother closely he mastered proper train driving posture.

He is still working on the concentration tongue.

What you are witnessing here is train harmony constructed by PT with the guidance of Daddy.

Until next time...

Friday Photo Favorites

From February.

("Blowing" the plant)

Friday Photo Favorites

A birthday donut for Pop Pop.

Wedding Prep

Here are some pictures of the happenings before the big day. 

Grandma mixing up a big batch of popcorn...not to eat, but to toss at the bride and groom as they leave the reception.  A very innovative and thrifty idea!   

The boys helping Papa with some sort of scheme.

Ruth Ann kept up the trend that the only way to do flowers is with you own two hands. 

Sisters!

Ruth Ann wanted purple wire wrapped around the boutonnière. The effect was wonderfully modern chic. Miss Anna Liekert was amazing at shaping each wire uniquely. She found various size objects to wrap the wire around and shaped to fit each groomsmen personality . This far surpasses the last attempt Jenny-lynn and I had at shabby chic boutonnière. Too much wine, hormones and cat tails.

Ruth Ann's bridesmaids each arranged and tied their own bouquet. 

Rehearsal dinner. Avery digging in.

Ummm, good bread.

My other two handsome boys.

One last thing to do before the big day.

Get clean. 

Poor PT looks like the walking dead. He was having too much fun for sleep.

I must admit that I had a hard time balancing keeping the boys out from under foot and being involved and capturing moments. This being the first wedding on the Blaxton side and with two boys, I found my role as mother amplified so that Philip could focus more on his role as brother. This newness did not come easily to me, which means this is really an apology for images not documented because of dirty diapers, snotty noses, hungry tummies, new nerves over two little ones being too much in the way and the like. I wish I would have taken more pictures especially of those family members we don't get to see very often. 

Funny Things Grandchildren/Nephews Make You Do

Arriving in "The sweetest little town anywhere around" at 2:30am, it was only a few hours later that PT and Avery were awake with wild excitement to see GeeGee and PaPa. Since it was a blistering 72 degrees, we knew swimming would be part of our day outside. We did, however, underestimate the excitement of Uncle Stephen and PaPa in the presence of two very effective "Image Projection Disablers." We were able to document the results of our field tests. Here are some samples.

We first confirmed that the test subjects were exposed to and in direct contact with the IPDs. 

Our conclusion is that while IPDs make for great photos of otherwise very subdued and refined people, the love for these little guys that shines through in all of our family during our far too infrequent visits is a sight to behold and solid evidence of two very blessed boys. 

Friday Photo Favorites

Pictures after Mass, before donuts and, thus, with fairly clean attire.

"Umph....Why take my picture when we have these adorable boys," is what he is thinking

"Because you are one of my adorable boys," is what I am thinking

Looking at the big treat after Mass.

Trying to find the best seat for the big show.

Will this work?

(Love their matching shoes! Daddy and Mommy have some too!)

Ooooo

Avery became aware of the camera as did PT; their interpretation of this awareness is priceless.

This was it guys, the big show!  After Mass, we walk over and hear the bells! We would do this Peter and Isabelle when they would come and visit us at college.  Peter deemed this "Uncle Matty's Tower."

In Michigan, Paul Thomas spotted a picture of this tower across Gee Gee's youth room, actually he first spotted a picture of the Madonna outside the Chapel and said, "Hey, that's our Church." and then eyed the tower and said, "That's our tower. Hey, did you know Gee Gee has a picture of our tower."

I was very impressed with his ability to identify landmarks, but what impressed me more was that these landmarks were ours. We have felt a little lost coming back to UD and knowing we will be here a short while. I have felt in limbo not knowing where we as a family fit in amongst the metroplex. Our boys know and that is all that matters.

Up, Up and Away

Clips from the first take off, illegally acquired.

Yes, my voice is sickeningly sugar coated as we take off because the last time we did this PT had his head buried in my chest, shoulder's heaving and a death grip that the impressions from which just recently went away. 

MICHIGAN HERE WE COME!

His Brother's Keeper

Heading down stairs toward our room in basement at GeeGee and Papa's house Paul Thomas asked, "Mommy, will you cuccle me?"

This was somewhat surprising since almost every night of his life we have cuddled before bed.

Nonetheless, he was ensuring a cuddle session.

"Yes, I will cuddle you"

"Because I am scared of the dark"

He confessed this with a matter-of-fact tone that betrayed an underlying, deep seated fear that touched me deeply as Mommy, knowing that we all, at some point, have been scared of the unknown. Just as I was about to launch into a long explanation of how Jesus and our Angels are always with us whether it is light or dark and if we ask they will help us, he continued...

"Cause I can't see Vevry"

The root of PT's fear was of not seeing his brother, whether it was because he needed to keep a watchful eye on his Avery or he just needed to know he had a companion in his nights' journey. Avery has given Paul Thomas so much more than a playmate, he has given him extra courage and responsible that comes with being the big brother. Both of which Paul Thomas takes great pride in carrying yet does not always come lightly.