My First Blog "The Background"

Well, here it is my first blog. I guess this one will just be a summary of my life in general right now. I'm currently working as an Accountant/Assistant Registrar for a Non-Profit organization, IAFE. I am not going to try to explain what IAFE stands for or what we do. It is way too confusing.... =) I am going on my 5th year at my job and was lucky enough to have this job offer before I graduated college back in 2004. I enjoy my job but like anyone there are days I wish I did something different. I get to travel to Las Vegas, NV once a year for 9 days, all expenses paid for...so I guess I can't complain. That itself is worth it! The first year I went was also my first plane ride....I drove my co-workers nuts with all my anxieties about flying...haha...but now I LOVE flying! I would actually rather be in a plane, than a car.

I've been married to my wonderful husband Mike for 3 years now. I know that God sent him to me. He has changed my life so much since first meeting him and all for the better. I am a completely different person. I would probably not be in a good place if not for him. He has shown me what a "Husband" should be. Sometimes I'm in awe at him. He loves me so much even when I think I don't deserve it. Words that describe him are: Loyal, Faithful, Understanding, Non-Judgmental, Honest, Father, Partner, Laid back, Smart, Optimistic, Spiritual....I could go on and on all night. Sometimes I wonder how he got stuck with me...=) A good friend of mine told me once we go together b/c we balance each other out. For example where he's relaxed and laid back most of the time, I am stressed or worried all the time. He always sees the glass half full and as hard as I try 75% of the time I see it half empty. He brings me back to reality and I realize I am truly blessed in my life and the world is not going to end b/c of what ever I'm freaking out about. There are a lot of things we're completely opposite about, and a lot we're the same. It keeps things fun and interesting though. =)

We had been married for 2 years when I decided to inquire about the RCIA process in the Catholic Church. RCIA in a nut-shell is the adult confirmation process in the Catholic Church. It's forever long...approx 9 months give or take...but very much worth it. Mike was raised Catholic and all of his family is Catholic. This was never a problem for us me not being Catholic. Yes, there are some that think I only did it b/c he was. But those who truly know me, know that was not the case. I would have done it along time ago if I felt that way. Anyway, Mike and I had been saying for the last few years, "We need to get back into church"...easy to say of course, but not so easy to dedicate ourselves to. I told him more than once I would go to Mass with him. I would decide later if it was right for me or not. And he was open to trying other churches. I went to church with him for about a year before I decided, "Yes, this is for me". I had been to SEVERAL churches throughout my life but never felt the way I did now. We found out when the next RCIA sessions were starting and we BOTH started going. Yes, Mike was already Catholic but wanted to support me by being by my side through all of it. And he was....He came to every meeting with me. This was also good for him b/c he had fallen out of church for a few years while he was in the Army. He learned just as much as I did. While I was going through my life changing process of converting, my mother-in-law was sick with Cancer. She passed before my Confirmation day. You take a "Confirmation" name in the Catholic Church when you are confirmed. Most pick the name of a Saint, one that has played a role in their lives, or maybe they feel a connection to. However, I decided to pick someone that had a HUGE influence on my life and my decision to become Catholic. This person was my mother-in-law, Judy. She was a devout Catholic woman. She was the Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Mother-in-Law.....everything I could only hope I could be someday. Her name was Judith Eileen. I took the name of Judith Eileen on my Confirmation Day. When Father blessed my forehead with the Oil of Confirmation he said those words that brought tears to my eyes (and my husbands), the words we had both longed to hear...."I confirm you, Judith Eileen...." That was truly one of the most happiest moments of my life so far. And I could feel Judy with me. The entire night I knew she was there watching both Mike and I. It was a night words can't explain.

This Life changing process meant so much to us that we decided to return the next year, but as Sponsors. In RCIA, each person is given a Sponsor. A Sponsor basically is just a friend that is already Catholic. They become very close to you throughout the next few months and are there to answer any questions you might have, or find the answers for you. My sponsor is now one of my best friends. So, we return to RCIA the next year =) We are paired up with a married couple. Wow!, another life changing experience. We now got to watch not only 2 more people make the decision to bring God into their lives, but we got to watch a married couple grow together. It was so wonderful to watch these to learn and grow. Both of them were looking for a change in their lives and searching for faith. And not only were they going through this, they had a baby girl. They were making a commitment for their family. Mike and I got to know Tonya and Adam and became good friends. Now, Tonya had never been baptized so part of her RCIA process included Baptism. I, being Tonya's Sponsor, was also considered her Godmother at her Baptism. Tonya was so so so excited about being Baptized. It was truly a blessing to watch her receive the Sacrament of Baptism. I was already baptized years ago, so I wasn't Baptized again when I went through Confirmation. So the second time around I was getting to see things from a different perspective. Her husband, Adam, was already Baptized as a child. Being by their sides on their confirmation night was another blessing. Tonya cried as she was confirmed and this brought tears to my eyes. I was so happy for her.

Next, would come another life changing experience for both Mike and I. Tonya and Adam asked us to be Megan's Godparents! My heart jumped when she asked me. She had sent me an email asking me and I hardly got through the email when I realized what she was asking and I almost jumped out of my chair at work. Godparents...."Wow"...now that's an honor! I love hearing stories from my husband about his Godparents and the influence they have had on his life. They were very close. It wasn't just one of those...."Oh my Godparents are so and so"...they were actually parents to him too. They were in his life as much as possible. They were 2nd parents to him. I find his relationship with his Godparents truly amazing. And now I would receive that blessing......the opportunity to be a Godmother! Wow!!! I guess technically I was already Tonya's Godmother but this is a little different... =) Of course I responded YES YES YES!!!! and Thank you! =) It was an honor and a blessing to be there when Megan was Baptized. It was an honor to stand there by her parents and make a commitment along with them to Megan. I framed a picture of Mike with his Godparents for Megan as one of her Baptism gifts. Mike was 1 year old in the picture. It was a professional picture his Godparents had made with him. I wanted Megan to have it. Someday, I know it will mean so much to her....not that it doesn't now....but when she's older and looks back it will be a wonderful keepsake.

Here is another picture of her...is she not the cutest thing ever?!?..... =) She is adorable and will be 2 years old on Dec. 1st. I'm sure Tonya thinks she's growing way too fast!....haha.... We had dinner with them a few weeks ago and I hadn't seen Megan for a couple months. Oh my gosh!...had she changed! She was talking...or attempting to talk.... =) and her facial expressions were cracking me up. She has learned the facial expressions for things such as: Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised (my fave!!!).....you just tell her which face to make and she does! It is so cute. We ate at a Mexican resturant and she eats soft tacos, no lettuce. She still likes Mike's bald head! And we had fun trying to get her to say our names. Tonya emailed me the other day with a picture of Megan's new big girl bed. She is moving up to a toddler day bed and she picked it out herself!!!! I believe Tonya is re-doing her room in Dora decals too. Megan loves Dora!! What little girl doesn't.... =)

And there's also my Step daughter Charlisse, or Charlie....another blessing in our lives. Charlie is the spitting image of her father. Some days I cannot believe how much she looks like him. =) She has beautiful, shiny red hair. She will be turning 7 soon, on November 27th. I can still remember when I first started dating Mike and she was hardly 2 yrs! Where does the time go? I cannot believe how she has grown when I look back at her pictures. We don't get to see her as often as we would like to. She lives in CA with her mom. She LOVES Disney princesses! And she knows Disneyland like the back of her hand! That's the perk of living down the street from Disneyland....every child's dream! She is so smart! And I'm not just bragging...she really is unbelievably smart! I remember a couple years ago when she told Mike she was going to be a Palentologist when she grew up! Of course I was first taken back by the fact she knew what one was....I think she was 5 or so??? Whenever we get to go visit her we enjoy doing things such as going to the beach, park and aquarium. I have to admit...I too...LOVE the aquariums!!!