medley of love

I am going to give you the Deluxe Weekend Hilight Package.  aka I am tired, I just edited a billion photos, and I want to watch netflix.  But the weekend was too sweet to ignore on the blog.  

It began with an unexpected Friday off.  Any weekend that begins with that zippy and unexpected twist of grandeur is tops in my book.  Thus, I got to have chick-fil-a with the fam (sans China and Lianna), and Sophia.  It was, in a word, delicious.  

We proceeded to roam the Reston Town Center, and I proceeded to hit the anthro sales.  Any weekend that includes the perfect spring weather, chick-fil-a with my favorite acrobatic niece, brother, and parents, and then gives me some saweet action anthro sales is over the moon in my book.  

Then, to make matters more unexpectedly stellar, one of my dearest and truest friends, Patricia (aka Trishey), straight shot it from Raleigh to Falls Church Friday night and pulled in with a cool hour or so before midnight to spare.  

Any weekend that includes best friends driving in to complete the circle of love that was formed having my parents in town is just plain out of sight in my book.  


Saturday invited me to an early birthday brunch with my parents and aforementioned truly really friend.  Note: As a rule, I never turn down brunch invitations.  Especially ones that include my parents and trishey and grapefruit mimosas. 

Then, Christina, Trishey and I dined at the Table of the Lord in Mass.  Always the best part of any day.  Then, my family all went out to dinner for another early birthday treat.  It was the treatiest of treats.  Dad and Bubba discovered this italian gem that is now my favorite restaurant in VA.  And double quadruple mocha latte with a twist bonus: It is 5 minutes or less from my house.  A birthday miracle if you ask me.  And mom totally rocked the house with the bomb diggity birthday cake she made.  Props, Momma!

Any Saturday that starts with brunch, continues to the Eucharist, and finishes with the best darn pizza this side of the mason dixon line with so many people that I love very much is blowing every other day out of the water in my books.  Not to mention Trishey and I jamming to Bieber on the way to and fro the Redbox. Buttercream Icing on the funfetti cake of this weekend.  This weekend is so a funfetti cake.  

Until there is Resurrection day.  And baby was there ever. 

The dress I am wearing?  Early birthday present.  Christina insisted I open it early so I can enjoy the delight of wearing my dreamiest dress ever on Maddy's Baptism day, plus the Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord.  It was selected by Christina, and bought by my parents, and sealed with Heaven's approval.  This dress was completely meant for me, and I for it.  I feel like such a lady in it.  Like the perfect combination of Frauline Maria and Liesel Von Trapp.  It twirls as if this was its' sole purpose in life. It curtsy's like a dream.  I never want to take it off.  And I want to frolic in a field of bluebonnets, dance under a weeping willow, and float off into the sunset on a cloud, than slide down a moonbean into a boat on a sea of fireflies.  Suffice it to say, this dress was a gift of love, and it has given me much delight.  Thank you so so much, Mom, Dad, and China. 

 Moving on.  We went to a beautiful (as if there is any other kind) Mass for the Ascension. Then we brunched it up (again because brunch belongs to funfetti cake weekends). 

As if the weekend wasn't already so funfetti it was getting ridiculous, God pushed us over the edge of great into the sea of AWESOME.  In other words, we left brunch to get front row seats to watch our dearest Madeline Cecilia McCabe become a wee little saint. 

It was perfect.  And so so appropriate for the Ascension. Jesus' last words to His disciples in Matthew's Gospel were carried out again today, over 2000 years later:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."  Matthew 28: 19-20

The disciples were obedient to the point of death, and from their imitation of our Savior in living and dying for the sake of Love and Truth, the Gospel was passed on and has been spread to all nations and all generations, and we are being Baptized exactly as the our Lord commanded.  Our beloved girl was claimed by Christ today, and will remain His forevermore. Alleluia! 

Not to mention that almost exactly 2 years ago, on the Solemnity of Pentecost, Sophia Rose was Baptized.  Pretty much the best.  

The McCabes opened their beautiful home to us, and were, as always, so generous and the perfect hosts.  We celebrated Maddy's newly Christened soul, and all of creation celebrated with us.  Because I think it was the most perfect Spring day of the year.  

Maddy celebrated in her own precious way, which means she snoozed her little newly Baptized heart out . 

And I enjoyed inhaling the scent of perfection that exuded from her every pore.  In fact, we all did.  

Any weekend that includes Mass, Baptism, Baptism party, My whole family, a whole lot of friends, perfect fairy tale weather, and a dress woven from the dreams of faries, is nothing short of a miracle from Heaven's arms in my book.  

Texas girl at heart

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Happy new week! One more week until Pentecost, which means it's the last week of the Easter Season.  Soak it up!  Le Chaim! 

Nota Bene:  Thank you for your prayers for my Momma and her back injury!  She is slowly getting better, but is still in a good deal of pain.  Any and all prayers for continued, full recovery are welcome and very much appreciated!