the happiest

It was my favorite birthday ever (in memory).  I didn’t even have to hunt rainbows that day.  They found me.  They found me when I woke up and opened my door to tropical skittle hued fringed (by Christina’s own hands that she willingly got cramped to give such an awesome twist of goodness to the) streamers flowing from my doorway to greet me with kisses. 

China did those fringes by hand! Best big sister. Ever. 

The streamers graciously moved aside to reveal a pile of presents from two very tall and very wonderful birthday elves that I happen to live with.  Then there was a nutella crepe waiting for me (a la Sean) when I came home from spending some quality birthday time at Mass thanking my Creator for the gift of this life. Not bad for a Wednesday morning.

Then I got taken down a couple of notches by a 4 year old who isn’t quite accustomed to thinking of anyone besides herself.  Even if it is their birthday.  But we danced in her living room to brown eyed girl.  We twirled and twirled, and sashayed (sp?) (Wednesday is ballet day), because you have to dance on your birthday.  In birthday land this is one of the most stringently enforced laws.  And I’ll be darned if I commit a felony in birthday land on my birthday.  Not an option.  

It was all rainbow sprinkled bliss from there on out.  We took over the almost-as-perfect-as-Cavallis pizza place down the road from our house, and we stayed until they were mopping over our feet as subtly as possible to get us out of there.  I can remember very few times when I have felt more loved and I can’t thank anyone there enough for how beautiful it was.  It was more love than I knew what to do with.  

Christina and Sean were the instruments of the Beloved, and He played me the most perfect birthday tune through them.  

Lianna and Ed surprised me with the best treat I could ask for, and that was to bring Sophia and Madeline along with their wonderful selves.  They are such a rock star family, and stayed until way past Soph’s bed time so they could be a part of the toasts (don’t even get me started on those).  

 There is no other word but perfect.  Outside the skies cried of joy for the beauty within the warm, friend and family saturated pizzeria.  I was showered with flowers and given the gift of a bouquet of balloons.  One that I was secretly hoping for all day long, but scarcely believed this dream would come true.  The rainbow hits just kept on a-comin.  

It was perfect.  Sean rocked the house and made an amazing cake (note the rainbow sprinkles inside and out), they sung the famous song, Sophia cozied in my lap wanting to get as close to dessert as possible.  I have now had her at every birthday of mine since she was born.  I smell a tradition I hope never gets broken.

It was perfect.  It was magical.  It was rainbows and sunshine and joy.  Love Himself embraced me and filled my heart to overflowing.  Thank you thank you thank you.  All of you were Christ to me and it was one of the best times I have ever had.  Ever.  

I am so glad I have this little blog to preserve the memory of the happiness in words and photographs that was so real to me on my 27th birthday.

 
And Christina just brought me my favorite flowers in the world (white peonies) for no reason at all.  But I suppose, after all, that Love is always a good reason to do something beautiful for no reason at all.  

Cheers to birthdays and birthday land and the best family in the world and true friends and Spiritual bouquets/the best gift I have ever received that touch my heart and soul (thank you a million times to all who offered any prayer for me!) and birthday cards (fuzzes, and aunties, and friends thank you!) and texts (special thanks to Rachie who sent me morning noon and night birthday love via texts) and singing birthday voicemails (Michelle and her girls, and Trishey- I loved it!) and toasts that fill me to overflowing with love and to being hunted and caught by rainbows!

I am not kidding about how much I love these balloons and streamers

And I can never leave my parents out of anything regarding my birthday because they were the first ones to celebrate my life. Before they met me, they loved me. And they never will stop, of this I am certain. I love you, Momma and Dad! Thank you for the life you gave me through the grace of God.

march back

here is, for your viewing pleasure, my very very tardy choice for March's photo of the month.  Cheers to a March in Virginia that smacks of Texas warmth!  Cheers to pregnant mamas that rock pregnancy and motherhood like nobodies business! Cheers to life, to Tuesday, to the Good Life that the Risen Savior has planned for each of us.

March 2012 photo of the Month

the photo above is beautifully, divinely prophetic of the one below, and i am obsessed.

I am one mind-blown-by-beauty/obsessed/ecstatic/in love/unbelievably blessed and grateful, Auntie! Happy, happy 1 week anniversary of life, Madeline Cecilia McCabe (now very lovingly known as the "Maddybear").  We love you!

after all

I achieved a personal best last night.  My best homemade batch of biscotti. And it's usually hard for me to compliment myself in these matters, but really it's not that amazing of an achievement, and being truthful is a part of humility. Plus, it’s probably so good because it’s the Easter time and everything is better at the Easter time.  I have them on my mind right now, because I just had two cups of coffee, and I am pretty sure at least 75% of the reason for the second cup was so that I could dunk another biscotti. 

good morning! on a plate

Coffee and biscotti are a one of the best couples I know.  I would like to be a bridesmaid in their wedding, because I fully support this marriage, and believe it will last until death do they part.  Dude, chocolate chips embedded in biscotti, melting in the perfect cup of becreamed coffee?  Mondays need that kind of sweet action. Lest you think that this entire post is about biscotti, I will move on by a simple recap via photographs of the weekend.

photo by very proud papa, Ed

I had my first officially unofficial photography gig. Unpaid makes it unofficial, being commissioned by someone other than myself makes it official.  It was for the Dominican House of Studies gala, and it was wonderful.  

The Dominicans were the perfect hosts, and their little garden in the middle of the cloister centered around a statue of the Blessed Mother with wavy locks was beaming peace and loveliness. 

God put leopard print in this flower.  China swooned

I could have sat in there just to listen to the trees grow and watch the birds flutter from branch to branch.  My old camera and I did mosey down picturesque lane, and I absorbed as much of the tranquility as I could.  

There may be something therapeutic about watching a monk lighting a candle in a garden inhabited by peace, and observing men who have given their lives to the Prince of Peace.

Their smiles made it clear that happiness lay in doing the Father’s will, and obediently following Him wherever He leads.  

They laughed with joy that rang with a sweet freedom most of the world will never know, for they have found their happiness in Love, in obedience, in sacrifice, and they have nothing to fear.  

They do, however, have much to laugh about.  It is Easter after all, and so the funny things are even funnier. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to photograph  these joyful moments for something so real, so beautiful, and so worthy of capturing.  Thank you Maggie, and all the Brothers and Priests there that made it so wonderful.  

Saturday had me loving the gift of sleep, and not setting any alarm whatsoever.  There are some things that you would never think twice about as a kid, and so when you do start thinking more than twice about it, and it becomes something worthy of a little jig when it happens, you know that in some very obvious ways you are definitely an adult.  Or at least sort of possess some adultish characterisitcs. Like not setting your alarm and letting your body decide to get up when it darn well pleases being one of the sweetest, and most coveted luxuries, and oh baby does it deserve a jig.   Or when the gas prices drop below $4.00, and it is something you feel is worth dropping a sentence on in a blogpost.  For the record, they haven’t, but I have hopes.  It’s Easter, after all.  

I spent Saturday in a rare way of total relaxation, photo editing, Spring loving, west street walking, and got to have the windows open at Mass giving me my favorite view of life.  The Eucharist, plus green leaves dancing in the wind in honor of their Creator.  I capped off Saturday following suit with more rarities.  I dressed up, donned red lipstick, a sequined dress, stiletto red heels (gasp!), and went to a party with Christina and some of her lovely friends.  

And we rocked the dance floor.  But, that’s normal.  I, to quote Sarah Jessica Parker in her very underrated film Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, love to dance.  Especially with China.  Especially in sequins and red lipstick. 

On our drive home I got a call from my best brother ever, who thought we were lying in a ditch somewhere, due to my haphazard willy nilly leaving of half eaten pieces of pizza on the table..and a wadded up napkin was mentioned as well.  It was sad, but nice to know that if Bubba thinks we were possibly kidnapped, he investigates.  Sorry again, Bub!

Sunday was lovely in its’ content (Mass, visit with newly engaged friend, time spent with Lianna, Ed, Sophia, and Maddy bear); but not so lovely in weather.  I decided to ignore it completely, for it did not deserve my attention.  But, it’s still cold today, so I reserve the right to be put out during the end of April, when temperatures drop below 50.  Gross.  


At least there is almost-perfect-Easter-biscotti, hot coffee, and most of all the Eucharist, the Risen Savior being always present amongst us, and smiling monks, sequins, dancing, red lipstick, and new baby girls and a 2 year old who loves her baby sister and won’t stop saying the cutest things ever.  

Happy Easter! Happy Monday!