They left everything and followed...

Once again I have a need to share inspiring words with you... once again, they are not my own. I will share with you that this time of transition has been filled with grace, but it has been a very difficult time. I don't wish to list what has been difficult because I don't want to give any of it credence. I only wish to say that God is faithful and He is merciful. Please read the words that inspired me this morning...

(P.S. there are pictures at the end of this post)

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      Is there anyone who is not moved by the witness of absolute dedication to Christ? This is the allure of the saints, whom the Church never tires of contemplating and of presenting as proof that it is possible to follow Jesus Christ with our entire selves, that it is possible to make a radical commitment to the Son of God, "the way, the truth, and the life" of man. The saints address our desire for the fullness of life and tell us that this is not an illusion, that it is not a mirage, but a call that resounds in the heart of every man and requires fulfillment. The answer to this desire is not a dream but rather the realism of following Christ...
       Following the Lord is a constant, renewed "leaving everything." It is never finished and continually requires a fresh commitment, as if each of the Lord's footsteps created another "everything" between himself and our freedom, a new "everything" to be left behind once again. This is how the love of Christ continues to live and grow...
     Peter is the saint in the Gospels who is most like us, the closest to our humanity, and yet also very close to Christ. We can always follow Peter. He always leads us to Jesus, he unites us to Jesus, because he never permitted his own fagility to separate his heart from Christ, even when he denied him...
      Peter's transparency is Gospel, is part of the the Gospel, of the good news of redemption in Christ. We can and must enter the school of Simon Peter, the school of his journey with Jesus, in order to follow the Lord as he wants to be followed, to cling to Christ as he enables us to love Him.
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Here are a few pictures to make your day...

 We frequent being outside before it gets hot!

 He's so shy...

 Love the belly...

 It's important to at least look like I am protecting the baby from wrestle mania...

 ... see what I mean?

 This is Micah... in a 9 month onesie (though he's only 15 weeks old)

 Sweet Therese Marie... the curls, the dimples, the eyes, the snuggling. She is so wonderful!

We are looking forward to our 6th anniversary September 8th!

(and get ready for pictures of John Paul's first out-of-the house sport...)