Firsts and Lasts

It's been a week of firsts and lasts!

Last lab!  Tuesday, Julia attended our last lab EVER with us!  It was an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine lab, focused on pediatrics, so Julia came to be a mock patient.  She had a little stranger danger when we let the pediatrician hold her, but Julia quickly relaxed and seemed to enjoy herself as the doctor did some Cranial-Sacral and Myofascial Release techniques on her.

 

First display of school spirit!  Go, TU!  Many thanks to Elizabeth for the awesome onesie!

Already sticking out her tongue, taunting our opponents!

And talking smack!  "Our school is the best!"

First roll!  Julia rolled over for the first time this morning!  And, we know it wasn't a fluke, because she did it twice more!  She rolled from her belly to her back, with relative ease - she has gotten so much stronger!  Go, Julia!  We decided she rolled today to celebrate her Aunt Meghan's birthday :)

Last class!  Today, we attended our last class EVER!  Whoa!  After nearly 20 years of taking classes, we are finally finished!  It's doesn't seem real yet, especially since we still have plenty of studying ahead with 8 of our 9 finals left to take over the next week and a half, and boards to take in June.  But, it's still a pretty cool feeling!  We may have 2 years left of school, but we are leaving the classroom behind!

Took a pic in front of the front door, because, as a friend of ours pointed out, that's how we started our school careers!

First trip to the library!  To give Aaron some uninterrupted study time, which is rare for us these days, I took Julia to the library to check out some books!  She got a bit fussy, so I took her out of her seat and held her as I gathered books.  Then, I put the books in her carrier to take them to the circulation desk to check them out.  The librarian joked with me, "Nice baby!" when he saw the books in her seat.  I laughed and told him that that "baby" doesn't cry when it's not being held ;)

Yay, books!  We love to read!

Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen!  Alleluia!

We had a wonderful weekend, so full of the grace of God!  We had our last test before finals on the morning of Good Friday, making it easy to set aside studying for the rest of the day to focus on Christ's passion and death.  Holy Saturday began with the Scrub Run at school.  Julia and I came to cheer Aaron on as he ran a 5K.  He made us proud!

Top finisher from our school in the 5K!  Way to go, Aaron!

Easter Sunday was spent with family and friends, enjoying good food, conversation, and games.  The peak of the weekend, though, was definitely the Easter Vigil on Saturday evening.  The friend that I was sponsoring through RCIA came into full communion with the Catholic Church, and she was so filled with the joy of the Lord!  Many other people came into the Church as well, including another friend, who is a former professor of ours.  It was a beautiful night!

Our pastor is an amazing preacher, and his homily at mass really moved me.  I cannot do it justice here, but I will share the high points, because they are so worth being remembered!  It was a spectacular reminder of the meaning of Easter!

• The world changed at Easter.  The gospel reading from Matthew highlights this well.
• "After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning..." - Easter is the dawn of the new creation in Christ.
• "there was a great earthquake" - The very foundation of the earth was shifted.
• "The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men" - Guards were hired to maintain the status quo, but the status quo was shattered.
• What was this change?  Death is no longer permanent!  And we have nothing to fear!
• "Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
• "Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid.'"
• What would happen if we lived our lives as if we truly believed that the world changed at Easter?  If we truly believed that death is not victorious and that we do no need to be afraid? 
• If someone needed a cloak, we would offer them our tunic as well.
• If someone slapped our cheek, we would offer them our other cheek.  
• If we lived our lives in this way, we would be saints!  That's the distinguishing feature of the saints - they realized that there is more to look forward to than this life, and that we have nothing to fear.
• St. Maximilian Kolbe - prayed for and led others to pray for the Nazis, offered his scarce food in the concentration camp to other prisoners, and ultimately, volunteered to take the place of a man sentenced to death, sacrificing his life. 
• Many others, like St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Pope John Paul II, lived their lives without fear, having confidence that death is but the entry way to eternal life.

 This homily really resonated with me.  How often do I live my life worrying about those things that are passing?  So often, I get angry about things that don't matter, hurt by things that should not bother me, preoccupied with things that will not last.  It's hard to give away my cloak or to turn the other cheek.  It's easy to have anxiety about the future.  But, if I truly live what I believe, what need do I have to cling tightly to my cloak?  What does it really matter if my cheek gets slapped?  My Savior lives and I have hope in him and eternal life to look forward to!  What have I to fear?  Nothing!

I am reminded of Romans 8, one of my favorite chapters in Scripture.  The whole chapter is worth a reread, but here are a few gems:

• "For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit.  The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace" (5-6).
•  "For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, 'Abba, Father!'  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, hears of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him.  I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us" (15-18). 
• If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? (31b-32).
• What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?... No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (35, 37-39).

  Are we Christians living out the good news?  Have our lives really changed?  Has our paradigm shifted?  Can others see the reason for our hope?  

"'Death is swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?'  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:54b-58) 

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair.  We are the Easter people, and hallelujah is our song." - Pope John Paul II

Happy Easter! Christ is risen!  Alleluia, alleluia!

 

Two Letters

We had our last lecture EVER in our Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine class.  Considering the fact that we've had that class every semester of medical school, coming to the end was a pretty big deal.

The doctor who taught today ended his lecture by stressing a point to us he made at his first lecture way at the beginning of our first year, which was this:

Don't let two letters become more important to you than your spouse, your children, your God, or your other relationships.  Those two letters?

D.O. - Doctor of Osteopathy

The beginning of the road to becoming DOs

He said that no one ever entered medical school thinking that they would be divorced by the time they had graduated, but that it happened to some.  No one ever says, "Til death or D.O. do us part," when they say their wedding vows.  And yet, career can become much too important to some, to the point that they don't spend time with their families or friends or God, and end up losing that which is most important.


I am grateful for the people like this doctor who have been wonderful about trying to help our class keep life in perspective.  Medical school is extremely time consuming, but it does not have to consume you.  I am happy and proud to say that I have had a life during these past two years of school, and I firmly intend to continue having one.  No test is as important to me as my God or my family or my friends.  Sure, I can't say yes to every invitation that comes along.  Sacrifices do have to be made along the way.  But, I still make time to pray every day and to enjoy my husband and daughter.  I've made some wonderful memories over the past two years with family and friends.  I read, cook, play board games, take pictures, sing, write letters, laugh at sitcoms, have deep conversations, stay plugged in at church, daydream.  I always try to be there for people when they need me.  I tiptoe into Julia's bedroom to watch her while she's sleeping.  We go on walks as a family after dinner.  Aaron and I still love to tease each other as much as we did when we were sophomores in college.  Life is beautiful, and I'm not going to sacrifice the little things in life for two letters.  Because, in the end it's the little things in life that end up mattering.

Luke 9 must be a theme this week, because it comes to mind again: "What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?" (Luke 9:23-25).

Also, I am reminded of Psalm 90:12 - "Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart."  Julia is such a great reminder to me of this verse.  She grows so fast that I am more aware than ever of how quickly time passes.  I want to enjoy and appreciate each moment.  Life is a gift.  Let's not squander it.

Life is a gift.  Enjoy it!

Lessons

Some friends of ours with a baby around Julia's age came over for dinner this weekend, and they posed some thought-provoking questions to us, that they'd been asked by other friends of theirs who are also new parents.

1)  What have you learned about each other since becoming parents?

2)  What have you learned about yourself since becoming a parent?

The first question was really easy for me to answer.  I had always known Aaron was patient, but it wasn't until we had Julia that I discovered how vast his patience really is.  I have definitely reached my limit numerous times, usually late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, if Julia will not stop crying and we cannot figure out what in the world is wrong with her, but I can always count on Aaron to step in and lighten my load.  He has been a rock for me when I am frustrated, overwhelmed, or spent. Aaron never loses his cool.  He is always incredibly patient with our daughter, soothing her and showering her with his tender love.  He is always patient with me too, which is even more remarkable, since I am can be grumpy when I am tired or frustrated and pretty emotional when I am overwhelmed.  And there have been times that Julia's crying has driven me to tears, so Aaron has to deal with two crybabies, but he is constant in his love and compassion for us.  Aaron has taught me so much about God through this journey of parenting.  He has been an image of Jesus' everlasting love for me.  I am so grateful for my vocation and all I am learning about Christ's love for his Church through the love of my spouse!  And I know Julia is already beginning learning about the Father's love for her from her earthly father.  I thank God for His gift of love!  "We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Julia learns of her heavenly Father's love from her earthly father.

Safe in his arms.

Julia is blessed to have such a good and patient daddy!

The second question prompted me to share that Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength," has really come alive for me.  Before Julia was born, I used to think I was busy, and I was, to a certain extent.  But, Julia has allowed me to realize I am capable of even more than I thought I was, only by the grace of God.  Some days, I stop and think of all I have to get done, and I think, "Somehow, it will all get done!  This day will come to a close, and all those things will be over."  Each day is a wild ride, and I know God is in the driver's seat, because there's no way I could navigate these curves!  We entrust our day to God each morning, and it's amazing how much He can help us accomplish in a given day.

The second question also provoked an interesting discussion on selfishness.  We all agreed that parenting made us realize how selfish we are, deep down.  Our friends shared what their friend had said about it.  She said, "I want my baby to do what I want him to do, when I want him to do it, so I can do what I want, when I want to do it."  We agreed that, discouraging as it may be to admit, we all have that attitude too much of the time.  Yet, Christ is clear: "'If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me'" (Luke 9:23).  Denial of self is so hard - may Jesus give us the grace to follow His charge!

Happy 1/3rd Birthday!

Julia is 4 months old today!  We can't believe how big she has gotten and how quickly these first few months of her life have flown by.  The past four months have definitely been challenging, but they have also been so incredibly full of joy! 

We have been trying to take pictures of Julia in some of the same places each month, to get a good idea of how much she is growing.  Enjoy some of our favorites!

Crib photos

Newborn

1 month

2 months

 

 

3 months

4 months

Rocker photos

Newborn

1 month

 

 

 

2 months

3 months

4 months

Recliner photos

2 months

3 months

4 months

Joyful Noise

We have known for a long time that Julia loves music.  It was actually one of the first things we knew about her.

When I was pregnant, Julia used to get excited when she heard music.  She would get really active, doing extra kicks, punches, and full body flips along with the music.  Her musical tastes were varied, as she seemed to dance just as much at Elizabeth's chorale concert of classical music as she did at the PAC when my family went to see "Wicked."  I always really enjoyed feeling Julia dancing inside me, and it was fun, too, to have easy opportunities to let family members feel her flurry of activity in my belly.

Julia has continued to show a great interest in and appreciation for music.  She is easily captivated by music, quieting down when she hears it to listen intently.  For instance, a couple weeks ago, we went to a restaurant with Aaron's parents, and Julia was so good, sitting perfectly quietly through the entire meal, seemingly mesmerized by the background music.  We love to sing to Julia and she seems to love being sung to.  We have made up a bunch of original little songs about her that we enjoy entertaining her with. 

Julia's favorite thing to do, though, is still to move to the music!  Julia is enchanted by dancing!  Her face breaks into a huge grin whenever we dance for her or we help her to dance.  There's no surer way to get a gigantic smile from Julia than to dance with her!

Julia has begun to sing!  Lately, when we sing to her, she tries to sing along by making adorable baby noises.  And, music is already allowing Julia to worship God by making a "joyful noise unto the Lord" (Psalm 100).  Today, she participated in the holy mass by singing along with the hymns, especially the communion song.  The refrain of that song, which was repeated over and over, was, "In the shadow of your wings, I sing for joy" (Psalm 63).  And Julia was sure singing for joy!  She looked very serious as she belted out her coos along with the music.  It was so precious and really filled my soul with joy!  Aaron and I looked down at our little daughter and were filled with such gratitude to God for her presence in our life.

"At that time, Jesus said, 'I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants'" (Matthew 11:25).  Who can know what God is revealing to our precious infant?  Who can know what Julia's beautiful little coos expressed?  We marvel to think of the graces poured upon Julia at her baptism and the resultant wellspring of peace and joy in her soul. We praise God for Julia's song to Him!

Mommy's Little Helper

Yesterday, we went to Walmart with Julia.  She sat in her baby carrier in the cart, and when we finished shopping, we set the plastic sacks in the cart around her.  As we lifted her seat out of the cart, one of the plastic sacks rose up too.  It was then that we noticed that Julia was gripping the handle of the sack containing bread!  Aaron put the seat onto its base in the back seat of our car, and it was only at this point that Julia loosened her grip, dropping the bread onto the seat next to her.

Julia may be less than four months old, but she's already quite the helpful baby!