Kaden and I returned from my parents house today. We spent the weekend with mom while my dad was off gallavanting across the Utah ski hills with my brother's family. I don't have any video from the weekend, but I promise that Kaden was as cute as ever. He continues to walk...with increasing speed each day. And he will often refer to Mike as "dada" or start saying something that sounds a lot like "fezzi" when we're looking for the dog. HOWEVER, He only smiles at me and giggles when I try to get him to say "mama". Wuzzup widdat??
The Navy and the Army
Speaking of "dada", Mike is already trying to expose Kaden to the military..sort of.:-) In honor of both of our fathers, Mike sang the Navy and the Army anthems, and Kaden marched onward!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Saint Patrick's Day
Happy Saint Patrick's Day! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend Amy who's birthday is today! :)
Did you know that Saint Patrick was an Orthodox Priest? I didn't. One of the ladies at our church sent this history of Saint Patrick below. I thought it was an interesting read.
St Patrick the Bishop of Armagh and Enlightener of Ireland
Commemorated on March 17
Saint Patrick, the Enlightener of Ireland was born around 385, the son of Calpurnius, a Roman decurion (an official responsible for collecting taxes). He lived in the village ofBannavem Taberniae, which may have been located at the mouth of the Severn River in Wales. The district was raided by pirates when Patrick was sixteen, and he was one of those taken captive. He was brought to Ireland and sold as a slave, and was put to work as a herder of swine on a mountain identified with Slemish in Co. Antrim. During his period of slavery, Patrick acquired a proficiency in the Irish language which was very useful to him in his later mission.
He prayed during his solitude on the mountain, and lived this way for six years. He had two visions. The first told him he would return to his home. The second told him his ship was ready. Setting off on foot, Patrick walked two hundred miles to the coast. There he succeeded in boarding a ship, and returned to his parents in Britain.
Some time later, he went to Gaul and studied for the priesthood at Auxerre under St Germanus (July 31). Eventually, he was consecrated as a bishop, and was entrusted with the mission to Ireland, succeeding St Palladius (July 7). St Palladius did not achieve much success in Ireland. After about a year he went to Scotland, where he died in 432.
Patrick had a dream in which an angel came to him bearing many letters. Selecting one inscribed "The Voice of the Irish," he heard the Irish entreating him to come back to them.
Although St Patrick achieved remarkable results in spreading the Gospel, he was not the first or only missionary in Ireland. He arrived around 432 (though this date is disputed), about a year after St Palladius began his mission to Ireland. There were also other missionaries who were active on the southeast coast, but it was St Patrick who had the greatest influence and success in preaching the Gospel of Christ. Therefore, he is known as "The Enlightener of Ireland."
His autobiographical Confession tells of the many trials and disappointments he endured. Patrick had once confided to a friend that he was troubled by a certain sin he had committed before he was fifteen years old. The friend assured him of God's mercy, and even supported Patrick's nomination as bishop. Later, he turned against him and revealed what Patrick had told him in an attempt to prevent his consecration. Many years later, Patrick still grieved for his dear friend who had publicly shamed him.
St Patrick founded many churches and monasteries across Ireland, but the conversion of the Irish people was no easy task. There was much hostility, and he was assaulted several times. He faced danger, and insults, and he was reproached for being a foreigner and a former slave. There was also a very real possibility that the pagans would try to kill him. Despite many obstacles, he remained faithful to his calling, and he baptized many people into Christ.
The saint's Epistle to Coroticus is also an authentic work. In it he denounces the attack of Coroticus' men on one of his congregations. The Breastplate (Lorica) is also attributed to St Patrick. In his writings, we can see St Patrick's awareness that he had been called by God, as well as his determination and modesty in undertaking his missionary work. He refers to himself as "a sinner," "the most ignorant and of least account," and as someone who was "despised by many." He ascribes his success to God, rather than to his own talents: "I owe it to God's grace that through me so many people should be born again to Him."
By the time he established his episcopal See in Armargh in 444, St Patrick had other bishops to assist him, many native priests and deacons, and he encouraged the growth of monasticism.
St Patrick is often depicted holding a shamrock, or with snakes fleeing from him. He used the shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Its three leaves growing out of a single stem helped him to explain the concept of one God in three Persons. Many people now regard the story of St Patrick driving all the snakes out of Ireland as having no historical basis.
St Patrick died on March 17, 461 (some say 492). There are various accounts of his last days, but they are mostly legendary. Muirchu says that no one knows the place where St Patrick is buried. St Columba of Iona (June 9) says that the Holy Spirit revealed to him that Patrick was buried at Saul, the site of his first church. A granite slab was placed at his traditional grave site in Downpatrick in 1899.
To read about the life of St. Patrick, see: http://matushkaelizabeth.vox.com/library/post/st-patrick-enlightener-of-ireland.html
In the herb department....Mike grew a nice garden last summer. Most of the plants died this past fall, but the parsley won't give up. Despite our forgetfulness in watering it, the parsley has remained strong and even "kudzu" like. If anyone local to us would like some, let me know and I'll snip some off for you the next time I see ya! 
And last but not least, Kaden would like to read a few excerpts from the nursery rhymes his Aunt Susan sent him! Notice how intently Fezzi listens to Kaden wax poetically!
