one month…and many more ago.

Today the Newlyweds celebrated One Month of married-life together!

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The new Mr. & Mrs.!
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May 7, 2016

One month!!!!!

How amazingly awesome is that?

If you are betrothed, do you remember that first month?

I remember the joy in making “our” bed each morning,

the delight in packing his lunch for the day,

and the decorating of our first home, trying to lovingly create our very own space.

Oh yeah, and the dinners that maybe weren’t turning out quite right just yet!

Good thing he liked Dinty Moore Stew over egg-noodles because

that was as gourmet as it got for awhile!

(Giggles…)

So much goes into the planning of a wedding day!

Do you remember what were your favorite things to plan?

These two young adults did a fabulous job planning & organizing what they desired their day to be and it was so much fun to be a small part of this.

In all the many months leading up to the Wedding Day we collected old trophies to refurbish for centerpieces, created table placards, shopped for not only  a Wedding gown but interviewed dress-makers for the bridesmaids and created our very own Peep-Sculpture in leau of an Iced one…(because it’s always fun to be just a little different.)

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What was the most unique thing you did for your wedding?

In an effort to share our own experiences & in hopes of inspiring you to take on your own creative challenges; I will be developing a mini-feature, on the 7th of every month for six-months, to recap some of the projects we took on all those months ago!  And just like Helen & her cookie-feature I very much look forward to sharing these tips/experiences with you!

Won’t you please tell me some of your own too?

In honor of their ONE month marriage this first feature will contain the very first item they both decided was the TOP priority for both of them, which was the Church Service!

Where did you choose to be married?

They truly wanted this to be the high-light of their day and took great effort in pointing everything toward the Sacrament they were about to make.  The readings and music for the ceremoney were all thoughtfully picked out.  The people who were chosen to stand beside them and those they asked to fill particular roles were such very special choices; including every single cousin who partook in presenting the gifts at the altar!  And what a special blessing it was to have eight priests, who are dear friends, partake in the celebrating of their Union!

What were the special choices you made for your ceremony?

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The church was full that day!

They requested no flowers on the altar as they wanted the full focus on the beauty of the Church and the Sacrament;  except for the presentation bouquet to be given during the honoring of the Blessed Mother, (which the bride asked to be large enough for Miss America to carry because she felt the title of ‘Mother of God’ is far more important!)  However, there were beautiful bouquets for the bridesmaids, stunning boutineres for the groomsmen, and of the course the immediate family members as well.  Not to mention the ‘surprise’ our daughter had orchestrated to duplicate my gardenia wedding bouquet, which I had carried down the same Church isle some thirty years earlier!

Did you have a favorite flower you included in your wedding bouquet?

(All the flowers were made by the fabulous flower designers at Allburn Florist!)

The groom and groomsmen wore handsome tailored tuxes selected through Men’s Warehouse  which complemented the underlying theme of the wedding:

“All Things Black & Gold!”

Did you have any themes at your wedding?

The groomsmen (these are my two sons) wore gold ties &

the groom was in all black, (who can be seen here walking his lovely mother to her pew.)

The bride found a gown she adored for her bridesmaids to wear; however, quickly discovered the designer price of that particular gown was not a price she would ever ask her lovely ladies to pay!

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So instead she interviewed various dress-makers until settling on one who could duplicate the same dress, yet would custom make each girl’s neckline to reflect their own individual tastes!   The dresses were two-piece, a long black ball gown with pockets & gold sequin tops with six seperate necklines: Sweatheart, V-neck, Square, One Shoulder, Mock Turtle, and Off the Shoulder!

Did your bridesmaids love their gowns too?

(Check out those pockets!)

And the four adorable flowergirl dresses, with coordinating jackets & hair bows, completed the Black & Gold theme!

However, we were sad when the littlest of the four could not be a part of the special day.

Were you missing anyone special from your Wedding Day?

The little-ladies filled up the Church with “Oohs & Aaahs,”and complimented

the ring-bearers, who were each dressed in a different Pittsburgh Sports Team jersey depicting the date of the Wedding!

(See above.)

What were the “Oohs & Aaahs” at your ceremony?

The oldest of the three ring-bearers carried down the aisle with him, what would soon become the newly married Mr. & Mrs. Yatsko’s Family Bible! And with the rings placed on top he perfectly handed them off to the best-man as he reached the altar.

Do you have a family bible you use?

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The Yatsko Family Bible

What about the bride’s dress????????????

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Unexpectantly, the first gown our daughter tried on was…THE one she chose to wear for her Wedding Day!  We went shopping on a “whim” when a couple of hours of unplanned free time, prior to a family event, popped-up during a visit home.

I didn’t even have any tissues with me!!! 

But from the moment she put it on…she knew it was “her” Wedding gown.

How did you know  when to say “Yes!” to the dress?

 Before & after final alterations were completed.

(A magical experience from start to finish at Bridal Elegance!)

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Everything they had hoped & planned for from the Church Service

came together perfectly that day!

What was the ‘perfect moment’ on your Special day?

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Ringing the Church bells together!!

It is so hard to believe it was one month ago already!

There were so many blessings which occurred on that day…

and in the many months ago of planning.

God only knows just how many more are yet to come in the months that lie ahead!

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What blessings do you hope for in the upcoming months of your marriage?

 

hugs n’ blessings (and a prayer) especially for all newly married couples, as you navigate through the wonderful Sacrament of Matrimony!

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please remind us to pray for each other often, and to be kind as we’re growing in grace.

Equip us to be the strength that we need, one for the other. May we serve to encourage as we fulfill our God-given roles; one a wise leader, and the other a compassionate help-mate.  For your Word says, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a help-mate for him.”

Thank You for Your wonderful gift of a trustworthy companion and friend. Thank you also for the gift of marriage that we open each day.

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” – Genesis 2:21-23, KJV
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“So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” – Genesis 2:21-23, NIV

*Prayer taken from Time-Warp Wife, Keeping Christ at the Center of Marriage

Constancy of grace

 

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I enjoy meeting people!

I enjoy discovering the important things about them…their past, their present and what they hope for in their future.

I even enjoy getting to know the people I’ve never really ‘met,’ but have instead gotten to know through reading about them.

This is especially true reading about the lives of the Saints!

They inspire me, guide me, and in many ways encourage me to do ‘better’ in my own manner of living.

Have you ever ‘met’ someone like that?  Who inspires, guides and shows you; through the example of how they live (or have lived) their own life, the way to live your own?

I call these people, in particular these Saints, my IRONMEN as taken from Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  Continue reading “Constancy of grace”

“Let them come to me…”

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Held every three years and sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the world’s largest Catholic gathering of families. Each World Meeting of Families has a theme that energizes and enlivens the event while adding great depth of meaning to our understanding of families. The theme of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 is “Love Is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive,” emphasizing the impact of the love and life of families on our society.  Since its inception by Saint John Paul II in 1994, the World Meeting of Families has strengthened the sacred bonds of families across the globe.

On June 30th, 2015, the Vatican released the comprehensive itinerary for Pope Francis’ journey to the United States, including his schedule for Philadelphia on September 26-27, which will close the 6-day Apostolic Journey.  And ever-since that day I, (along with millions of others) have anticipated his arrival.  I am still pinchity-pinching myself that I will be there!

Call me a fanatic,  Jesus-freak, (did you know this is described in the urban dictionary???) Pope-stalker, or the likes; but really…it’s not that dramatic nor romantic!  I’m just in awe of my God. I’m in awe of His love for me.  His love for others. And the deep-desire He has to reign down his grace and His mercy upon us.  God can never be outdone in His generosity & as I have opened my heart to Him more & more I have seen this great love FOR US…Every.  Single.  Day.

My enthusiasm for Our Holy Father is rooted in his “YES” to God to lead us in this endeavor.  Pope Francis’ trust in God, strengthens my trust in him and in my Church.  He leads me, guides me, & reminds me what the Gospels teach.  I am grateful for the courage he embraces to be challenged, mocked, judged, and ridiculed for this trust in a God he knows intimately.  And I am inspired that Pope Francis encourages, invites, and WELCOMES everyone to partake in this same unconditional love our Heavenly Father offers, as we place our trust in Him.  The Pope reminds each of us: we are ALL sinners, himself included, BUT that Jesus stands AT the door of our hearts & knocks.  However, WE must open the door!!  The door-handle is ours to hold, to turn, to open.  And I pray, if it hasn’t already been done, countless people, through the blessings of the Holy Father’s visit,  find themselves pulling open the door which separates them from receiving God’s great love for them.  This is what Christs’ vicar is showing us how to do in his papacy and I am so grateful…I cannot wait to be in Philly so I may tell him so!

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Mary, Undoer of Knots Grotto Philadelphia, Pa
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Mary, Undoer of Knots Grotto Philadelphia, Pa
Exactly how will I tell him??? (I promise not to break any security-breeches in my endeavor.) Through my prayers, of course!  My participation in this pilgrimage will be encased in prayers.  All forms of prayer!  Prayers of sacrifice & fasting.  Prayers of gratitude, intentions & petitions.  (To discover the difference between the two click on the link.)  And I am collecting all forms from anyone who desires me to include theirs with mine.  I will offer them at the final Papal Mass or if I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the Mary, Undoer of Knots Grotto in Philly I promise to “tie” your prayers to this special location.

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My first prayer, after delivering all the others brought from each of you, will be as I said earlier, my gratitude.  However, my biggest prayer is inspired by the tender-little-one shown below.  Her message tugs at my heart for personal reasons.  And her message is so very poignant to what the theme for The World Meetings of Families is all about…LOVE IS OUR MISSION.   May it remain a theme in our lives forever…for the sake of our families…for the sake of one another.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

https://youtu.be/vm0UNn7tJ5o

hugs n’ blessings to all the little-ones who: “try to do my best in my heart.”  

So that everyone can smile…