Queen's Servant: My 43rd Bday & 14th Wedding Anniversary

25 July 2017

My 43rd Bday & 14th Wedding Anniversary

(14 years of married life)
Mary, the Woman of the Wedding in Cana, is in the background here.
We go to her whenever we "run out of wine" so that she can bring our "water jugs" to Jesus.

started w/Sunday visit to All Souls Cemetery (Sunday, July 23, day before bday)

Mama Helen's gravesite w/new headstone

taking family photo w automatic timer on cell phone

Baby Hope kissing her mom and kissing grandma's headstone

+ Eternal rest grant unto Helen, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Amen.

around midnight (Monday, July 24)

I opened birthday cards from kids.

Mariana drew her desire to receive First Holy Communion.

I don't know why, but it looks like I'm eating pizza in the drawing.

JP bought me a "head flashlight device".

My wife said I looked like that guy from "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,"

but I said, "Oh, no, I look like U.S. Special Forces, baby."

We went to sleep, and then I had breakfast in bed.

I had the day off of work.

Family made me eggs, meatballs, and oatmeal.

Someone recommended that I try the Liturgy of the Hours in the 1960 version.

It was my first time. Definitely a lot longer.

I was praying the Magnificat when midnight struck.
I only had the discipline to do this in Latin for a week-- went back to the vernacular (English).

We attended the 12pm Mass at St. John's in Napa.

At some point afterwards, Tove Ann wanted to get Cold Stone for me to blow out candles.

Thank you, Mom and Papa Hardie, for the Cold Stone gift cards!

Here was my birthday cake.

singing Happy Birthday

My mom affectionately calls my hair "salt and pepper."
Yup, I'm aging. You know, all good things in the material order come to an end.
Even if one were strong enough to live 70 or 80 or 90 years or even to have 25 or 50 or 75 years of marriage, human life ends...it is very short, so serve God now. Don't wait until the deathbed 'cause it might be too late to change by then. I am grateful for what I've been given.

John Paul testing the new stick.

My mom gave me this stick many Christmases ago, but we finally opened it.

More 14th Anniversary photos/blogs HERE.

We went to the 12pm Mass on Monday, July 24, at St. Rose of Lima in Crockett. I had the day off.

Here's a photo of my hot --oops, I mean, my lovely -- wife.

Parents gave us cards for Red Lobster. Here I am opening cards from my kids.

My sister and new husband, Joey (wearing waist harness), came with my Mom and Papa Hardie to drop off a new washer and dryer. Papa Hardie couldn't help physically b/c of an injury. Our old ones broke....I was spending quarters at the local laundry place for a few months until they came to the rescue.

My nephew, Braxton, with my wife. I was asked to baptize him on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017. What a cutie baby!!!

We then went to Taco Bell b/c the kids asked for it.

My dad and Mama Tess stopped by a week or so later to celebrate my birthday. Rubio's is Mama Tess's favorite. A video is below of us singing "Happy Birthday".

Grandpa gave the kids some $.

We coincidentally ran into Lauren Keilani and her family on the road, after lunch w/Dad.

They pulled over, and we were able to give Lauren her belated graduation gift.

I was her Confirmation sponsor.

wife pointed out to me that I should have spelled like this: "Jeepney"

my sister-in-law, Stephanie Jane (I've called her "Stef" for years.)

Hope has that piece of hair over her face, like her mommy.

Sang HB to JP b/c my father-in-law wanted to take us to KFC-- "finger licking' good"!

He got a camera as a present.

My sister, Michelle, stopped by around the same month. Here she is sitting with some of the kids during Mass. We had a do a last-minute switcheroo with our Mass schedule and brunch, and Michelle understood, due to a change in my deacon schedule. I told her, "This is sometimes what happens as a deacon," and she said that she understood. I love you, sister!!