Sept. 6th, 2011: Our Story

Our story was written in our wedding program and on http://chineaandshawverbaby.ourbabychannel.com/. Here is how it was written:

We would like to thank God for bringing us together almost three and a half years ago on June 5th, 2008. We truly believe that God was preparing us for each other. We believe that through God we found our life companion and true love in one another. Many of you know our story...but for those of you who don't...here it is:

In early 2008 we both independently signed up for a summer trip sponsored by Maryknoll to Peru & Bolivia with other campus ministers from all over the country. Rosie was the director of campus ministry at the Newman Center in Albuquerque, NM and Mike was a campus minister at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH. Rosie sent an email to the group and asked if any of us wanted to extend the trip for some personal vacation before we met up with the rest of the group. Mike gladly signed up along with another young woman named Becky.

In the midst of planning our vacation to Iguazu Falls in Argentina, we (Rosie & Mike), started emailing each other and found out that we had a lot in common – graduate degrees in Theology from Jesuit Universities, passion for social justice & service, strong Catholic faiths, love of travel & running, etc., etc., etc.

We started talking on the phone and had many 3 and 4 hour phone conversations. We agreed to meet up early before joining Becky on our way to Argentina. We laid a very solid foundation in the month of emails & phone conversations, so when we met, it was love at first sight!! One funny thing about this..prior to Mike coming to Albuquerque, Rosie mentioed to him that she generally was only attracted to Latinos and she didn't like facial hair. Mike had facial hair for over five years. Upon hearing that Rosie was not generally attaracted to non-Latinos and did not like facial hair, he changed what he could...he shaved.

We had a few days in Albuquerque then Miami, FL and finally Argentina. After going to Peru & Bolivia with the group, our first date of 35 days came to an end. By that time, we were totally in love and we decided that Mike would move to Albuquerque in August of 2008. We got engaged to be married on February 4, 2009.

This past year may be one of the most exciting in our lives, as we got married on June 5, 2010 and now are a little more than half way through our first pregnancy with Sofia Rose, who is expected to be born on April 18, 2011 (actual birth date, April 1, 2011). We like the name Sofia beacuse it means wisdom and is one of the names in the Bible that refers to the Holy Spirit. We like the middle name Rose because both of Rosie's grandmothers were named Rosa, Rosie's aunt was named Rose, and Mike's grandmother is named Rose.

We are just in awe at the gift of God's creation of a little life inside of Rosie as a result of our love for each other. It is so amazing how Rosie's body has naturally been adapting to make room for this little baby. We saw our first ultrasound image of Sofia at 12 weeks and the next one was at 21 weeks (early December). It is just so amazing to hear her little heart beat (151 beats per minute), to see her organs, and her head and hands and feet. We are very excited for her delivery into this world.

It has been a wonderful year, full of many blessings, and graces. We are truly looking forward to the marvelous plan God has laid out for us. Please pray for us and the arrival of our new baby girl, Sofia Rose, later this year.

Sept. 6th, 2011: Rosie & Sofia's Pregnancy Journal

When Sofia was in my belly I kept a journal on another website, http://www.thebump.com/. Now that Sofia is born the website will not let me update anything. It's actually quite annoying. Anyway, I am going to transfer all of that information into this blog so that I consolidate and don't loose information.

Also, for now, since I am busy raising Sofia Rose with Mike, I am going to do very short posts. They will mainly revolve around things Sofia Rose is doing. I will include pictures. Occasionally, when inspired, I will include longer posts.

http://chineaandshawverbaby.ourbabychannel.com/ This is the journal I wrote on http://www.thebump.com/.

Rosie & Sofia's Journal:

01/10/11: She is kicking often. Last night she woke me up about four times with her little kicks and punches. At this point I am adoring and in awe of every kick, punch, twist, and turn. Mike has felt her kick at least four times in the last few weeks. Every time he feels her move it fills me with joy. Yesterday at mass Mike made announcements from a microphone. Sofia kicked, hard, three times while he was speaking! She heard her dad and was excited. This upcoming weekend Mike, Sofia and I are headed to California to visit with my very sick Titi (aunt) Rose (Sofia Rose's namesake). I hope Titi Rosie gets to feel Sofia move!

01/12/11: Sofia's an active baby today! I actually felt her hiccup for the first time. It was funny to watch my belly move up and down in a rhythmic fashion.

01/16/11: Sofia has kicked 10 times in less than 1 minute! We have been in California for my aunt Rose's services, she passed away on 01/14/11. We will miss her dearly. Sofia will hear a lot about the aunt whom she is named after. My mom felt Sofia kick on 01/14/11. My dad is still awaiting to feel her kick.

01/17/11: Sofia kicked 10 times in 3 minutes today. She definitely is a mover. :o) My Papi (dad) felt her move today!!! What a great Birthday present for him. Today at Costco my dad told a random stranger that his daughter was pregnant with a baby girl. Ito (Grandpa) Rolando is very excited for Sofia to come into this world! We also bought Sofia's crib. She will get a DaVinci Emily Convertible Crib in Cherry. It received high ratings on Consumer Reports and it was a decent price! Mike and I are very excited.

01/18/11: We flew back from CA early today. As the plane was descending into Albuquerque Sofia kicked like crazy! The altitude must cause babies to squirm.

1/21/11: Mike put together Sofia's crib!

1/28/11: My parents purchased Sofia her crib bedding and Mike's parents purchased her the stroller/car seat! Our next few steps include purchasing a washer & dryer and painting Sofia's room! We are thrilled. My belly grew 4cm since our last doctors appointment 3 weeks ago. She is growing and moving. The registries as of today are pretty much done...everything on them are things we need/want...so they are ready to go. You, however, can be sure that in the next few weeks you will see more items added. :o)

1/30/11: Sofia is very active today! She is kicking a lot! A active baby is a healthy baby.

1/31/11: Sofia & I were up this morning at 3:30AM and I did not go back to sleep until 5AM. She was kicking and hungry. I think I am feeling both her movements and more hunger because she is growing. On average babies at 29 weeks weigh about 2.5 lbs. We snacked on yogurt and 1 liter of water...yes...at probably around 4AM! Today she has been active doing her water aerobics again. This weekend was a bit rough for me. I am starting to feel third trimester nausea. No fun. But it will all be worth it when baby Sofia arrives.

2/1/11: Sofia & I got to sleep in today! It's a snow day in Albuquerque! I wrote a blog on being a mother and a mother's sacrifice on this website: http://catholic-in-the-city.blogspot.com/. Sofia kicked 10 times in 3 minutes today. She's her usual active self. Yesterday we put the sheets on her new crib. It looks adorable. We decided on bright colors because it helps with her sensory development. Plus, Sofia will share these sheets with her brother and sister whenever God graces us with another child. You can see pictures on this site under the photos tab.

2/4/11: We had four snow days in Albuquerque! Today is probably the last snow day of the season. Sofia has been relaxing, moving, and doing her water aerobics. Tonight let's see how she reacts to watching Wicked, the musical. Update: The whole show (Wicked) Sofia was kicking like crazy! She must like the different instruments and voices of musicals.

2/6/11: Sofia kept me up this early morning (5AMish). Her kicks are getting harder! Tomorrow she will be 30 weeks! Time is flying!

2/8/11: Since we are in the third trimester we are now meeting with our midwife every other week. Today we found out that my belly grew 5cm in two weeks!!! It is so amazing. She is growing so quickly. Early this morning Sofia woke me up at 3:30AM...and I have not fallen asleep since. Seems like tonight might be an early night for Sofia's mother. :o)

2/9/11: Today is the day I feel the most pregnant. Sofia is growing quickly and the weight is making me sleepy, I am beginning to waddle, and well, I just feel very pregnant. Although I am grateful that last night I slept for 7 hours straight without waking up!

2/11/11: Our stroller and car seat came in! Thank you Mary & Mike for the wonderful gift. Mike put it together last night and was rolling around the house with it saying he was "practicing" for when Sofia arrives. Today Mike is looking to purchase a washer and dryer for our home. And Sofia...she is kicking often....sign of a healthy baby.

2/15/11: We received a baby blanket from a dear friends mother and some small baby items from Rosie's parents this last week. Sofia's feeling the love. Sofia spent Valentine's Day enjoying the food her mother prepared, BBQ Pulled Pork and sweet potato fries, while spending some good quality time with her parents. Mike set up the washer and dryer at home...now all we have to do is actually be adventurous and try it! Sofia's still moving! She is going to be active when she comes into the world.

2/17/11: Today was our first birthing class! Sofia did not stop moving the entire time. She is getting excited to enter our world!!!

2/18/11: Sofia learned how to place her foot right on my belly and put pressure. During dinner tonight she held her foot on my belly for a good 30 minutes. Strange feeling, but at least I know she's moving around. Later on in the evening I fell asleep while Mike had his hand on my belly. He told me afterwards that he felt her jabbing often while I slept. I am grateful that Mike can feel her often, now.

2/20/11: I had my first Sofia dream last night!!! The dream was shortly after her birth. She was so tiny, cute, and in a pink onesie. She was very giggly and happy. It was a very cute dream!!! Later at mass, for the second week in a row, Fr. Rafael preached and Sofia kicked a lot during the homily.

2/21/11: We purchased the baby room paint today! Soon Mike will start painting the baby room! Yay! Today we also watched the new Harry Potter movie. Sofia was kicking a lot during the whole movie.

2/24/11: Sofia is growing and moving. Yes...that is the update. This morning I woke up feeling about 5lbs heavier. I think she had a growth spurt last night. Haha. The kicking is still not hurting. And I think she is head down (good position for birth) because most of the movement I feel is in my upper belly. Her feet are pitter-pattering!

2/26/11: Mike painted Sofia's room yesterday. Pictures will be posted when the room is complete. Hopefully we'll have things ready within the next two weeks. We are both getting so excited for Sofia's arrival. Her kicks are getting a little stronger. I think she has grown since last night!

3/3/11: Today Mike & I interviewed our first pediatrician potential. I think finding a doctor for baby Sofia is going to be hard! We loved this first doctor. He actually is from Australia and did international pediatric care! He met his wife while doing international work. We really enjoyed conversing with him. We'll see. Baby Sofia's doctor is in God's hands. We have two more potential doctors to talk to! Tomorrow, Ita (Grandma) Gloria is coming to visit! We are excited (all three of us)!

3/4/11: Last night Mike & I worked on a frame for Baby Sofia's room. Today Mike put up a wallpaper border and he'll hang the frame. For now...the baby room is done! We are still missing a dresser and a baby changing table...but that will come....soon. At least the decorating is done! Pictures are up on our site. My mom, Ita Gloria, is coming tonight! 8PMish!!! Yay!!! She gets to see how much Sofia has grown.

3/5/11: Baby shower (1 of 4) was amazing!!! Ita Gloria had a blast. Sofia was moving the whole time. She got a lot of new clothes. Sofia will be way better dressed than her mami and papi! Oh...how much we love her....and how much friends and family love her already is so wonderful.

3/7/11: Baby shower (2 of 4) was so much fun! It's great to be supported and taken care of at work also. Sofia loved the food they served. She is quickly becoming a spoiled baby.

3/9/11: Sofia has been kicking a lot today. At about 3:15PM she kicked so hard it actually hurt for the first time. We are excited that she's coming soon! Tonight mami and baby are getting a prenatal massage. Yay!

3/10/11: Last night Sofia kicked her mami's rib for the first time. She is truly running out of space in her mami's belly. The rib hurt a little...but luckily the kick was not super hard. Oh....the things you do for love.

3/11/11: Third day of hiccups for our dear Sofia. They are the cutest thing. You see my belly moving up and down rhythmically!

3/21/11: Sofia is moving and growing! 36 weeks today!!

3/22/11: Read this blog on Sofia and her new arrival date! http://catholic-in-the-city.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-22nd-2011-sofias-arrival-trusting.html/

3/23/11: Sofia is moving a lot today!!! I am playing Spanish music in my office...I think she loves it.

3/24/11: Again, Sofia is moving a lot today. Tonight Mike & I have our last birthing class. We will learn how to feed her, bathe her, and basically how to take care of an infant. Perfect timing....since she is coming next week! We are very excited about having Sofia with us. We are also enjoying our last week as a married couple without children.

April 3rd, 2011: A Letter from My Mom Thanking You for Your Prayers

Dear Friends and Family:

I just want to take a minute to thank you for your prayers and support given the journey that we have gone through in birthing Sofia Rose.

Prayers were asked and on Friday April 1st, 2011 we witnessed an epiphany. Sofia Rose Shawver Chinea was born vaginally at 6:49 PM in Albuquerque, Mountain Standard Time, her weight was 5 pounds 15.2 ounces, 19.75 inches, Apgar 8-9; she even latched on immediately to the breast. Sofia was delivered to Michael and Rosie. It has truly been a manifestation of God's love to us via Sofia's Life. Truly Sofia Rose is a gift from the Lord to all of us. Thank you Lord for again being a witness of love.

We had an AHA moment in the delivery. Rosie fainted and loss consciousness due to the loss of too much blood in her fast delivery of 40 minutes...her blood pressure came down very low and we became a witness of an emergency and my adrenaline spiking off of the roof...We reacted very well and I can truly say... that I am a well trained mother and health care professional. Immediately my mind was in prayers and asking again for help from the Lord.

Today, Rosie and Sofia were discharged from Lovelace Women's Hospital (LWH) in Albuquerque...LWH experience was superb and where I only have praises for the care and for allowing and respecting the body and process of birthing and Rosie's birth plan. I am amazed on the services they offer and how they deliver the services and how they maintain the dignity of family members in the most important journey of life...giving birth to a child.

I really want to take this moment not to forget YOU.... for all the prayers, Masses, prayers group meetings and personal prayers that you included Rosie.... I can't forget all the emails, text, voice mails and your positive energy provided through another big journey that I have had this year. I know that is why I have hold up and is because your prayers, your love and you being there for me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and my family heart.

Love Always,
Gloria

March 25th, 2011: The Newman Center at New Mexico Highlands University Engaging Catholic Charities and the local Albuquerque Community

(This article was written for the People of God, the Archdiocesan Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. It will possibly be published in May.)

When one is an undergraduate in college, sometimes, the world one lives in is similar to living in a “bubble”. College students tend to focus on their school work, outside work to pay the bills, their social lives, and maybe their families and religion. Thinking about issues of social injustice in our world is something that is merely beyond their view. I know these are generalizations and there are always exceptions to these generalizations. However, for the students that this does characterize exposure to social injustices both locally and globally are essential to broadening their minds and hearts.

From Sunday, March 13th to Wednesday, March 16th, two students from Highlands University’s Newman Center in Las Vegas, New Mexico, their campus minister and staff advisor came to learn about and volunteer with Catholic Charities and other Catholic organizations around the city of Albuquerque. This was Highlands Newman Center’s first time engaging in a spring break trip. It was four full days filled with learning, praying, and engaging the Albuquerque community. One of the young women on the trip indicated that by Wednesday, “her eyes have now been opened”.

The four days were bookended with the students engaging in the Catholic community in Albuquerque. On Sunday, they volunteered at Immaculate Conception's meal for people who are homeless. Beatrice, from Catholic Charities’ housing center, then came out and spoke to the group about housing and homelessness in Albuquerque. This was followed by a guided reflection on the experience. Later that evening, after a young adult mass, they listened to two guest speakers’ talk about Jesuit Volunteer Corps, a national volunteer program for post-graduate students wanting to engage their desire in social justice. On Wednesday, they volunteered and observed projects such as feeding people who are homeless at the Good Shepherd Center and visiting both Catholic Worker homes in Albuquerque, Trinity House and Casa de las Communidades.

On Monday and Tuesday the group learned and spent the entire day at Catholic Charities. Monday they were at the Bridge Street location, Southwest Albuquerque, where they learned about Catholic Charities’ Centers for Immigration and Education. During the presentation from the Center for Education, children from the early childcare center came and sang a few songs to the group in English and Spanish. After the presentation the group planted flowers at Hibernian House, a housing unit for low-income seniors. This brightened the day for the seniors. Following the planting they went back to the bridge location where they cleaned around the entire building, picking up over six bags of trash and debris. On Tuesday the group was at the Marble Ave. location, Northeast Albuquerque, where they learned about Catholic Charities’ Centers for Refugees, Housing, and Community Involvement. After these presentations they worked with refugee youth on starting to paint a mural of a world map in the youth classroom.

Jesus’ calls us to take this scripture passage to heart in both thought and action: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25: 35-36). By the end of the trip the groups’ hearts were open to compassion towards the people and programs they encountered; this compassion has empowered them to look into issues of social injustices that are occurring in their own backyards in Las Vegas, NM. With the strength and vision of the Holy Spirit I hope that this group uses their experience with Catholic Charities and the Albuquerque Catholic community to engage their community so that peoples basic needs are met and that the dignity of all peoples is preserved.

March 22nd, 2011: Sofia's Arrival & Trusting God

Rosie & Sofia (36 weeks)

The last few weeks have been life changing. On Thursday, March 10th, I received a phone call from a doctor asking for me and my husband to go Lovelace Woman's Hospital for a follow up appointment (following up on an appointment I had on Tues. March 8th) as soon as possible. Because my fluid levels in the amniotic sac have been consistently in the normal-low range they wanted to do another follow up ultrasound. The day I received the phone call I was thrown for a loop. Just two days before my midwife had told me not to worry. She said the fluid was in the normal-low range but that we would just wait things out. I was in a total panic when I received the phone call. I felt a rush of anxiety and stress. I cried and I apologized to Sofia for not producing what she needed. What I do naturally in a time of distress is turn to God, I went to mass with my husband. We prayed. We asked God to watch over our little Sofia. After mass I felt somewhat relieved. At that moment I knew I needed to just trust God. I had done all that I could do. I watched what I ate, I have been drinking about 10-14 liters of water a day, I am walking every day...and the list goes on. The day after I received that jarring phone call from the doctor at Lovelace Woman's Hospital, my midwife called to reassure me that this was for mere monitoring purposes.

The following week I went in for my appointment at Lovelace Woman's Hospital. The water level was again in the normal-low range. The reason there is concern about the water level being so low is because towards the end of pregnancy the water level in the sac does lower due to her growing. The fluid level (AFI) is measured with ultrasounds. Attempting to not be naive, I have been doing some reading and I have come to learn there is some controversy as to if ultrasounds are the "best" way to check the fluids...but at this point...it's the only way to check the fluids. One of the other major arguments against this method of measuring the water fluids is that we have had about 5 different technicians look at the fluid levels on different machines. One technician read that we had a significantly higher fluid level than the other four. There is human error and variance, especially if there is more than one technician. Anyway, besides the fluid level being in the normal-low range, our little Sofia is measuring a little bit small (but not dangerously so). Again, the measurements are not 100% accurate. Ultrasounds are good technology but when our little Sofia is curled up in a ball, how truly accurate can they weigh her in utero? Anyway, due to the water level being low and her lower than average birth weight, the doctors have concluded that there could be a potential placenta issue. The placenta is the lifeline for Sofia from me. If Sofia stays in me and the water levels get too low then her lifeline will not work effectively and she may not receive the oxygen or food that she needs. That being said, to err on the safe side, Mike and I have decided to agree with the doctors and midwives and we will be induced on Wednesday, March 30th, week 37.

We also have had 2 non-stress tests done (monitoring her heart beat externally for 20 minutes) and she passed those with flying colors. Also when they look at her movements on the ultrasound she is moving a lot and she passes those exams with perfect scores. All of her organs look great. Sofia overall is doing fine. I just ask for your prayers as Mike and I make the final preparations for her arrival into this world. Please pray for a good labor and delivery and a healthy baby Sofia.

Yesterday I was driving on the freeway. In front of me was a huge pile of big white boxes on the ground taking up the whole lane I was driving in. It seemed as if a truck had accidently dropped them on the freeway, creating a hazard on the freeway. I didn't know what to do. There was a car behind me at the distance of about 5 car lengths away. There was a car to my left and my right. I could not swerve. I pushed the brake. I took my foot off of the brake. I pushed the brake again. I did this oscillation of the brake to signal to the car behind me that there was something in front of me. The car to my right finally passed me. I swerved to the right and hit the boxes with the front left side of my car. Nothing happened. I was safe. The car did not have a scratch on it when I got off of the freeway. God was watching over Sofia and myself. This is what I need to hold on to...God is watching over and protecting us through the bumps on the road. God will help Mike and I prepare to become the parents Sofia needs, even three weeks earlier than her anticipated due date. God will be with us when I am in labor. God will be with Sofia as she comes out into the world and as she grows and learns throughout the years. God loves us so much that God is continuously watching, loving, and caring for all of us.

March 4th, 2011: Lenten Calendar 2011

A few months ago, Mike and I, took a drive to Las Vegas, NM. I had an appointment with the campus minister at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM for my job at Catholic Charities. I had decided to ask Mike to join me because at that point I knew I was already pregnant with baby Sofia, it was the first trimester, and there were times during that trimester where I was feeling nauseated. Anyway, during this trip there were two goals for me when meeting with the campus minister: 1) to listen to their, the college students and the local communities, needs, 2) to tell them what Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe already does. In the end I was eagerly surprised that there were many things that came from the brief one hour meeting.

In Albuquerque, from my experience of living in Albuquerque (five years), there are several social justice issues that are prominent: poor school system that translates into poorly educated people, immigrant rights, lack of housing for low income individuals which then leads to homelessness, and working with people who are homeless to get them the services they need to get them into a home. (Homelessness occurs because of a variety of different reasons; lack of affordable housing being one of them.) In Las Vegas, the needs, from the people I spoke to sounded similar yet different. According to the people I spoke with the city does a good job of providing people housing, so much so that, they rarely see someone who is homeless. Even though people are not "homeless" many people in Las Vegas don't have money for utilities and for food. When I came back to Albuquerque after that trip I did some research and found some local Las Vegas, NM, food pantries. I gave this resource to the campus minister to share with her college students so that they can distribute this information to those struggling to feed themselves and their families.

The campus minister was wanting to integrate social justice and Catholic Social Teaching with Lent and the students she works for and with. Together her and I came up with a Lenten journey that students and others can partake in that includes the pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As you can see from the image on the left hand corner of this blog, the idea was formulated in Las Vegas, NM to come up with a resource for people to use on their Lenten journeys to bring them closer to God. When I came back from Las Vegas, NM, I created a the Lenten Calendar resource that can be found on the Catholic Charities website: http://www.ccasfnm.org/ Besides fasting and praying, what the students and community members that are involved at the Newman Center in Las Vegas are going to do is use these calendars to collect cans of food for a local food bank (almsgiving). Each time the person uses the calendar they will fast and give a can of food to a box they have laid aside for the food bank. By the end of Lent each person participating on this Lenten journey will have gathered at least 13 cans to give to their local food bank, directly impacting their communities.

After the creation of this calendar the Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Jim, loved the resource so much he made sure they were inserted in all of our Lenten appeals. Also I have distributed over 600 copies to local parishes.

If you would like a copy of this Lenten Calendar please feel free to contact me and I can either mail you a copy of it and/or I can email you a copy (I still have about 1,400 copies sitting in my office). I hope that this resource can be used by many so that everyone has a fruitful Lenten season.

Feb. 27th, 2011: 40

Last night as I was laying in bed the number 40 struck me. As many people know women are pregnant for 40 weeks. In the Bible the number 40 is repeated several times; it rained 40 days and 40 nights when God wanted to cleanse the world and start over (Gen. 7:13), the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness (Ex. 16:35), Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness before starting his public ministry (Matt. 4:1-2), and Jesus' ascension to heaven occurs 40 days after the Resurrection (Acts 1:3). These are only some of the examples in the Bible where the number 40 is referred to. While our Catholic faith teaches us that numbers in the Bible should not be taken literally but symbolically, it's an interesting comparison, for me, that the number 40 in the Bible could have some connection to the number of weeks a woman is pregnant.

In the Bible the number 40 denotes a time period when God made major changes so that transformation could occur. Usually it's a time period of testing, probation or trial in preparation for a period of restoration, revival, or renewal; essentially the 40 days/weeks/years is a period of time in preparation for a special action of God. For a pregnant women, naturally, the special action of God is the birth of a new life, a creation of God. In my opinion, the time period which the number 40 denotes, while can be perceived and feel like a time of trial and tribulation, is a time of grace. It is a time of grace because we are able to reflect upon our lives as God's beloved and we are given the opportunity to change our ways so that who we are as God's beloved can more clearly be reflected in our actions, hearts, and words. Those 40 days/weeks/years prepare us to see and feel God more "nearly, clearly, and dearly" (St. Ignatius, Godspell, and Richard of Chichester in the 1200s).

As we approach Lent, a period of 40 days, we are to recall the traditional pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These pillars, if practiced, renew our baptismal promises, bring us closer to Christ, and help us to grow into the people that God called us to become. The number one way to get closer to God is to pray. If we cut off our communication with God and we don't pray there cannot be a two-way relationship. During this season it is of utmost importance that prayer is central. Fasting is a practice of self-discipline and self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, in that pangs of hunger help us to recall our pangs for God. The fasting that we observe during Lent should call us towards transformation. If we fast, merely because we have to, and the fasting does not cause any internal or external changes in our lives, then this is not the type of fast that God is asking of us. Fasting also helps us to recall those in our world who do not have food at their tables. It brings us closer in solidarity with them. Almsgiving, in the form of money and/or time, is a sign of our care for those who are in need. It is also an expression of thanks to God for all that we have been given in our lives. As we all know, Lent is a time of preparation for Jesus' resurrection. If we are proactive in our faith lives, these forty days can be very grace-filled. Ultimately, this preparation helps us to become more present and alert to God and Easter when it comes.

What about the 40 weeks of pregnancy? The connections one can draw between the Biblical notion of 40 and the 40 weeks of pregnancy are many. Pregnancy is a time of trial in that your body is pushed to many limits, one gets little sleep, feels nauseated, swollen, bigger in size, has less energy, gets leg cramps, has bloody noses...and the list goes on. Beyond the physical aliments there are also the emotional and spiritual struggles one experiences: Am I ready to be a mother? Why is God asking me to be a mother now? How am I going to raise a good Catholic child in a world that is full of evil and sin? Yet, while all of this is going on during these 40 weeks my husband and I are preparing for what is to come (similar to Lent). We are preparing by asking God daily for the grace and the strength to be good parents, researching what we can in preparation for her arrival, and setting up a home where she can grow and mature into the wonderful young woman we hope she becomes. These 32 weeks and 6 days, while there have been some challenges, have been so grace-filled. This time period has brought me closer to God, my husband, my family, friends, community, and myself. I enjoy every movement I feel within me. Each kick is a sign of health and vitality. Every ultrasound has brought me either to tears or close to tears in recognition of the grace of God's creation within me. God is very present and it is awesome to know that this child within me is also God's beloved.

In some sense prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, for me, started to occur more intensely the day I found out I was pregnant. I began to pray for God's graces during and after the pregnancy. I began fasting from coffee, certain cheeses, deli meat, other foods, and other things such as my more intense workout schedule (due to my body being so tired). And I am giving of my time, all of the time, to a life, within me, that is in need of nourishment and love. I have also grown even more passionate about the anti-abortion movement. I have always truly believed that life begins the moment the egg and sperm meet. After seeing my first ultrasound I feel that every woman who is about to have an abortion should be required to see the life that is within her in an ultrasound before any procedure takes place. After seeing their child I bet their minds and hearts will be challenged. Our first ultrasound was at 12 weeks...and our little Sofia was fully formed...arms, legs, head...everything! My husband and I heard her heartbeat and we both cried. Anyway, in the sense of almsgiving, I know that this period of pregnancy has brought me closer to those who are vulnerable, the unborn.

I think our mindset has a lot to do with the way one experiences pregnancy and Lent. I have chosen to relish these 40 weeks of pregnancy as a time period that is grace-filled. I have chosen to enjoy this pregnancy, at every stage, no matter how challenging it may seem to be. How often in one's life is one pregnant? How often in one's life does one feel the pitter patter of little feet tapping the inside of one's belly? How blessed are Mike and I, that we are fertile and we can have children? We are abundantly blessed and even though pregnancy is not easy it is a time of relishing God within and around.

As can be sensed from what I have written, Lent is a period of time that, in my opinion, is very similar to pregnancy. One can dread Lent as a time of mourning, pain, and giving things up. However for me Lent is one of my favorite liturgical seasons, in that it is a time that God has given us to grow closer to God while also growing closer to whom God has called us to become. Lent is a time of preparation and anticipation, struggle and grace. As the season of Lent approaches, Wed. March 9th, how will you prepare for Easter? How will you use the opportunity God has given you, during the season of Lent, to grow closer to God?

Feb. 24th, 2011: The Unsung Heroes and Heroines of Our Parishes

(This article was written for the People of God, the Archdiocesan Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. It will be published in April.) Parish secretaries and receptionists, in my opinion, are the unsung heroes and heroines of our Catholic parishes. First, they greet all people who walk into our parish doors. They are the first face that all people meet and are the first impression of our parishes. Second, they tend to have many projects, atypical of a regular secretary or receptionist, which the parish needs to function. For example, many secretaries/receptionists put together the weekly bulletin, others schedule liturgical ministers, one particular secretary I just met does all the behind the scenes work for baptisms, weddings, and quinceañeras. Third, they interact with a population that is in desperate need of social services. Many times secretaries/receptionists receive walk-ins or phone calls from people in need of assistance for rent, utilities, food, clothing, and/or shelter. They attempt to connect people to services throughout our cities and towns.

On Wednesday, February 16th, at the Hotel Albuquerque, to better equip our church secretaries/receptionists with the knowledge of what social services exist in our counties, Catholic Charities, offered a free lunch and presentation to 60 church secretaries/receptionists; 28 parishes from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Belen, Rio Rancho, and Corrales, were represented.

The afternoon started with a wonderful New Mexican meal catered by Hotel Albuquerque complimented by classical guitar playing by a local musician, Ben Chinisci. Following this we had a presentation given by myself, Rosie Chinea Shawver, and a representative from each of our five different centers (Center for Self-Sufficiency and Housing Assistance; Center for Community Involvement; Center for Educational Opportunity; Center for Immigration and Citizenship Legal Assistance; and Center for Refugee Settlement and Support) describing the services that Catholic Charities provides in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The afternoon reception ended with providing additional information on additional places, outside of Catholic Charities, where secretaries/receptionists can refer people to for social services in their counties.

In the afternoons final prayer we asked God to surround us and fill us His Spirit. We asked that we be a light for God’s people and to be salt for a community who is caught in the struggles of everyday life. In this brief encounter I had with the secretaries/receptionists from our parishes I am in awe of the ministry that they do and feel called to. They are the light in our parishes leading and caring for those who are drained by societal woes. Our secretaries/receptionists are the salt that helps us and others preserve their inherent, God-given, dignity and grow closer to whom Christ has called them to be. Next time you see your parish secretary/receptionist I urge you to thank them for their ministry.

Feb. 20th, 2011: Valentine's Day

I know this blog is about a week late but I still have a desire to write about Valentine's Day. In Catholic history, there is discrepancy on who St. Valentine's was. Some say he was a martyr of the Christian faith because he would not renounce the faith. Others say he was a priest whom was jailed for defiance of marrying Christian couples and aiding Christians whom were being persecuted during the reign of Claudius in Rome; both of these things were considered a crime. Then once in jail Valentinus (true name of St. Valentine's) attempted to convert the emperor leading to Valentinus' death. While another account states that he was a bishop in Terni where he was beheaded in a purge of priests in an effort to eradicate the faith. Since there are no clear details on who St. Valentine's was the Catholic Church in 1969 decided to drop him out of the Roman calendar and we therefore do not celebrate his feast day. However, he is known as the patron saint of love, lovers, couples, engaged couples, and happy marriages, amongst other things.

The roots of Valentine's Day are supposedly rooted in a Roman festival called Lupercalia that was celebrated on February 15th. On this day a young single man would draw a lady's name in a lottery style fashion and for one year he would have her as a sexual companion [sounds a little scandalous and sexist to me]. Pope Gelasius I decided that this custom was not of virtue so he changed the custom so that both men and women had to choose a name in a similar lottery system, however, the name was now to be that of a saint. The name they choose represented the saint they had to emulate for an entire year. St. Valentine's became the patron of this new feast (instead of Lupercus, the God whom the Romans celebrated on the festival of Lupercalia). Roman men, obviously upset that essentially they did not have a promised sexual partner for a year, still sought the affections of women on this date and would write women messages of love that included the name St. Valentine's.

This Valentine's day was the first one where I am married; and the only one Mike and I will have as a married couple without children. I should have been excited and overjoyed that I didn't have to look for a "valentine" on this day of love...I have one for as long as we both shall live. Yet, this Valentine's Day I was perturbed. For over a month before the day I began hearing about jewelry, chocolate, and flowers. I heard the whisperings of young people looking for dates [substantive or not] for this one night. Honestly, for the first time, I was annoyed with the consumerism following this supposed day of love and the pressure that it created for people around the country to "find a date" or "find a significant other to celebrate this holiday with." How can society put such pressure on everyone to purchase junk that will either spoil, get rotten, or in the case of jewelry, be bought when it's not truly needed; in my opinion expensive jewelry is an over-indulgence, I rather see people fed, housed, and given their most basic necessities than have another ring or necklace.

On the day itself there was one facebook status that caught my attention. It was from a student I worked with while I was the campus minister at the Newman Center in Albuquerque. Lily wrote, "today is not just for couples, it's a celebration of relationships, that being of whomever you wish to share it with - a friend, an animal or even cherishing your relationship with God. We all love something in our lives so cherish it today." Isn't this what we should focus on?!?! It's a day to celebrate all loving relationships! One of my most memorable Valentine's days in college was just hanging out with my girlfriends, and one guy friend, at a Panda Express for dinner. This Valentine's day Mike and I stayed home, ate left over pulled pork sandwiches, and spent time with one another. We didn't go crazy spending money, rather, we spent quality time conversing and enveloping ourselves in the love that we share.

I also think that reflecting upon our relationship with God on this day, and every day, is of utmost importance. Without God there would not be the possibility to feel the love of others. We must thank God daily for the love that we have with our family, friends, and acquaintances, while also simultaneously asking God to help us love others better.

Beyond Valentine's Day, as Christians, don't the Gospels tell us to love our neighbor, love our enemy, love everyone all of the time? Why does our love have to be contained only one day a year on a consumerist, pressured, holiday? Love all of the time. Don't take advantage of the love you have in your life. Tell the people you love that you love them as often as you can, both in actions and words. And lastly don't allow Valentine's Day to "get you down" if you don't have a date with a significant other. This is just society's way of attempting to place labels on people and to have people spend more money on junk they don't need. Cherish and relish the relationships you do have on Valentine's Day; sulking relationships you do not have, on this, in my opinion, secular holiday, does not help you cherish and value the graces that God has already placed in front of you on a daily basis.

Feb. 6th, 2011: "The Power of Boundless Compassion"

A few days ago I finished reading Fr. Greg Boyle SJ's book, Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion. I was inspired to read this book following Fr. Boyle's visit and presentation to a group of us in Albuquerque. The book is set in Boyle Heights, inner city Los Angeles. Fr. Boyle, a native of a more affluent part of Los Angeles, has been working in the Boyle Heights neighborhood for over 20 years. In Los Angeles county, according to Fr. Boyle's book, there are approximately 1,100 gangs and 86,000 gang members. In Fr. Boyle's time in Boyle Heights he has buried over 170 young people whom were connected to gangs. One of the poorest, high drug dealing, and most gang inhabited areas in Los Angeles is Boyle Heights. From my reading of his book, Fr. Boyle knew from the start of his placement in Boyle Heights that something needed to change. In 1986 Fr. Boyle created what is now known as Homeboy Industries (http://www.homeboy-industries.org/). Homeboy Industries is a multi-structred rehabilitation and gang intervention center for people who were part of a gang. There are free counseling services, tattoo removal, employment opportunities, legal services, and much more at Homeboy Industries. The book and Fr. Boyle's presentation goes beyond describing the services provided by Homeboy Industries, it breaks down exterior boundaries of tattoos and guns and provides a glimpse of the deep, hurt souls of those whom are bound in lives of turmoil, despair, and feeling unloved. These, for the most part children and young adults, through their encounter with Christ, in one another - including rival gangs, in Fr. Boyle, and in the trust of Homeboy Industries, go from harm and despair to hope and feeling loved.

One of the main themes I gathered from the book and Fr. Boyle's presentation is one that we learned in kindergarten, never judge a book by it's cover. There is always a story behind how and why someone ends up where they end up. And just because someones history is spotty, from our standards, God loves them and they still have a chance for success. To fully appreciate God we must allow ourselves to open our eyes and hearts to everyone, including those who have tattoos and dress like a homey. We must not feel pity for people rather we must be in kinship. When Jesus walked into a room full of people he usually went to the outcasts and sat with them. He ate with them. He didn't act superior to them. Rather, he was one of them...he, himself, was shunned, on the outskirts of society, and seen as different. Jesus was in kinship with the most vulnerable in his time. This is what Fr. Boyle describes, how we must all move towards kinship with those who are most vulnerable in our time. I don't think Fr. Boyle's intention is for all of his readers to work and be with people in gangs; I think Fr. Boyle's intention is much more broad, "Do the thing that is in front of you," spoken by Mother Theresa. This is what I believe is what Fr. Boyle is attempting to get his readers to understand, be in kinship with the most vulnerable in your neighborhoods, cities, and towns. In Albuquerque, in my opinion, the most vulnerable are children - due to the high poverty levels and poor education system we have in the state of New Mexico, immigrants and refugees, people who are homeless, and the incarcerated. We must open our eyes and our hearts to those in front of us. We cannot continue to hide behind our white picket fences and only pray that God will change the unjust structures in our societies; prayer and action are two components of faith that are intertwined so tightly that to have one and not the other will not challenge us to become fully whom Christ created us to become. Kinship, knowing the other, being in solidarity with the other, so that the word "other" one day does not exist, this is what Fr. Boyle and Jesus both challenge us to do.

On Friday night, for our two year anniversary of our proposal, Mike, took me to see the musical, Wicked. The plot to this musical, naturally, is very different from Fr. Boyle's book, yet, there are common threads that I think are important for us to digest. Essentially Wicked is a musical about how the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz become who they become. It gives us a glimpse of their histories, how they were treated when they were children, and how this influenced choices they made while they were adults. It's a story about betrayal, romance, and friendship. Ultimately I believe it is also about "not judging a book by its cover." There is a reason the Wicked Witch becomes the Wicked Witch (a story I will not tell on my blog, this is a must see musical). Again, we are called to look past the exterior of a person and look into the heart and soul of the person God created him or her to be. We must not allow the media and society to tell us how to look at people, rather, we must meet people face to face, listen to them and respond with care, love, and compassion. We must be in kinship.

I know that the message of this blog is quite simplistic, and some might think trite, yet, I think that we can use the reminder to not judge people, the homeless, gang members, people of different ethnicities, different sexual preferences, etc., and allow God who is within them and whom loves them without boundaries to shine through. We must be vessels of compassion always to everyone. This will allow us to grow closer to Christ. Also it will allow those whom we are showing compassion to, to see and feel Christ. We must also remember it's not about superiority its about kinship. And who knows where kinship and love might take you; you might be the first person to show those living on the margins that they are loved by God. Or, rather, you might recognize the deep love that God has for you.

Feb. 2nd, 2011: Guatemala in My Blood

I just finished reading a fabulous book called, Guatemala In My Blood: How Nursing in Remote Jungle Villages Revolutionized my Life. The book was given to me by a nurse who comes to visit Mike & I weekly to give us, as first time parents, education on prenatal care and will meet with us weekly until Sofia is three years old, continuing our education on raising a child. It's an amazing program for both Mike & I because we have a lot of questions and it's wonderful to have the extra medical support, free of charge. Anyone can enroll in this program, regardless of socio-economic status and regardless of having or not having health insurance. http://www.stjosephnm.org/ I would recommend this program to any first time parents in the Albuquerque area! Our nurse, Sarah, is also an amazing person. She volunteered through the Peace Corps in Morocco, North Africa, where she did community health education (what my mom did in my hometown). And prior to that experience, Sarah, graduated from a Jesuit school in Washington. Anyway, Mike & I feel a connection to Sarah due to her international scope on life. She gave me the book, Guatemala in my Blood, because she knows about my fascination and love of Guatemalan people, we well as Mike's and my desire to, someday, do international missionary work.

The book is set in rural Guatemala in the late 1970s. Liz, a nurse, left her home in Washington, to volunteer with the Maryknoll Missionaries in 1977. She spent most of her time in a small town called Poptun. Liz was actually one of the first lay missionaries to join Maryknoll Missionaries. Prior to this time the only Maryknoll Missionaries were religious sisters, priests, or brothers. Therefore, due to this change in the Maryknoll system of missionary work Liz experienced a lot of challenges as a pioneer in Maryknoll's lay missionary program. Some of the problems she faced were in community life. She lived with several people, mainly priests, in a rectory. In their time as priests these men had not lived with a woman. This created inherit challenges. Another thing that Liz struggled with was the notion that people in the town of Poptun, and surrounding areas, at first would not give her as much clout/authority as a priest. Sadly, in my opinion, this perception of lay ministry is still very prominent across the world. It takes a strong lay person, especially a woman, to work within the Catholic Church, where there is a lot of "putting priests on pedestals", clericalism, and the lack of catechetical education of all practicing Catholics that we are all called to be prophet, priest, and king.

The book seems to give a "real" experience, and not a glorified one, of life in a third world country. It talks about community life, its challenges and its graces. The main focus of Liz's work in Guatemala was with helping establish a health care education program where she and a cohort trained people in Guatemala to be educators of health themselves. These people would train more people to be health care educators. It was created with the idea for it to both be self sustaining and educational for the people of Guatemala on things such as cleanliness, using a latrine, wearing shoes so that parasites could cease to spread, etc. Successfully, through all of the challenges, this program was created and is still flourishing. Guatemala in My Blood, educates the reader on how the program started and continues to live. Lastly, the most profound thing for me, was how Liz feel in love with the Guatemalen culture and people so much to the point that it still is ingrained in her heart. Guatemala and her people are in Liz's heart and are carried out in her actions now in the United States. Now in the United States, she continues to support the people of Poptun in different ways, such as praying for them and sending medical supplies to them. Most profoundly she adopted a young girl, whom now is a young woman, Maria, from Guatemala, whom she loves dearly. Overall, for those interested in Guatemala, missionary work, or a easy good read, I would recommend Guatemala in My Blood as a must read.

Feb. 1st, 2011: A Mother's Sacrifice

I had a tad of an idea, before I got pregnant, about the sacrifices that mothers take the moment they find out they are with child. As many people know mothers give up things such as caffeine, including coffee and soda, alcohol, and artificial sweeteners so that while their baby is in utero s/he will stay healthy. To give these things up for me have been miniscule.

For me, the most challenging portion of this pregnancy has been the dichotomy between taking care of your body to the best of your ability while letting go of what your body does. By letting go of your body I don't mean driving through the McDonalds drive in every day....or stopping to work out. By letting go of your body I mean allowing the natural course of pregnancy upon your body take place without much resistance. There are many things that happen to ones body while one is pregnant that I had no clue about, such as, leg cramps (many times in one night), getting a bloody nose, nausea, less energy, shortness of breath due to the baby and all of your organs pushing up on your lungs, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep, and naturally, gaining weight. All of these things that occur during pregnancy you have little to no control over. Again, the dichotomy of taking care of your body yet allowing your body to take its natural course during pregnancy is a sacrifice, yet one that I know will be worth it once our baby Sofia is born.

I am drawn back to Mary, the mother of Jesus. She had the ultimate sacrifice, she had to let go of her son, while he was working in ministry and ultimately when he died on the cross. This reflection makes me put into perspective my own sacrifices for Sofia. These small physical changes will pass. The leg cramps will go away. My energy will come back. I will loose the weight. I also reflect upon my own mother. She has told me that when I went to Annunciation House, when she dropped me off, she gave me to God more fully. She knew that the year would be a huge challenge for me and she also knew that the environment on the border (El Paso/Juarez in August 2003) was a bit unruly. She paralleled herself to being Mary and me as Jesus. New life came of the experience of Annunciation House for both my mother and I. My mom has always trusted in God's strength and love but from my perspective it seems as if my Annunciation House experience deepened her relationship with God. For me, Annunciation House taught me many things...but I think the biggest thing I learned while I was there was that life is about a continual cycle of life, death and resurrection. Sometimes life is wonderful, sometimes challenging, sometimes non-eventful....all of these times we must treasure; we must treasure the wonderful times for God's graces during these periods, the challenging times for the opportunity to grow closer to Christ, and the non-eventful times for helping us see God in all things. Death is something we as humans cannot avoid. It happens when something we planned does not occur, it happens when a goal we thought we were going to reach is not within reach, it happens when a loved one dies. These things are not the end...we are resurrection people. We believe that all of these things have a deeper meaning. We believe that if something we planned does not occur its because there is a bigger purpose. We believe that when a loved one dies they are with God, they are now with us in a new way, and we will see them again. Where there is life and death, there is resurrection. Mary learned and knew this. The little crosses I am baring, they too shall pass.

I am also aware that at some point in Sofia's life I will have to give up Sofia to where God is calling her. Maybe she'll have a deep desire to be a missionary in a foreign country (like her mother and father). While both Mike and I would love to raise a daughter who feels compelled to travel the world, help people in need, and be an advocate for social justice, having her leave for a few years to a foreign country would be difficult. We would support her; but having her away for so long would not be easy. Currently this is something that is hard to think about since I am in the beginning stages of being her mother. The point I am trying to make is that a mother's sacrifice is cyclical. There is life, death, and resurrection occurring throughout the intertwined lives of a mother and child. I believe the way to live through these cycles is to remember that God is in control, is with us through every stage, and that there are abundant graces present at every stage, we've just got to recognize God in all things and at all times.

Jan. 31st, 2011: Weddings...weddings...weddings...

This last week I found out about three engagements! This summer, not including the three engagements, my cousin is getting married, a good family friend is getting married, and four former students (2 other weddings) I worked with are getting married! Weddings, for me, if the couple has discerned their relationship thoughtfully and prayerfully, are one of the most exciting and grace-filled moments one can experience in their lifetime.

Honestly, I feel so blessed to have married Mike. He and I both dated some great people in our past...but none of them had everything that God had envisioned for us. There was always something within those relationships that left us both wanting more; something within us that was left untapped. We had to be patient and set aside our time lines to allow God to work within our lives. When we met in person, after a month of long emails and 2-3 hour phone conversations, we both knew that God had helped us to build a solid foundation for a deep faith-filled relationship. Our wedding day was a solidification of God's plan for our future. And the amazing part for me was that I felt God's presence that entire weekend very strongly, whether it was through the prayers stated at the wedding ceremony itself, my friends, family, or Mike. The wedding was simple; it focused on God, one another, our family and friends. In a consumerist society where a wedding day is not necessarily about God, I found myself at my wedding thinking about God constantly.

I hope and pray that the marriages that I will witness this summer will be as grace-filled as ours. Finding the person whom God created for you is a blessing. For those of you who feel called to married life but have not found the right person, yet, don't loose hope. God would not place that deep desire, vocation, in your heart, without someone in mind for you. You just need to be patient and wait for God's timing. I honestly can say I grew impatient at points in my life, waiting for God to introduce me to Mike, almost to the point of growing jaded. I always thought, well I have a MDiv, I am seeped in my faith and my family, there is no way in this world I am going to find my match...I'll have to settle for someone who is not as thrilled about their faith, or someone who cannot have a theological conversation with me, or someone who is not as passionate about social justice as myself. I thought that my standards were too high. But I am thrilled I waited for God to place the right person in my life at the right time. Nothing is impossible for God. Let us close this blog entry with a blessing for engaged couples, especially for the seven engaged couples I know, from the Catholic book of blessings.

"Lord God, the source of all love, the wise plan of your providence has brought these young people together. As they prepare themselves for the sacrament of marriage and pray for your grace, grant that, strengthened by your blessing, they may grow in their respect for one another and cherish each other with a sincere love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

January 17th, 2011: I am Pregnant!

Twelve week ultrasound of
Sofia Rose

Hello!! Besides the last post on my Titi Rosie, it has been months since I have blogged! I apologize to my fans. Teehee. As many of you know I am 27 weeks pregnant today. The first trimester I was tired and nauseated all of the time. I had little energy to do anything but work, workout, cook, and sleep. The second trimester has been a lot better, health wise, but I found no time to blog due to the holidays. Now we are at the end of our second trimester...one more week until our third trimester...and I am finally finding time to blog.

As I write this blog I feel little Sofia Rose kicking and squirming. Today she kicked me ten times in less than three minutes! I have started another website just for Sofia. Primarily it will give occasional updates on how she is doing while she in my belly and it also has our registry information. The registry information at this point is not completed. We have three registries up and running but we have not finished sorting what we really need and comparing costs at all three locations. If you look at all of the sites now they are pretty sparse. Here is the website:
http://chineaandshawverbaby.ourbabychannel.com/

This particular blog is not merely about sharing the new site. The next few blogs will be about my thoughts and prayers since the start of this pregnancy.

How did we decide on Sofia Rose's name? Mike and I talked about names for pretty much the whole first trimester....some names he would "veto" others I would "veto". Then we came up with Sofia's name because of this: We like the name Sofia beacuse it means wisdom and is one of the names in the Bible that refers to the Holy Spirit. The spelling of Sofia is intentional...we like the Spanish spelling of her name. We like the middle name Rose because both of my grandmothers are named Rosa, my aunt Rose, and Mike's grandmother Rose.

The 2010 Advent season for me was particularly revealing. In the past I had thought and prayed about the vocation of motherhood but this year, since it is a reality, I am already a mother, Advent took on a whole new meaning. I am currently feeling all the baby movements that Mary also felt within her. I am also waiting in anticipation, a sense of awe, an unrelenting yes to my calling from God to be a mother, and also a sense of nervousness - which I am sure Mary felt even though it is not mentioned in the Gospels. (Every mother, no matter their age, race, religious background, no matter how ready she may feel, I believe has a sense of nervousness.)

One question I asked myself a lot in the first trimester was...am I truly ready to be a mother? On June 5th of this year Mike and I got married. It feels too quick for us to be parents. But at the same time I am 30 years old and Mike is 36. God has blessed both of us with full lives. We have both traveled, studied, made many friends, and loved our families deeply. We both have truly wanted a family, even before we met one another. Since we are older we feel a little more wisdom about life than we did when we were in our 20s. So, why not now? I reflected upon this during the Advent season. Did Mary truly feel ready? I think beyond Mary feeling ready she felt a deep sense of God calling her to be a mother. She let go of everything. She surrendered herself completely to God, including her pride and public image, to be the mother of Jesus. This is the type of love I want to embody. I want to surrender myself to God's will and allow God to use me in whatever way God sees fit. Even though I don't have as much to surrender to God as Mary did, as my circumstances are different, I not only feel the calling from God to be a mother but I am running towards God with open arms asking, what's next Lord?

Even though Advent is over, Mike and I, are still in the process of waiting. Day by day, hour by hour, Sofia is growing. These past few weeks I have felt her move more and more. What I am trying to stay with is the joy in the anticipation. Enjoying every moment of this pregnancy for me is of utmost importance. How many times in ones lifetime is one pregnant? I believe there is joy in learning, feeling, and loving every moment of the here and now.

Please, continue to pray for Sofia, Mike & I. Pray for Sofia's health and growth. Pray that as Mike and I prepare to become parents we stay healthy in mind, body, and soul so that we can be the parents that God has created us to be.

Jan. 16th, 2011: My Aunt Rosie

On Jan. 14th, 2011, a woman very dear to my heart and close to my life passed away, my Titi (aunt) Rosie. She was a woman of strength and filled with the Spirit of God. I am certain that at this stage in her journey she is with God.

Ever since I was young I have admired my Titi Rosie. She moved out to California when I was nine years old. Before she moved here I remember my mom talking to her on the phone, we were in my parents room and I was laying on my parents bed as my mother talked. She invited my Titi and my two cousins to move to California. My Titi said yes. She and my two cousins, Carmen and Jason, lived with my family for six months as the resettled in their new home in California. She created a sense of safeness and deep love from the first moment I met her. I remember her singing to me in the car. Since I was a hyper child, she sang fun songs to keep me calm during long car rides. One specific song I remember was about the Titanic. I remember her editing my English papers and teaching me how to write properly. I remember playing cards with her. If we beat her she would get mad. I remember watching movies with her, specifically Real Women Have Curves and Catch Me If You Can in her bedroom. All of these memories I will hold on for a lifetime. I knew, not only through words, that my aunt loved me with all of her heart.

Last night we had a celebration of her life service. My husband, Mike, led the service that he and I prepared. It was a powerful service about my aunt. Many people felt the love that I felt from my aunt. Her faith, wisdom, integrity, will power, passion, English writing skills, her eloquence, her ability to say what was on her mind in a non-confrontational way, and her deep compassion for all people she met was a true devotion to whom Christ created her to be.

I have been deeply affected by my aunts passing. She is the closest person in my life who has passed away. Sometimes I still think that she's around. The thing is...I know that my Titi is still with me. Her presence and her Spirit will be with me forever. I believe in the resurrection. She is with God. Having trust in God and in my aunt's presence with God helps me to feel consolation. Please pray for her soul, my family, and her close friends as we grieve the loss of her life here on earth, reflect and rejoice on her presence before she passed, and as we celebrate her presence with God.