Friday, February 12, 2010

happy valintines day one and all



It is that time of year that one thinks about how lucky he is to have such a wonderful wife. I use to think valintines day was just a waist of time. Now i see it as a wonderful fun and exciteing day for you to enjoy the company of your wife and best friend. this year we are going to go to The Lightning Thief. I hope amber enjoys that movie.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

CHRIST IS BORN! GLORIFY HIM!


I am not good at saying things well but St. John Chrystosom was the best. We as a family give you ths the christmas sermon as a gift to you and your family! many picture wil be posted tomorrow of our christmas but now read and find hope!

BEHOLD a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by divine mercy raised.

Bethlehem this day resembles heaven; hearing from the stars the singing of angelic voices; and in place of the sun, enfolds within itself on every side, the Sun of justice. And ask not how: for where God wills, the order of nature yields. For He willed, He had the power, He descended, He redeemed; all things yielded in obedience to God. This day He Who is, is Born; and He Who is, becomes what He was not. For when He was God, He became man; yet not departing from the Godhead that is His. Nor yet by any loss of divinity became He man, nor through increase became He God from man; but being the Word He became flesh, His nature, because of impassability, remaining unchanged.

And so the kings have come, and they have seen the heavenly King that has come upon the earth, not bringing with Him Angels, nor Archangels, nor Thrones, nor Dominations, nor Powers, nor Principalities, but, treading a new and solitary path, He has come forth from a spotless womb.

Since this heavenly birth cannot be described, neither does His coming amongst us in these days permit of too curious scrutiny. Though I know that a Virgin this day gave birth, and I believe that God was begotten before all time, yet the manner of this generation I have learned to venerate in silence and I accept that this is not to be probed too curiously with wordy speech. For with God we look not for the order of nature, but rest our faith in the power of Him who works.

What shall I say to you; what shall I tell you? I behold a Mother who has brought forth; I see a Child come to this light by birth. The manner of His conception I cannot comprehend.

Nature here rested, while the Will of God labored. O ineffable grace! The Only Begotten, Who is before all ages, Who cannot be touched or be perceived, Who is simple, without body, has now put on my body, that is visible and liable to corruption. For what reason? That coming amongst us he may teach us, and teaching, lead us by the hand to the things that men cannot see. For since men believe that the eyes are more trustworthy than the ears, they doubt of that which they do not see, and so He has deigned to show Himself in bodily presence, that He may remove all doubt.

Christ, finding the holy body and soul of the Virgin, builds for Himself a living temple, and as He had willed, formed there a man from the Virgin; and, putting Him on, this day came forth; unashamed of the lowliness of our nature’. For it was to Him no lowering to put on what He Himself had made. Let that handiwork be forever glorified, which became the cloak of its own Creator. For as in the first creation of flesh, man could not be made before the clay had come into His hand, so neither could this corruptible body be glorified, until it had first become the garment of its Maker.

What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infants bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.

For this He assumed my body, that I may become capable of His Word; taking my flesh, He gives me His spirit; and so He bestowing and I receiving, He prepares for me the treasure of Life. He takes my flesh, to sanctify me; He gives me His Spirit, that He may save me.

Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels.

Why is this? Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle. He became Flesh. He did not become God. He was God. Wherefore He became flesh, so that He Whom heaven did not contain, a manger would this day receive. He was placed in a manger, so that He, by whom all things arc nourished, may receive an infant’s food from His Virgin Mother. So, the Father of all ages, as an infant at the breast, nestles in the virginal arms, that the Magi may more easily see Him. Since this day the Magi too have come, and made a beginning of withstanding tyranny; and the heavens give glory, as the Lord is revealed by a star.

To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, we offer all praise, now and for ever. Amen.

Monday, December 21, 2009

OUCH!


Well isn't it always on a family outing that you get hurt....... On my way to church yesterday i sliped on the ice in my driveway and fell............hard.......fast.........and ouchy! I later found out that i had broken my leg and tore a bunch of ligaments in my foot. so its going to be crutch time for the next couple of weeks.

Here is a picture of well..........Liesl is in there somewere.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Another Crazy Day!


The kids are a wonderful thing to have......This morning i woke up to hear the sound of all the kids trying to make breakfast at once. WOW it was loud! My father stayed over last night because he had to bring a bed up from sandy for kaelan. My Pa had a lot of fun playing with anya and mary, Stephen even played around. My dad and jordan then watched "old man" T.V. Shows. The kids are happy to be going to church with there mom. The house is looking more and more like christmas! as you can see in the picture the snow is like a blanket over the ground and the pine trees are the best shade you can get!
To all out there We all hope this next week will be a week of magic and fun!

Prayer is a remedy against grief and depression.- Abba Nilus

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Start of Festivities!


Christmas has offically started here! We picked up the kids yesterday from there dads house in salt lake. The house is full again and the Christmas excitement is palpable! Amber is happy with her new camera and is using it every chance she gets! More news tomorrow!

Thursday, December 17, 2009


We got an new Camera today and thought we might take a couple of photos.........the kids took this as a opportunity to show off

Here is Mary playing with the show pile! she is one little blessing for her daddy!

Remember always this!
Faith gives wings to prayer, and without it we cannot fly up to Heaven. -St. John Climacus

Christmas Cheer = Better than Beer.

This Christmas season has brought our family lots of interesting fun and mischef. Stephen has found that if you get your little sisters to go say play with the christmas tree he can pilfer a nice oreo cookie wile the parents are occupodo..... Little mary loves to dance and look pretty! We have found her favorite color to be hot pink. She is the most girly of all the girls and makes her daddy happy all the time with her many hugs and cuddles. Anya has figured out how to hold her own bottle. she is very independent! She loves to have what her family is having for dinner now so the blender is in use all the time! This is our first christmas in our new house in Providence Utah! The nehboors call it the "Gingerbread House." It is a lovely pionner house built in the late 1860's and it has lots of charm! the house is full of lots of love and cheer and laughter! this is why we are so blessed and happy this holliday season!

May god Grant all of you the greatest Christmas ever this year and a peacefull new year. let us all pray for peace in the holy land and the end of all wars and suffering.

As was said by the great Saint John Climacus
Before all else, let us list sincere thanksgiving first on the scroll of our prayer. On the second line, we should put confession and heartfelt contrition of soul. Then let us present our petition to the King of all. This is the best way of prayer, as it was shown to one of the brethren by an angel of the Lord. St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), Step28: On Holy and Blessed Prayer, the Mother of Virtues, and on the Attitude of Mind and Body in Prayer