cCc: 2014

Awaiting The Epiphany

Christmas decorations are still lighting up the halls in our household as we live out the Twelve Days of Christmas and await The Feast of the Epiphany. The Catholic Church celebrates the event where the Magi, also called the Three Wise Men or Three Kings, traveled to pay homage to the newborn King, Jesus Christ and believe the Epiphany to be when the Christmas season officially ends, being January 6th, twelve days after Christmas. This year we started a new tradition in the Craft Household for Christmas in which the Three Wise Men bring our children gifts symbolizing the gifts of the Magi ... Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gold (a gift fit for a king) is our child's favorite thing, something that they really desire. Frankincense (something used to worship at a temple) is a gift we give our children that will help them grow in their Catholic faith. Myrrh (items used out of necessity / for embalming) we gift our children socks and underwear!

Ringing In The New Year

Lord, we offer You our hearts and place our trust in You, desiring that You work through us in all that we do this day. We thank You for the trails and tribulations this past year has brought us as it is written in Romans 5 that "we rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." We are grateful for Wrigley's joyful and loving heart as well as his warm embrace and smile. We are thrilled to have a new blessing on the way and thank You for that gift. We ask that you draw ever so near and fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit as we rejoice in Jesus's birth and are reminded of the blessing of new life. Thank you for always loving us! May these prayers be purified before they ascend to Your Divine Alter.

Random Blog News Flash

WRIGLEY: I just wanted to share one of my favorite moments this past week. Unprompted, Wrigley's new term of endearment for mommy is angel. I don't know where he came up with it but I'm loving it. The other day he said "Mommy you look like an angel. You're beautiful like the angels who sing!" As the tears welled up in my eyes my first thought was "uh oh, what does he want?" not putting it past our smart little fella to be wanting something like chocolate BUT rather than ask what he wanted a voice in my head was saying to just give him a hug. So, with a huge smile on my face I gave him the biggest hug and just loved on him. He didn't want anything as it turns out. God's presence was so strong in that moment for which I am forever grateful ... what a sweet lil' blessing!

NEW BLOG NAME: We have changed our blog name from ccubed.blogspot.com to ccccraftingalegacy.blogspot.com. Although I am proud of our creativity in ccubed (Chad and Colette Craft) created when we got married, I thought it would be nice to switch it up for the sake of adding kiddos to the brood as we continue our blogging journey and share with you our joyful hearts and many blessings!

Enjoy the below pictures OR click HERE for more of 2014

2014 Slide Show
https://plus.google.com/photos/111633732112294337671/yearinphotos2014?authkey=CMq4iL_j2uLleg

Advent Season

Advent is here and you know what that means .... Christmas decorations are up, holidays candles are lit, and sounds of the seaon fill our hallway on a daily basis! It truly is a magical time of year. Here are a few pictures of the beginning of our Advent Season and our journey to celebrate Our Lord's birth.

2014 Picture Album

Pepper Lawson Celebrates at a Ground Breaking Ceremony in Downtown Houston

Fall and Feminism

Fall and Feminism

FALL

Can you feel it? The fresh cool fall breeze is here! It's beautiful, except for the allergies here and there that tag along. The changing of the leaves is something to behold, it's truly magical, a gift from our Heavenly Father. I am really enjoying the season so far ... something about it has been uplifting. Aside from the weather, I think it's the fact that it's THAT time of year AGAIN ... yes, THAT time ... the Fall decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving and shortly thereafter CHRISTmas. Year after year I still find myself going back to being a kid where I'd get that "jumping out of my skin" excitement. I can't explain it but it just feels great. I'm feeling blessed, encouraged, and incredibly joyful about the holiday season.

FEMINISM

I wanted to take an opportunity to express gratitude to the Blessed To Be Moms Group at our new parish St Bartholomew's. Thank you for opening your hearts and sharing your lives with me and Wrigley. Each of you have encouraged me in different ways and helped strengthen my Catholic faith. I have always been in love with our faith but you have helped me fall more in LOVE with our faith by teaching me our role as a Catholic woman in our marriages and as a stay at home parent. You have taught me that while it might not always be easy having "A Mary Heart in a Martha World," it is imperative. It is the example I want to give my children. Here is a quote from Pope Benedict XVI that I found appropriate for the feminism empowerment I'm feeling .... “It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity. Through Mary, and the other holy women, the feminine element stands at the heart of the Christian religion.” I think it ties in nicely with The Catholic Church being the Bride of Christ. The Church is a mother who feeds spiritually, shares doctrine, heals and comforts, and disciplines when needed. I think its important for us as Catholic women to be unified in HER unity so I thank each of your for your contribution to our Blessed To Be Moms Group and for making our parish great! “The Catholic Church is like a thick steak, a glass of red wine, and a good cigar.” - GK Chesterson

PICTURES : Dove Season, Aggie Football, Fall Festivals, and Halloween
(click HERE for more pictures from 2011-2014)

Like Father Like Son

Just Chillin'

Just adding a few pictures and videos from the rest of August ... visit to San Antonio for Winnie's 5th Birthday at the Kiddie Park, our monthly trip to the Houston Zoo, and of course Aggie Gameday!

Wrig's Best Friends: Andrew and Collin

Mountain Monkey Man in Colorado

Chad put it best .... "Our Mountain Monkey Man thoroughly enjoyed Colorado ... the cool brisk morning air, cold streams ... and tossin' rock in em', meeting lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, and got to experience what Mommy and Daddy love most about this place!"

Click here for more Rolling Reunion Photos

Wrigley opens his gift from daddy on the airplane ... it's Dusty the Crop-hopper!

Left To Right: Uncle Mike, Uncle Bill, Aunt Ann, Aunt Theresa, "Grandma" Arline Rolling, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Ruth, Uncle John

In Summer

In Summer

I'll finally see a summer breeze blow away a winter storm

And find out what happens to solid water when it gets warm

And I can't wait to see what my buddies all think of me

Just imagine how much cooler I'll be

In summer

When life gets rough I like to hold onto my dreams

Of relaxing in the summer sun, just letting off steam

Oh, the sky will be blue, and you guys'll be there too

When I finally do what frozen things do

In summer

In summer!

So what does Frozen have to do with this post?! Absolutely nothing, really. I was just chanting the lovely tune above in my head as I was posting so it only seemed a fitting post title for all things SUMMER! Disney was my favorite growing up, well who am I kidding still IS my favorite. A few of my favorites were Beauty and the Beast, 101 Dalmations, and The Lion King. I remember doing several autobiography presentations on Walt Disney in grade school because I admired his imagination and love for children. All things DISNEY make me smile! Wrigley sure has jumped on the Disney bandwagon too with Cars & Planes as his all time favorites. And he just LOVES all the Disney princesses. Shhhh, I even think that pink is his favorite color! Every time the princesses come on TV he is glued and loves to hear them sing! Ahem .... cough cough ... maybe it reminds him of his beautiful mommy singing him to sleep!

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a few pictures of our gorgeous, enchanting summer. Click for more 2014 SUMMER photos.

TIMELINE

June - Blueberry Picking At Chmielewskis Blueberry Farm in Hockley, Texas

July - Independence Day Celebration At Katy Fire Station

July - Family Photos

July - Harvest Festival at Haak Winery in Santa Fe, Texas

July - Surprise Date Night at Top Golf

July - Behrens Family Reunion at Log Country Cove in Kingsland, Texas

July - Chicago, Illinois for Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park Zoo, and of course Wrigley Field

August - Rolling Family Reunion at Water World, Estes Park, and Harmony Golf Club in Denver, Colorado