year of faith.

A week from today starts the "Year of Faith".  Pope Benedict XVI declared that a "Year of Faith" will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council  (Vatican II) and also the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

Above was found here. Please go visit so you can learn more about the upcoming "Year of Faith".

For me, this is a great opportunity to strengthen my faith and widen and explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  God calls each and every one of us to drop everything we have going and follow him. Yesterday's gospel (found here) explains this so well.

There is something about the strength of Catholicism that I can't explain. I can hardly make sense of it in my head. What I mean by this "strength" is this, while in my youth and even now I've never been ashamed of my faith and religion. I, along with cousins, could be out with friends and very quickly tell someone we were all related, we had a huge family, and we were Catholic. Why would we say that? Why did I feel the need to let someone know what I believed in? I was young and proud but  if was ask why I could not have answered that question. Now, I know why I am proud. The more I learn and pick up the Catechism, the more I am filled understanding, joy, grace, and humility. I am thankful I kept my pride of being a Catholic through those years but I feel so horrible at the way I treated my faith. To claim, for a long time, that I was Catholic yet I was doing so many things morally wrong which means I was not being true to my faith and to my church. It hurt or should I say stung when I came to these realizations. But I thank God I went through all of that. All my experiences, good and bad, have made me stronger. I know that God forgives. He loves us more then we will ever know. I now know what it means to love everyone, of all religions. God calls us to love, to serve others, and to be an example of his love to others.

This upcoming "Year of Faith" has good things to come. I can feel it! I will have lots of copies of " A Minute in the Church" by Gus Lloyd at the end of this month. I will be sharing with all my family and friends.

I have lots of things I struggle with on a daily basis. I was hesitant on writing all this on here. Hesitant if people would think I'm crazy. Scared that I could offend someone that doesn't agree with me. Worried about someone talking about me. I've decided to put all that behind me and follow my heart. I know there aren't many people who will read all this and that's ok. If I touch one person or bring one person an inch closer to God I know I've done something for the better and that is what we are ask to do.

Take this year as an opportunity to learn and explore.

I love you. Your sister in Christ.

Fabulous October.

I am so excited!! October is a fabulous month for the Hager's. This weekend we are loading up and heading to Fredericksburg, TX. The beautiful Hill Country to partake in our annual Oktoberfest! Live polka, lots of German food, and lots of family time! Oh, and we brewed a special batch of red ale to take with us :) which also makes this trip special!

I made Annie her own set of lederhosen so she is ready to kick up the heals and POLKA!!! Here are a few pictures from Oktoberfest 2010.

We love Uncle David! You are so greatly missed. This year won't be the same without  you. You cheer and charm will be with us! I love you.

prints.

 So I've been looking into screen printing on paper and after much research I think it's possible!  I mean, I knew it WAS possible I just wasn't sure on HOW to make it possible.

I'm close. Very close.

I want to create some prints, first and for most, that inspire me, my family, and my home.

Here are a few that are on my mind.

all via here.

 

This process will for sure be yet another learning process of the screen printing biz! Stayed tuned for what comes out of this spark of inspiration.

weekend.

Not a lot to say so I'll give you a few clips from my day. As always, Enjoy.

1 year pictures.

 

I took Ms. Annie's 1 year pictures on her actual birthday last week and I thought I'd share a few with you. Enjoy.

 

 

She did so great and for sure needed a bath after devouring the cupcake!

only in one's youth.

I finally printed some new shirts for the Etsy Shop this afternoon and of course I had to have Annie model for me :) She is can be so easy and hard to take pictures of but I love the challenge. (Easy because she's so darn cute and hard because she NEVER stops moving.)

Here are a few of my favorites...

 

And this picture alone is why my title of this post is the way it is...only in your youth are rolls like this so darn cute. Makes me want to say, "Annie, are you sure you don't want another waffle with maple syrup all over it?"

Thanks for tuning in!! And go here to check out the new stuff in my Etsy Shop!!! Shop is called littlehprints on Etsy.

 

baby girl is one.

How did we get here. I still remember the moment at 3:30 a.m. September 18, 2011 that I went into labor. I can recall every moment of the labor and the second she was born. The labor was long but I cherish it with all my heart! When I saw Annie's little face after 28 hours in labor at 7:46 a.m. I couldn't control mine. I cried. I smiled. I laughed. I was so full of joy and happiness that no words could do it justice. Babies are true miracles from God and I am so thankful He gave us Annie.

 

A year ago + a few hours.

 

And now...walking.

 

 

I'm sad ... I guess there aren't too many  more milestones I'll have to cover. At 11 months I was saying that she just needed to start walking...and now she's walking. Besides getting some teeth in my baby is almost a toddler. Her clothes are not in the baby baby section anymore. They can now be found with the 2T and up sizes..I'm not sure how this happened. The days go by too fast and I'm learning to soak up each day and each moment we have. We love you Annie!