Grace & Efren

We're still here

butcheee — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:37:21 -0400

It’s been awhile. But these munchkins have taken up a lot of my time.

We’re still here. Just living life offline.

Good Morning! Don’t forget to smile.

butcheee — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 08:38:58 -0400

Good Morning! Don’t forget to smile.

Me and Dom doin’ it up like a bunch of high schoolers! ...

butcheee — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:21:11 -0400

Me and Dom doin’ it up like a bunch of high schoolers! Hornbecker Lens, AO DLX Film, No Flash, Taken with Hipstamatic

Day 40: Cardio

butcheee — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 23:55:00 -0400

Today will conclude 40 days. The journey has come to an end today, and I have to take this day to step back and look at the bigger picture of the journey travelled so far.

I feel more aware, and if anything more “spiritually” fit. Through this entire process of trying to blog everyday, I’ve forced my soul into action, pushing my heart and mind into an everyday workout. What has helped motivate and keep this up, has been the work out partners. These bloggers kept nourishing and encouraging my actions simply by putting in that same effort. A big thank you to all those who really kept up with the challenge:

And another big thank you to those who contributed:

The big lesson/message of Lent for me? STAY FIT SPIRITUALLY. So ends this Lenten Journey. Thank you Jesus. Life begins again, but better.

Audrey-ism #42

gracee220 — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:17:50 -0400

Earlier today when I was on the comp, I moved my chair to get comfortable and it rubbed against the hardwood floor making a sound.

Audrey: Mommy you farted?
Me: No Audrey.
Audrey: Mommy you farted?
Me: Noooo Audrey.
Audrey: You Poo Poo in your pants Mommy?
Me: NO Audrey!
Audrey: ...Mommy farted! (giggling)
Me: (sigh)

Day 38: Human

butcheee — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:59:36 -0400

Quite the busy day Jesus had before He died.

He washed the feet of his followers, giving them an example of how to continue the work He began and how we should all serve one another. And lastly, He gave us the Eucharist. His physical way of being one with us throughout time. A symbol of sorts to show His lasting fidelity to His flock.

As much as this was Godly stuff, it was very human. If I knew I had one day left to live, I would profess and express my love to those closest to me. I would tell my wife to be strong, and my kids to take care of each other, and to remember that I will always love them.

Jesus’ two final acts with his apostles express the same sentiment, of caring for each other, and being reminded how much He loved, and will continue to love them. Jesus was a down-to-earth, true blue human being. But Him being God as well, these two simple acts are so profoundly foundational in my Catholic faith. Talk about leaving a legacy.

Well played Jesus. Well played.

Day 37: Dig

butcheee — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:59:39 -0400

Not much words at this point of the Lenten Challenge. I think I’m coming to the point of slowing down on the output process, to just focus on the moments that are the cornerstone of my faith. I think it’s time to dig deeper inside.

For all those reading from an imported note on FaceBook, here’s the video link.

Day 36: Push

butcheee — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:59:59 -0400

Now that this Lenten Journey is coming to a close, and the Easter Triduum is only a few days away, it’s been hard not to think about anything else then Jesus’ anguish during this whole ordeal of Easter.

From sweating blood while praying, your homies falling asleep when you need them the most, being betrayed by a colleague, denied three times by his closest friend, beaten and wrongfully arrested and then held overnight in a prison. I mean, this is only the day before He actually carries the cross and gets nailed to it to die.

When things go bad, it seems to compound almost instantaneously. One bad thing after another, and it usually gets a whole lot worse before it gets any better.

With all of this, I really have to give it up for Jesus’ toughness physically, mentally and spiritually. Where most would shut down in some fashion, Mr. Christ is clutch, and pushes through all the way to take one for the team. And when I say team, I mean humanity.

Jesus the Christ. MVP. No question.

Day 34: Constellations

butcheee — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:59:30 -0400

Today, our little family went to the Children’s Museum, for a much needed day of family shenanigans.

There was a little exhibit there that Audrey and I had a chance to enjoy, and it was a mini observatory so that we could learn about stars and space. The thing that intrigued me the most (maybe not Audrey so much) was Constellations. They’re basically a grouping of stars that represent things like animals and people mostly, which conveniently have stories associated with them. This began as a way to map out the sky, just like we would map out land. This helped travellers (sailors mostly) get to there destinations, and the stories were probably used so that people would remember them.

I think my life (my past specifically) are a lot like these constellations. That the stars of the past that scatter the night sky of my life are pieced together to form interesting images with stories, to help me map out my journey. To help me remember the things that have formed me to be the man I am today, and more importantly to remember that I’ve trekked in those areas before. Just as the stars will always constantly be there, so will my past. Some of it good, some of it bad, but all of it mine. But all working together to get me where I’m supposed to be.

And where is that exactly? Let’s just say it’s past the stars.

Day 32: Jump

butcheee — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:31:13 -0400

Today at confession, the priest reminded me of something that I forgot. That all in all, I’m a good person.

It’s easy to forget when you spend the 30 minutes before that moment really mulling out how bad of person you are. I’ve learned that you really have to go to the lowest lows of yourself in order to get to greater heights. The key is not to dwell on the low, but to use it to get more trajectory to your growth goals. It’s like squatting as low as you can to jump. But it has to be in a fluid motion from standing to an immediate but short squat to get that take off. If I stay in the squat, it actually becomes more difficult to jump higher.

So I shouldn’t stay in the low, focusing on how bad of a person I am. But acknowledge that it’s all part of reaching that high standard I should be setting for myself everyday. That standard that the priest kindly reminded me that I’m more than capable of being.

Day 30: Cheers

butcheee — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:31:25 -0400

Cheers to my teammate who watches my back, and keeps me focused on the goal. Cheers to my best friend, who always makes sure I’m doing well. Cheers to my financial planner, who’s always assuring me that we’re okay. Cheers to the mother of my kids, who’s love makes boo-boos better.

Cheers to my wife, for 3 of the best years of my life so far. Life would literally not be the same (or as awesome) without you.

Happy Anniversary.

Day 29: Surface

butcheee — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:59:32 -0400

So this whole Lenten Reflection thing, got me reflecting about reflecting. No really. As I was praying about what to post, I was thinking “Why do we even use the word reflection when it comes to ‘deep thinking’ and recollection?”

When I think of reflection I think of a mirror, or still water. That when I look in it, I will obviously see myself. The only thing that will change that is the surface condition of what will reflect my image. So if the mirror is cracked or dirty, or the water is moving, it’s hard to see what you look like at that moment. Finding that accurate image of yourself is difficult under these conditions.

So the question I’m asking myself now is “What condition is my reflective surface in?” Or in other words “What condition is my heart and mind in?”

OMG

butcheee — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:24:00 -0400

OMG

Day 28: Moderation

butcheee — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:39:05 -0400

For those who live holistically (the person is the perfect harmony of mind, heart and body working together for higher good), guilt is a welcome friend that helps indicate that there is something wrong needing to be resolved. When guilt is rejected as an enemy, the conscience is clouded over or destroyed, and the mind is left to its own authority. The body is a helpless soldier with no recourse but to be forced to do even the most unwise and dangerous things without the conscience’s direction and aid.

Anthony Buono (taken from this article)

Like anything in life, guilt should be taken in light moderation. It’s a hard drink to swallow, but it can definitely give you some perspective. But don’t go binge drinking on guilt, you may have a real long depressing hang over afterwards.

Day 25: Spend

butcheee — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 23:59:09 -0400

If there’s time to complain, there’s time to be grateful.

If there’s time to read up on gossip, there’s time to honor one another.

If there’s time to party, there’s time to pray.

If there’s time to for Facebook, there’s time to read something uplifting.

If there’s time to listen to music, there’s time to be silent.

If there’s time to blog, there’s time to spend with loved ones.

Note To Self: There is time. Always. Spend it wisely.

Day 20: Plan

butcheee — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:13:25 -0400

To be quite honest, this intense relationship I have with God was never in my life plan.

I think a lot of crap happens along the way of trying to make your dreams real. But luckily I was paying attention to see that God was happening during it all.

Thank God for change. It’s my reminder that I’m moving forward.

Day 18: Instant

butcheee — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:45:10 -0400

I always get overwhelmed how fast God is to forgive me, but how slow I am in asking for forgiveness.

I spend days and months of trying to cope with guilt, regret and worry. I’m always taken back when I go to confession and in an instant, I’m reminded that God and I are still cool. That I’m still loved, and that laundry list of not so good things I just read off, is put in his shredder immediately.

He definitely doesn’t waste His time with me. With all my dilly-dallying, I pray I don’t waste anymore time of His.

Day 17: Truth

butcheee — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:59:15 -0400

But he passed through the midst of them and went away

Luke 4:30

This the last line of the gospel for today. To sum up everything before this, Jesus basically walked into town and pissed the town off by essentially saying “change your unhealthy ways.” He even talked about their heritage and how they got screwed because they didn’t change. They then chased him to the edge of town which happened to be a cliff, wanting to chuck him down it. Then… ‘he passed through the midst of them and went away.’ Quite harsh.

Being told that you suck is never an easy thing to take. When someone with an outside perspective lays out the truth, I can’t help but get defensive. After all, they’re talking directly about me, my thinking, and my rationale for doing things (or not doing things). I really do want to throw this truth-telling person off a cliff for cracking my ego.

But I have to realize that truth will always find a way. No matter if I throw this person off a cliff or not, it doesn’t change the fact that this person was right. So truth, like Jesus in this gospel, passed through the crowd and went away. You can’t kill the truth, or worse yet, hide it. Especially after it’s been said. But it will eventually be back somehow, and it may not be so nice when it does.

So when truth comes back into town, I gotta put the armour on my skin, and off of my heart, and not the other way around.

Day 16: Ripple

butcheee — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:01:51 -0400

Self-Revelation as a Father No. 19084:

What seems to be a little ripple now, becomes a tsunami of hurt and misunderstanding later on.
Be present, initiate , and be intentional with my time, my actions and my love.

Day 14: Focus

butcheee — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:57:42 -0400

It seems that Japan is the latest trend.

Maybe I need the major news coverage to wake me up, or have #japan hashtags flooding my twitter feed to take notice, or Facebook status updates to motivate me to do something. All this chaos in Japan got me reflecting about, past disasters that have just recently happened. Does anyone remember what happened to Christchurch, New Zealand? Does anyone even talk about Haiti anymore?

I took it a little further and started think about the what’s happening in Darfur, and various parts of Africa. Or hunger in all parts of the world. These ongoing tragedies without the headline buzz.

I think I get overwhelmed, with all this stuff, but I’m reminded that although my heart beats with compassion to help all, I can only be really effective if I can focus that compassion and translate that into helping one person effectively. I’m sure if I can do that consistently, I can begin helping another, and then another, and then another…

[highlight]If you’re reading this in an Imported Note in FACEBOOK, click here to watch the video.[/highlight]