Our 19th anniversary dinner in Tuscany

We went for the first time to one of our biggest local attractions, where many of my family members have traveled all the way from Long Island to visit but we have ignored in nearly three years;

Mohegan Sun Casino. We chose to eat in Tuscany, a uniquely situated,  though loud restaurant in the shopping mall section.. The noise was provided by the casino's constant music, the Saturday night rowdy crowd, and the rushing waterfall behind us.Some sections of the restaurant are behind the falls, but it was very interested to dine near a waterfall, even though it was hard to speak to each other without shouting.

Hardly an intimate dinner, but the wine was good,  Francisco's swordfish was outstanding and my goat cheese Tortellini with smoked squash, honey walnut sauce was heavenly. Its a nouvelle cuisine, big plates, tiny portions place, good for the figure, but don't go there hungry.Mohegan Sun has many dining options, you can go to the all you can eat buffets, we chose atmosphere and fancy cuisine considering the occasion.. 

 We did a bit a sightseeing in the fancy shops, I bought a bar of handmade soap as a souvenir, won $10 in the slot machines (the same price as the fancy soap) and called it a night. Such passes for thrills among us old married folk! Then we came home bearing ice cream so the teens babysitting at home could celebrate our marriage with us.

It was a lovely time. Thank you God for my marriage, my home, and the blessing of family
.

Our 19th Wedding Anniversary is today

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Living Offensively; my new follower on Twitter

Living Offensively just started following me on Twitter. You can follow me here.
They are a Christian group who believe that since the world finds Christianity offensive anyway, and since Christ called us to be salt and light to the world, we are called to live offensively.
 I wanted to share a great t-shirt from their collection. This dispels the myth that Christians are against God's gift of the marital act. We just don't brag about how happy we are.
Which begs the question. . .
Where do they think our large families come from?

Let me call you sweetheart

This evening, Francisco and I attended the Sweetheart Dance with a local Marriage Encounter group. We danced in the swirling lights of the gym to hits of the 60's and 70's, and watched as dozens of Catholic married couples enjoyed being deeply in love.
There was an infectious joy among the dancers, celebrating not serial sexual relationships between men and women, or sexual perversions,  but lifetimes of committed love. The stars in their eyes, their synchronated dance steps, and their genuine laughter was contagious, and we had a wonderful time.

I particulary enjoyed watching  an elderly couple, in matching red sweaters, whose lifetime of love and ballroom dancing was revealed in the unconscious grace of their movements. What a blessing it is to grow old together. I was reminded of this by the poignant post of my single friend at 11 on my own, "Single in a married world".
True love, based in Christ, is a lifelong commitment and a gift that brings the greatest possible joy we can know on earth. Thank you, Lord for my husband.

Call for stories on marriage

from my dear friend Jean Heimann of Catholic Fire;
Attention Married Men and Women:

I need your inspirational stories from a Catholic perspective affirming marriage and the family for a new book.
In it, I plan to share 15 compelling faith-filled stories of hope and healing from Catholic families who have dealt with great difficulties and hardships, but have managed to transcend these trials through the grace of God and the intercession of the saints.

Have you experienced great suffering in your family life, but managed to overcome it and experience great hope and unexpected graces in the midst of your trials through the intercession of a special saint or saints? Do you have a child who is handicapped, but instead of 'terminating' the pregnancy, you chose to keep your child? Has your family had to deal with unexpected financial hardships, debilitating or chronic illness but received healing and hope to transcend these trials? Has anyone in your family considered or had an abortion and the entire family was devastated by it, but God healed you and gave you hope? Have you dealt with marital infidelity or addictions that have been overcome through the intercession of a saint or saints? Has a spouse been converted to the faith through your prayers?Would you like to help and inspire others through your witness?
Your story should be 1800 - 2000 words in length.I am looking for content and not perfection in writing, as I will be editing the stories.

Due Date: March 15, 2009
Email your story in a Microsoft Word attachment to:
Jean M. Heimann
jean.heimann@gmail.com

A Good man is hard to find

Here's some advice from a wise old priest on how to judge whether your beau is truly your Prince Charming.

Here's a clue; feelings are NOT the number one indicator that your man is marriage material!
HT NYTimes

June is for weddings: Why I love St. Anthony

Last year, I told the story of my parents finding each other because of their prayers to St. Anthony. I am grateful for his intercession because he found me a handsome Hispanic Catholic husband. When I was single, Fr. John Kennedy, a Vincentian who spends much of his time in mission work in Panama, taught me to say this prayer while praying for a husband.

San Antonio, San Antonio, me buscas un novio, (St. Anthony find me a groom)
San Benito, San Benito, que sea bonito. (St. Benito may he be handsome!)

Did I mention that my father in law's name is Antonio?

Please pray for Johnette Benkovic

Who is the host of EWTN show Living His Life Abundantly. Her husband Anthony has just passed away. Here is his memorial website including their incredible video entitled, "Carrying the Cross Together".

They lost their son Simon to a tragic accident after he returned safely from Iraq, and actually shared together their plans for Anthony's death from cancer. What a witness they are to the sacrament of holy matrimony!

Marriage Meme

Jean at Catholic Fire tagged me, I can't get over how similar some of our answers are!

1. Where/How did you meet? We met through our activity in the Catholic charismatic renewal. We were branching off into bilingual conferences, and Francisco handled the radios we used to translate the speakers. We saw each other regularly through these conferences.
2. How long have you known each other? We began dating 16 years ago this Superbowl Sunday, was when things turned romantic, but, we were friends about a year before that.
3.How long after you met did you start dating?Francisco was interested in me, but I didn't know it yet, he began a 'background check' asking various trusted friends in the Spanish community, with which I was involved as an English teacher, CCD teacher what they thought about me. Apparently, I passed muster!
4. How long did you date before you were engaged?About 6 months
5. How long was your engagement? 8 months. We went to the same charismatic conference with separate friends to discern our call to marriage, if the answer was no, we would break up. Someone had read from the podium a prophecy that went, "those who are here at this conference discerning marriage, my answer to you is 'yes'!". We were flabbergasted, who expected an answer from the Lord so directly?!
We were in New York's Little Italy when Francisco bought my ring, and put it on my finger in a little Italian cafe. All conversation came to a halt, and we suddenly became, to his horror, the center of attention! I on the other hand, was thrilled; it was a scene right out of "Moonstruck"!
6. How long have you been married? 15 years.
7. What is your anniversary? 2/22/92
8. How many people came to your wedding reception? around 150
9. What kind of cake did you serve? It had lovely fresh flowers cascading down the three layers, but I don't remember the flavors of the cake.
10. Where was your wedding? At St Hugh of Lincoln, Huntington Station, NY. It wasn't my home parish, but my adopted parish, as I had learned Spanish attending Mass there, and had so many good friends in the parish, it really felt like home. In order to have that big crowd at the reception, we went to the nicest Knights of Columbus Hall on the Island, the Memorare Club.
11. What did you serve for your meal?Chicken and rice, Spanish style, for which I provided the chef with the recipe, for my husband's side, and a typical American buffet for my side, which are a mix of Italians, Irish, and Polish descendants. The dancing was some of the heartiest I've ever seen at a wedding, everyone truly enjoyed themselves. I have a great, big, fun extended family!
12. How many people were in your wedding party? Besides the best man, and matron of honor, there were 4 bridesmaids, and 4 ushers, two of which were my brothers.
13. Are you still friends with them all? No, and it's a shame, we've had divorce, death, and distance separate most of us.
14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony? No, but he sure had cold, clammy hands!
15. Most special moment of your wedding day? Waking up before dawn our first day as a married couple, and watching the sunrise over the hill from the hotel pool.
16. Any funny moments? I had to stop the limo leaving the church to go to the ladies room, which my good friend the videographer caught on tape!
17. Any big disasters? Nearly, my brother-in-law got lost after the church, and almost missed the reception.
18. Where did you go on your honeymoon? Disney World, and then we visited my Florida cousins who couldn't make the wedding, and since my parents were down too, so my dh spent part of his honeymoon with his mother-in-law. What a guy!
19. How long were you gone? 1 week.
20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change? Fewer guests, we hardly got to talk to all of them!
21. What side of the bed do you sleep on?: I sleep on the left side (when looking from the foot of the bed)
22. What size is your bed? King, which I purchased from Jaimison, the company who makes the Marriott hotel chain beds. It's a cheaper version of the Tempurpedic, and just as comfy.
23.Greatest strength as a couple? Our sense of humor, our faith, and our love for our three girls.
24. Greatest challenge as a couple? Right now, it's finding time for one another as we are both so involved in our work and homeschooling.
25. Who literally pays the bills? He does. I am a poor, starving Catholic writer, who dares not quit her part time job teaching English at the local Community College till writing begins to pay off. . . I'm still waiting.
26. What is your song? "La Pareja Del Alma" translation:'The Couple of the Soul' by Marisela. Francisco played it for me every morning when we were newlyweds.
27. What did you dance your first dance to? "I See Jesus in You" by Sharilee
28. Describe your wedding dress: I designed my gown from a pattern, and had it custom-made by a seamstress. Francisco and I went to shop for materials on the street in New York City's garment district which sells nothing but wedding gown materials. The Jewish merchants said it was bad luck for him to buy the material, but he replied that it is the Salvadorean custom.
The material was an ivory damask imprinted with roses for Our Lady. It had a fitted bodice, sweetheart neckline, leg of mutton sleeves, to the elbow, and lace panels coming to a point at each hand. The full skirt had a small train, and I put on rose appliques on the bodice. I also sewed on tiny pearls and translucent sequins on the alencon lace sleeves(Therese of Lisieux's mother made this kind of lace) sleeves and lace trim at the hem, since the seamstress' arthritis prohibited it.
I was working 12 hour days to help my folks pay for the wedding, so I found it very calming to work on the gown at night, and meditate on our upcoming wedding.
29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?In my bouquet, pink and white roses with dendrobium orchids cascading down. All the dendrobium fell out just as it was time to begin the procession, but my trusty bridesmaids dove down, and rescued my bouquet, and it was perfect!
30. Are your wedding bands engraved? Yes, with our wedding date, and our wedding scripture: Ruth 1:16
"Wherever you go, I shall go,
Wherever you live, so shall I live,
Your people will be my people too,
and your God will be my God too."

If you want to re-live the joys of your wedding day, why just tag yourself, and let me know!