At the school where I work as a
special education paraprofessional, our vice principal asked all of us (every faculty
member and staff) to write something about our summer. She told us to send it as a PowerPoint slide. All our slides will be compiled and presented as, "Summer Fun."
I am sharing this picture (above) which shows how my summer has been blessed with abundant goodness. I truly enjoyed the many simple, yet, meaningful experiences with family and friends. Whether it is spending time with my girls at home, cooking, sewing, or painting, or going places with Costa during the weekends...all these made me whole, content, and fulfilled. I am thankful for the time I was in camp. Embracing Children will always be special for me. Being with the children validated what God wants me to be, and to be good at it! It was my form of diakonia to God, through others. This summer, I was able to go back to doing what I always wanted to do: reading and writing. I will use the talent I was given to share the greatness of my Lord.
How was my summer... Fun does not give justice to how my summer was. My summer was simply perfect!
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church,
his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so
also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your
wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might
sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so
that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or
wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the
same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his
wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and
cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his
body. “Therefore a man shall leave
his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one
flesh” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ
and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let
the wife see that she respects her husband.
During the reception, in a Philippine wedding, it is customary to release a pair of white male and female doves. This symbolizes harmony and peace. The doves are in a white bell-shaped cage, decorated with with lace and ribbons. The newly-wed couple pull the ribbon at the same time and release the doves.
Together as One
From a far away distance,
With certainty, with confidence
The exchange of “I do’s”
A fortnight and twelve years
ago.
East meets West,
Blending of minds and souls,
Unite in love,
In the presence of God.
Commitment...
Establishing cornerstones,
Building the foundation
With love, with care, with
acceptance.
Through the years
We traveled together
as stewards of God
to the children He entrusted.
On August 15, 2004 As an answer to the calling You submitted yourself to be a humble servant of God.
The road together we’ll trek,
Along smooth highways and bumpy
country roads,
With arms and hands together, and God as our Guide,
He will make us stalwart and
brave.
I love you then,
I love you now,
With God as my Witness,
I’ll love you forever.
written: August 10, 2013
for Costa/Dean on the occasion of our 26 year union, and your 9th year of service, our life with Christ. (August 15, 2013) Fr. Constantine was ordained as a priest on August 22, 2004
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and
hold fast to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh”
On our wedding day, this was the processional song
THERE IS LOVE
(Paul Stookey from Peter, Paul, and Mary)
- Wedding Song-
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain,
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name,
There is love. There is love.
Oh, a man shall leave his mother, and a woman leave her home.
They will travel on to where the two will be as one.
As it was in the beginning, is now until the end,
woman draws her life from man
and gives it back again and there is love.
Oh, there's love.
Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
For is loving is the answer then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh, there's love. There is love.
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on His part.
The union of your spirits here has caused Him to remain
for whenever two or more of you are gathered in His name
there is love. Oh, there is love.
Yes, there is love. For God is Love. He was, He is, and always shall be!
Picture Gallery:
Diaconate Ordination:
His Eminence putting on the ζώνη on Fr. Constantine
The Philonion
With Fr. Demetri (+blessed memory) and Presbytera Meredith
Fr. Agathonikos was ordained into the Diaconate the same day Fr. Constantine was ordained into the Priesthood- August 22, 2004
Adult Baptism, 2011
Holy Week Retreat Reflection 2012
Holy Week, 2013
Nativity- Assumption of the Virgin Mother Greek Orthodox Church Cohasset, MA 2011- present
At Yiayia's Kitchen in Los Angeles, 2009
Singing in the Rain Greek Independence Day Parade 2011
Tiny pearls that abound in the black satin sky Unfathomable magnificence, Their beauty, their splendor- bring tears to my eyes As I realize they are one of God's creations.
The Light, The Power
How does dark turn into light, I ask
Creeping slowly, steadily, consistently, and then, mightily, Throughout the day, guiding our way
Until it’s time to rest.
Light turns to dark,
Day into Night,
It is... God!
(It was only after I finished writing the poem that I realized
that each line is one word more than the
line below it.)
