Last friday was a momentous day for me, it was my 55 birthday.
Now, normally I would prefer to simply let another year pass into the abyss of aging the American way, but how can you let the birthday upon which you officially become eligible for senior citizen discounts simply pass like any other birthday? Would that be right? So what I decided to do this year to commemorate such a milestone as this was to have a Grand Daughter at the same time! That’s right I arranged with My oldest Son David, his wonderful wife Nicole (and with a little help from God) for their brand new baby girl Violet Grace Feliciano to be born on 10/30/09 my 55 birthday!
To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to take to the title of Grandpa, or Pappito or whatever she decides to call me. At first all I could think of was the added stigma of old age that the title Grandpa has always carried for me. But let me tell you something, the feeling of holding the first-born child of my first-born child was something I was not prepared for. It was as profound a moment as I have ever experienced. As I looked down at little Violet sleeping in my arms I was awash in memories and hopes, in dreams and regrets of loves thrown away, and the peace of loves new breath laying there in my arms. Here was the first child of my first child, I am filled with awe at the goodness of God.
And if there is one thing I know for certain it is this: If Violet is even half as precious, half as wonderful to raise as was David, then He and Nicole are in for such a wonderful life. A life full of laughing and crying, protecting and clutching and of letting go. And I know that those years will be over in what will seem like a single wave upon a shore and then my first-born will hold the the first-born of hers.
Drink it in! With every fiber of your being enter every moment as if it could vanish in an instant because one day they will. Let it all seep deep and you will find that it is not only the good times that you will remember forever but if you let it, you will see it all as being from God’s good hand as he forms this new little flower of life into a beautiful hillside of blossoms for the world to enjoy.
God grant you all more grace then you think you need and the wisdom to know how to live it! I love you all and especially my little flower Violet. 
Today Barb and I went to St. Luke’s in Garden Grove and I had the privilege of doing a photo session with Father Michael and his Family. What a wonderful family the Lewis’ are. Father Michael, whom I have talked about before, is just one of the most humble and gentle men I have met, and his wife Kyra is one of the those people you just love the second you talk to her and hear the “Jersey” accent. Before the shoot she made sure I knew she wanted the centerfold space. You just gotta love that! His two daughters who I met for the first time today, are lovely, kind and helped me drag my gear around. But what struck me most about them was their smiles, they both share identical infectious smiles that just make you want to smaile back. To top things off Father Michael’s Mom (who was a picture posing natural) was in town along with his Nephew Steve who was a budding photographer and was a blast to talk to. There were a couple times when I was laughing so hard I couldn’t take pictures. Here’s hoping they aren’t too shakey.
Last year my Kids David and Nicole got me the book “Great Lent – Journey to Pascha” by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, who has quickly become one of my heroes. When I first read it I was still very unsure as to whether or not this was truly the road God was leading us down and honestly, I just didn’t get it. I don’t think my heart was ready to take in half of all that Fr. was trying to convey. So I read it but only half heartedly so. In flipping back through it I found a few tell-tale yellow highlights which is my sure sign that something struck me as important, but they are few and far between, but somehow I knew I would return to it. So when Barb agreed to read through it with me this year I was really excited and expectant. Well, holy moly, you have got to get this book. If you are reading this and you are Orthodox, you have got to follow the link bellow and get this book. Read this book during Lent, it will transform your journey. If you are not Orthodox and you like me always felt that “Easter” in the Evangelical Church was just another Sunday with a bit of added color, you have got to get this book. I am continually amazed at the wisdom graced to the Church Fathers by the Holy Spirit, at how multi-layered is the faith and experience of Christ’s Church. Last year Pascha was an amazing time for me, thanks to Fr. Schmeman’s opening up the riches of Lent I know that this year will bring even deeper and more lasting change, and that IS the Lenten expectation—New Creation! Glory to God for all things!
