Vanity: Hello, Au revoir, Slan go foill , See you soon

Siobhan | J+M+J 19 June A.D. 2002 | Siobhan

[Siobhan]

Dear Friends,

I wanted to let you know that my life has changed rather dramatically over the last two days. My husband and I have raised seven children to adulthood, and now thanks to a very sympathetic court we are adopting a 16 year old girl and her 2 year old son. She also is pregnant, and we will adopt her child too. It is a very long story that begins with us running into her in a grocery store as she was trying to get her friend (the clerk checking us out) to take her to an abortuary. God stopped that from happening by our intervention there in the market.

The Lord God planned it all, and after much prayer and counseling, divine mercy and graces falling on us like rain, we now have a new daughter and son with another child on the way.

This dear girl who is now my daughter was given the name "Summer" when she was born. She asked my husband and I to give her and her son a new name when they became our daughter and our son, and so we gave her the lovely Irish name Mairead (which suits her red hair and green eyes), and we named our new son Liam (when we call him "Liam" he smiles and giggles and comes running with arms flailing). He's a bright redheaded little lad, and it is clear that whatever Mairead's and Liam's ethnic background may be, they sure look Irish.

Originally we wanted to adopt Liam and the child Mairead is carrying. On the most tender day she asked if it would be possible for her to be adopted by us too. It took our breath away, and she told us very plainly that my husband and I were her parents when she needed parents. After counseling and prayer and fasting, we knew beyond our sentiments and emotions that this was something the Lord wanted too.

This has been very complicated as far as adoptions go, but the Lord has made the way straight in getting to this moment. The court proceedings went so smoothly Monday and Tuesday that I was all astonishment. And I am filled with profound gratitude to the Holy Family, whose intercession we sought from the beginning

I have only lately come to FreeRepublic because of my father (history-matters) who died recently. With the addition of children, I will only be able to check in on FR from time to time. I'm not saying Good-bye really. Just a see you later.

You have been so kind to me through my father's illness and death. Your prayers have sustained me. My sister Bernadette and my brother Kevin will probably be joining FR. You'll get to know the wonderful people they are I pray.

Please pray for us to the Most Holy Trinity, and ask Our Lady to pray for us and good St. Joseph.

See you soon.

Slán agus beannacht!

Siobhan

[BlessedBeGod]

How beautiful, Siobhan! You certainly "walk the walk."

God bless you and your family always!

We'll miss you between your check-ins!

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

It only takes a minute to say hello every couple of days. I am sure that your new family will prevent you from succumbing to the temptation to spend too much time with us. God bless you and your new family, look forward to reading your posts.

[dead]

Congratulations! You are blessed with a very special family.

(and I'm sorry the administrators, in all their infinite wisdom, moved this thread to "chat" where it will die on the vine)

[NYer]

Prayer For The Family

God of goodness and mercy, to Thy fatherly guidance we commend our family, our household and all our belongings. We commit all to Thy love and keeping; do Thou fill this house with Thy blessings even as Thou didst fill the holy House of Nazareth with Thy presence.

Keep far from us, above all things else, the blemish of sin, and do Thou alone reign in our midst by Thy law, by Thy most holy love and by the excercise of every Christian virtue. Let each one obey Thee, love Thee and set himself to follow in his own life Thine example, that of Mary, Thy Mother and our Mother most loving, and that of Thy blameless guardian Saint Joseph.

Protect us and our house from all evils and misfortunes, but grant that we may be ever resigned to Thy divine will even in the sorrows which it shall please Thee to send us. Finally give unto all of us the grace to live in perfect harmony and in the fullness of love toward our neighbor. Grant that every one of us may deserve by a holy life the comfort of Thy holy Sacraments at the hour of death. O Jesus bless us and protect us.

Congratulations to you and your husband, Siobhan, and may our Lord watch over and bless your beautiful new family.

[Siobhan]

My husband is a godly man who tries to pattern his life on the model of St. Joseph. My dear husband sees this as being our calling, which has grown out of years of working to end abortion.

[Aggie Mama]

What a beautiful life you have been blessed with and created for yourself. Please don't be a stranger. God bless you!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

God certainly brings together those who need each other........May He continue to bless your family, you are very special Siobhan

[ELS]

May the Good Lord continue to bless you abundantly. You are
an inspiration to us all.

[Antoninus]

"Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for Me..."

Benedicat te Deus!

[Romulus]

You're awesome. It's an honor to be asked to pray for you. Please remember us in your prayers too; I have a feeling we need it more than you do.

[Teacup]

Good luck, and may God bless you. Keep us posted.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Bless you and your expanding family!

[eastsider]

A trifecta!!! Congratulations, Siobhan. May God continue to bless you and your family.

[fatima]

I am happy for you,it is so nice to have little children around and you and your husband will be filled with joy.

[Siobhan]

Bless you dear friend for such a beautiful and kind post.

St. Mairead (St. Margaret of Antioch) is the patron saint of expectant mothers. So "Mairead" means Margaret (which in turn means "Pearl".

But other Gaelic authorities beieve Mairead is a diminutive form for the Blesseved Virgin Mary.

I like to think of them meaning both Our Lady and St. Margaret of Antioch. It seemed such a perfect name of my new daughter. And she loved it.

Pronunciation is a more difficult task as well, because of the variations in Gaelic. I'll have a 'wee think on it' on it as the Scots say, and send you freepermail with the pronunciation. For the time being think of it being in between Myra, Moira, May-ruh, or May-gree-ah....... confusing, I know. ;^)

[illstillbe]

*Prayers* to you and your family ... and may you be *blessed* ... even as you have *blessed* each one of us here with your faith and devotion ... loyalty and love.

[Cap'n Crunch]

You'll be in my prayers, thanks for all the 'pings.'

Oh, are ya gonna' be puttin' any Paddy on those wee ones gums when they start teethin'? ;0)

Slainte!

[constitutiongirl]

Slan a chara.

[JMJ333]

I'm happy you got them. Lucky children!

I will miss you though. =(