Janell in Downtown Minneapolis Halloween

Janell in Downtown Minneapolis Halloween
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Another pic of my girl Janell.

Janell in Downtown Minneapolis Halloween

Janell in Downtown Minneapolis Halloween
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here's a super cute picture of my good friend Janell. She was partying it up in Downtown Minneapolis as an Army chick. Cute huh!

In Celebration of "All Hallows Eve."

So today, I assume most people will be celebrating Halloween. Today will be the first year that I celebrate "All Hallows Eve." I started to research some history on where Halloween came from, and original traditions of this day. Here are some interesting things I found. Hope you enjoy! Remember to say a prayer tonight for all souls.

The earliest form of All Saints (or "All Hallows") was first celebrated in the 300's, but originally took place on May 13th, as it still does in some Eastern Churches. The feast first commemorated only the martyrs, but came to include all the Saints by 741.

"All Souls," has it's origins in A.D. 1048 when the Bishop of Cluny decreed that the Benedictines of Cluny pray for the souls in purgatory on this day. The practice spread until Pope Sylvester II recommended it for the entire Latin Church.

The Vigil of All Hallows (Hallowe'en) came, in Irish popular piety, to be a day of remembering the dead who are neither in Purgatory or Heaven, but are damned, and these customs spread to many parts of the world. Thus we have the popular focus on Hallowe'en as the reality of Hell, hence its scary character and focus on evil and how to avoid it, the sad fate of the souls of the damned, etc.

Customs of this day are a mixture of Catholic popular devotions, and French, Irish and English customs all mixed together.

********************The legend of the Jack-O-Lantern************************
From the Irish came the carved Jack-O-Lanterns, which were originally carved turnips, the legend is below...

There once was an old drunken trickster named Jack, a man known so much for his miserly ways that he was known as "Stingy Jack." He loved making mischief on everyone --- even his own family, even the devil himself! One day, he tricked satan into climbing up an apple tree -- but then carved Crosses on the trunk so the devil couldn't get back down. He bargained with the evil one, saying he would removed the Crosses only if the devil would promise not to take his soul to hell; to this, the devil agreed.

After Jack died, after many years filled with vice, he went up to the Pearly Gates -- but was told by St. Peter that he was too miserable a creature to see the Face of Almighty God. But when he went to the Gates of hell, he was reminded that he couldn't enter there either! So, he was doomed to spend his eternity roaming the earth. The only thing that happened to him was that the devil threw him an ember from the burning pits to light his way, an ember he carried inside a hollowed-out, carved turnip.


******************Soul Cake***********************

From the English Catholics we get begging from door to door, the earlier and more pure form of "trick-or-treating." Children would go about begging their neighbors for a "Soul Cake," for which they would say a prayer for those neighbors' dead. Instead of knocking on a door and saying the threatening, "Trick-or-treat!" (or the ugly, "trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat."), children would say either:

"A Soul Cake, A Soul Cake,
Have mercy on all Christian souls for a soul cake!"

or

"Soul, soul, an apple or two,
If you haven't an apple, a pear will do,
One for Peter, two for Paul,
Three for the Man who made us all."


After teaching your children about the frightening realities of hell, teach them how to protect themselves from evil. Warn them that magic (the art of performing actions beyond the power of man with the aid of powers other than the Divine) is real, that there is no such thing as "white magic," that playing with the occult -- whether by divination, necromancy, the casting of spells, playing with the Ouija boards, etc. --- is an invitation to demons to respond, and that it is from demons that magic gets any power it has. Teach them who St. Michael is, teach them about the power of sacramentals and prayers that ward off evil when piously used (the Sign of the Cross, Holy Water, blessed salt, the Crucifix, the St. Benedict Medal, St. Anthony's Brief, etc.), teach them to call on the Holy Name of Jesus when they are afraid.

And have you heard of "red berries to warn off evil?

The berries of red and their use have their origin way back when holly and evergreens bearing red berries were used to remind the Christians of the blood of Christ and the burning love of Mary for her child.

I leave you with this...

Dies Irae

That day of wrath, that dreadful day,
shall heaven and earth in ashes lay,
as David and the Sybil say.

What horror must invade the mind when the
approaching Judge shall find,
and sift the deeds of all mankind!

The mighty trumpet's wondrous tone shall rend,
each tomb's sepulchral stone,
and summon all before the Throne.

Now death and nature with surprise behold the
trembling sinners rise to meet the Judge's searching eyes.

Then shall with universal dread the Book of Consciences,
be read to judge the lives of all the dead.

For now before the Judge severe,
all hidden things must plain appear,
No crime can pass unpunished here.

O what shall I, so guilty plead?
And who for me will intercede?
When even Saints shall comfort need?

O King of dreadful majesty!
Grace and mercy You grant free;
As Fount of Kindness, save me!

Recall, dear Jesus, for my sake
You did our suffering nature take,
Then do not now my soul forsake!

In weariness You sought for me,
and suffering upon the tree! Let not in
vain such labor be.

O Judge of Justice, hear,
I pray, for pity take my sins away,
before the dreadful reckoning day.

You gracious face, O Lord, I seek;
deep shame and grief are on my cheek;
in sighs and tears my sorrows speak.

You who did Mary's guilt unbind,
and mercy for the robber find,
have filled with hope my anxious mind.

How worthless are my prayers I know,
yet Lord forbid that I should go,
into the fires of endless woe.

Divorced from the accursed band,
O make me with your sheep to stand,
as child of grace,
At Your right hand.

When the doomed can no more flee
from the fires of misery,
with the chosen please call me.

Before you, humbled,
Lord I lie, my heart like ashes,
crushed and dry,
assist me when I die.

Full of tears and full of dread,
is that day that wakes the dead,
calling all, with solemn blast to
be judged for all their past.

Amen. Lord, have mercy,
Jesus blest, grant them all
Your light and rest. Amen.

Tim and Steph at Club MIX in Las Vegas

Tim and Steph at Club MIX in Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

This is Tim's favorite picture of us in Las Vegas. We were at Club MIX which was at the top of "The Hotel." It was half indoors half outdoors, with the most beautiful view of the strip. We consumed quite a few Apple Martini's and Belve Tonics up there! I think Tim also threw back some Long Islands too!

Our Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas

Our Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here's a better view of our living room in our Hotel room.

Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas

Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here's a pic of our bed in our bedroom. This bed was soooo comfortable. It was hard to get out of in the morning. You can see my reflection in one of the mirrors on the side.

Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas

Hotel Room at "The Hotel," in Las Vegas
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here's a pic of our living room in our Hotel Room at The Hotel in Las Vegas. (Pronounced - Thee Hotel) It was complete with another huge plasma t.v. (3 total in the room including one in one of the bathrooms.)
This had to be one of the nicest Hotels I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.

Our Hotel Bedroom at "THE HOTEL," in Las Vegas

100_0365
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here's a picture of our nice plasma t.v. in our room at The Hotel in Las Vegas. We had floor to ceiling windows on both sides of it. The view was amazing.

Tim and Steph

Tim and Steph
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

This is Tim and I at New York, New York in Las Vegas. Tim and Keith were keeping up with each other in drinks that night, Julie and I were the chaperones. he he. As you can see, "Tim's no Rookie!" (inside joke)

Julie and Keith

Julie and Keith
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Our great friends, Julie and Keith. They met us in Vegas and were our partners in crime during the trip! ha ha, we had a blast with them. And this is one of my favorite pictures of them.

Tim and Steph in the Lobby

Tim and Steph in the Lobby
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

This is in the Hotel lobby at "The Hotel," which is the name of our Hotel. We had a lucky day at the tables! And of course, a few drinks.

Tim and Steph

Tim and Steph
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Cheesin in Vegas!

Tim and Steph

Tim and Steph
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Here we are in Vegas again, So In Love!

Tim and Steph

Tim and Steph
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Tim usually takes the picture when we do it ourselves because his arms are longer. :-)

Here we are on our second Vegas trip after a few... um... cocktails. Can you tell?

Tim and Stephanie

Tim and Stephanie
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

My baby and I in Las Vegas! Trip #2.

Caiden's 3rd Birthday

Caiden's 3rd Birthday
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Aunty Steppy and Caiden on his 3rd Birthday!

Dad and Caiden

Dad and Caiden
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Grandpa and Caiden on his 3rd Birthday!

Caiden's 3rd Birthday

Caiden's 3rd Birthday
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Say Cheese!

Nana with Caiden

Nana with Caiden
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Caiden and his Nana on his 3rd Birthday!

Blowing out Candles

Blowing out Candles
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Caiden's 3rd Birthday, making a wish!

Caiden Michael

Caiden
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

My cutsey nephew! Isn't he adorable!
This is a picture of him on the Merry-Go-Round at the Mall of America.

Recognize that the Day of the Lord is at hand...

Reading (Romans 7:18-25a) Gospel (St.Luke 12:54-59)

{www.desertvoice.org}
[A Homily from my favorite priest, Father Robert Altier]

In the Gospel reading above, Our Lord asks us why it is that we are not able to interpret the signs of the times. When we see things that are happening in the world, as we see things continuing to increase in intensity as well as in number, all these various tragedies that are occurring throughout the world, why is it that we sit back and continue to try to explain it away? Why is it that we refuse to acknowledge what is happening in the world? It is a very simple principle: Because we do not want to deal with it, we do not want to change it.

That is the mystery Saint Paul is talking about. He says, I want to do what is right and yet I do the evil that I do not want to do. And he talks about the sin that is in his members. Even though in his inner being he is absolutely enthralled with the Law of God and wants to do what is right, he continually does what is wrong because of the sinfulness that is there. We see in ourselves the exact same problem. We want to do the Will of God, we want to do what is right, we want to be holy, but when it comes right down to actually doing it then we balk at it because we do not really want to change, or because we do not really want to change, or because the temptations that are such that we are afraid. So we wind up doing what we do not want to do, and we fail to do what we really would prefer to do.

What we need to do is get down on our knees before the Lord and beg Him for the grace that we need to be able to do what is right, to be able to have the eyes of our souls opened so we can see clearly the things that are going on, so we will be able to interpret the signs of the present time. Our Lord told people of His time that because they refused to see what was going on in His day they were going to be handed over to the judge, and the judge would hand them over to the jailer, and the jailer would put them into jail until they paid the last penny. In other words, we have a real opportunity right now to be able to reduce our Purgatory, to be able to grow in holiness, to be able to do the Will of God-but we have to be willing to acknowledge what is happening. If we refuse to acknowledge the reality that is going on right in our midst, and in our own lives sometimes then we have completely missed the point. What Our Lord is making very clear to us is that we are going to be held responsible for it. Why else would we be thrown into jail if we were not responsible? He could not make it too much more clear that we have to learn to read the signs of the times.

The Second Vatican Council told us the exact same thing: that we have to read the signs of the times. The signs of the times, it seems to me, are becoming more and more clear. And so the only reason why we would not be able to interpret properly the signs of the times is because we do not want to, because we are afraid of what it means. Well, whether we are willing to accept it or not, it is happening and it is going to continue to happen. There is no sense in burying our heads in the sand and acting like it is not happening, or trying to suggest that somehow what is going on really has nothing to do with sin and that it is not because things are so bad that things are happening in the world. We need to learn to interpret the signs of the times. We need to open our eyes, we need to open our hearts and our minds, and we need to acknowledge the truth. We need to make the changes in our lives to be able to take that sin Saint Paul talks about that is in our members and overcome it, that sin that does not want us to change, that sin that blinds us to truth and does not want us to acknowledge the reality of things because if we acknowledged it we would have to live our lives differently; we would have to make some serious changes and that is where our fear comes in.

So look around at what is going on and recognize that the Day of the Lord is at hand. Acknowledge the truth and make the change so that you will overcome whatever stands in the way, and that you, through the grace of God, will be able to do the good you desire to do.

My Favorite Prayer to The Blessed Virgin Mary...

Lady Of Compassion
Originally uploaded by drp.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

My Ideal place to get lost with Timmy!

Pathway to Bora Bora Bungalow
Originally uploaded by brain_drain.

Tim and I have been so busy lately; man what I wouldn't give to be sitting there with him.

Okay tough guy...

Mr. Toes and Basil
Originally uploaded by _iceman.

Kitty - ("Blah blah blah!")

The Cat Usually Starts It

The Cat Usually Starts It
Originally uploaded by _iceman.

Found these pics online...

Non-Stop Grabassing
Originally uploaded by _iceman.

Thought this was hilarious, the kitty isn't afraid of the dog one bit.

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Just Alexis and her Bunny!

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

AAAHHH --- the good life!

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht

Sleepy Alexis Rose Lamprecht
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

My Good friends James and Michelle were blessed by God with their first little angel Alexis Rose October 3rd at 12:33 in the afternoon! Here she is in a more recent picture looking mightly snuggly wuggly! She is sooo precious!

WHY? WHY? WHY?

This was a forwarded email from my cousin Alex in Texas, I thought it was funny and cute so here it is for all of you to relate to and enjoy!!!

WHY? WHY? WHY?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are weak?

Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion starts, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's alright." Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That hurt, you stupid idiot."

Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer when we complained about the heat?

How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you!

My Letter to one of the three men who murdered my cousin Wayne...

James M. Green along with two other men were convicted of 6 counts of 1st degree, 2nd degree and attempted murder for the murders of my beloved cousin Wayne Luis Costilla, his friend Ronald and the attempted murder of Andrea Crosby. He was given 3 life consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole. He will die in jail.

He currently sits in a small cell in St. Cloud Penitentary. I am sending this letter to him.


James,

I don't really know what my intention is for writing you. I don't know if you'll even receive this letter. But I do know, that I feel I deserve to say what I have to say - so here it goes.

You have left so many questions unanswered for my family and I. In case you're wondering, I'm Wayne's cousin... I went to Harding too. I miss him everyday. Sometimes I have dreams about him, I think he came to me in a dream one night and told me he was okay. I would share the details, but they probably mean nothing to you. I still can't understand why. Why you would ever murder someone, no matter how much money, pride or material things were at stake... I guess you never stopped to think about how many lives you would affect.

My aunt (Wayne's Mom) hasn't been doing well lately. It's hard to face her because there are no words to heal her broken heart. One night her and I were talking and she said she felt like she was going crazy, she said that she went to his grave everyday and everyday she wished she could just dig him up and hold him again. She said she couldn't sleep at night because she could hear his voice in her head. She said she always thought that the phone would ring and it would be him. But it never does.

I visit him, and talk about normal stuff, the day to day, what's been happening in my life. I tell him how much I love him while I scrape the leaves off of his tombstone. Wayne and I were the same age. I told him how sad I was that he would never be able to have children to play with mine, when I have them. I know that he's close to me everyday, in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers. I know he's there, to protect me. Wayne was the light in our family. Always the happy one, the one who was always down to have a few drinks, tell a few stories and even dance to many songs. It was totally like him to tell you and your friends to come in the house on that cold night. He always thought about other people first.

I can't seem to stop wondering if he was scared, did his life flash before his eyes, did any tears fall down his cheeks, did he know he was going to die, did he pray before he took his last breath? When he was in the hospital room, all of our family went in groups at a time (we have a very large family) to say good-bye. I remember I leaned down next to him, his eyes were big black circles from the pressure of the gunshots to the head, there was blood, stained into his gumline and his teeth and his head was huge from being so swollen and so wrapped up in bandages. We couldn't touch one of his hands because of the bullet wound to his hand. I put my hand gently on his chest, while his body was still warm. I stood there and kept picturing his opening his eyes, begging God to let him just open them one more time, to respond to us one more time. I kept imagining him sitting up in the bed like it all had been just a bad dream, but it wasn't - it was real - and my 20 year old cousin who had just begun to live was dying, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I can still smell the dried blood if I close my eyes. I remember I leaned in and I gently set my hand on his chest and I started to whisper to him....

"I have to say good-bye Wayne, I'm so sorry, I know you want to fight, but God needs you to follow the light, and go home Wayne. We'll take care of Jason and your mom, I promise we'll get through this, it's not your fault. I wish I could've helped you." "How do I say good-bye Wayne, I wasn't ready to say good-bye yet, we're too young Wayne, there's still so much we still wanted to do. But don't feel bad, we're all going to be right here."

I continued telling him how much I was going to miss him, and even stories and moments we shared when we were little and as we grew up. When I finished, I leaned into his lifeless body and I whispered, "follow the light Wayne, I'm going to miss you forever, I'll never forget about you --- I love you so much Wayne." And as I said that, his whole body moved like a wave, like he was trying to get up, like he wanted to fight but his body wouldn't let him, like he wanted to speak, but his mouth wouldn't let him. I'll never forget that. I still think he was mad at me for telling him to follow the light, when he probably wanted to hear me tell him to keep fighting, but I knew in my heart that he had to leave, and I only wanted to comfort him before he took his last breath.

I visited a friend at Regions Hospital where Wayne died last month. It was the first time I had been back since he died there. My friend happened to be on the same floor. I never thought about it, until I got there and I started to walk up those same steps... I saw the same waiting room my family had filled up... the same hallway I walked down to say good-bye... the same chair where I sat when I overheard a younger friend of the family telling Jason, Wayne's little brother, that word on the street was that a "JG" was responsible for the murder. As I walked up those steps I had an anxiety attack. I couldn't breath, and the same feeling I felt then, that feeling that took over my body is what I'm feeling now as I write this letter and relive those moments.

When we buried Wayne, we let go of 21 balloons to celebrate his 21st birthday he would've celebrated. I think we are going to do that every year for his birthday.

I guess I needed to write this letter for some closure to the anger I feel towards you. I converted to Roman Catholic last April, and we are firm believers in forgiveness. I guess I can forgive, but it's hard for me to believe I could ever forget.

I wonder if you ever feel any remorse. I drive by the Perkins sometimes on Robert St. and think about the fact that you plotted my cousins murder there. I'll never be able to go there again. I've thought about what you do everyday. I mean, for the rest of your life, you'll never be able to do the normal things you probably took for granted.

Like holding a woman, kissing a woman, watching your child grow up, birthday parties with balloons and cake with lots of icing. Summer BBQ's with friends and family, playing loud music and having a few drinks with friends. Going to weddings, graduations and just hanging out at home watching movies you rented from Blockbuster eating popcorn. Playing the newest Playstation games, going on road trips, swimming in the lake, Watching superbowl sunday, having a girlfriend, getting married yourself, late night fast food runs like Taco Bell and McDonalds. Laying in a comfortable bed with soft sheets and warm blankets with a slight breeze coming through the window, hanging up Christmas lights and decorating the tree, New Years Eve Celebrations spent thinking about the things you'd like to do next year. Big Thanksgiving meals and football games. The summers, the winters, the spring and the fall. Getting a new car, just going for a drive - all the normal things you took for granted - you can't even do and pretty soon you won't even remember. They will all seem like distant memories from a life you can't even picture anymore. Your life forever consisting now of scheduled sloppy meals, a box you call home, a flat mattrese, a toilet you can see while your laying down and a bunch of loud, dangerous criminals surrounding you forever.

I think about all these things and how bad they seem... and yet none of them seem as bad as the fate you will face when you die. Judgment day, when the Lord will look at you and he will be able to tell if you ever repented and/or felt sorry for the lives you stole. I hope that if you didn't believe in God before, you do now. Because there is evil (as you know) and there is good, there is one God and there is a devil and heaven and hell do exist. And if you truly ask for forgiveness, and if you are truly sorry for your sins, you will be forgiven, and God will live in your heart and he will fill up all the voids that you have been left with.

I can't change the past, I'll probably never get the answers I seek. I guess I have to live with that. And you'll spend the rest of your wasted life in prison, reliving what put you there in the first place, that has to be punishment enough. You took two lives and almost a third. God let Andrea live to tell the story for a reason, we may not understand it now, but maybe somewhere down the line we will. I thank God that she did live, because her testimony of what happened that night is the reason you were caught and the reason the three of you received the punishment you so deserved. I cannot hold onto this pain anymore, Wayne has been set free, too early in my eyes, and too painful, but I cannot change that. But you truly don't deserve to be in my thoughts any longer.

I hope everyday you wake up remembering in full detail the pain you have caused so many. I hope as years go by you become more and more remorseful, and I hope it gives you pain to think about the friends and family you miss and the life you'll never have again. But I also hope in my heart of hearts that you find someway to bring the Lord into your life, because he is the only one who can save you now. You'll spend the rest of your life in prison on earth, do you want to do the same when you die???

May God give you the grace to see and acknowledge your faults and even give you the grace to repent and ask for forgiveness. And may the vision of that night - when you took my cousins life - forever haunt your every waking moment and every darkened night forever.

From this moment on I will forget you, I will erase every thought of you as if you don't exist. And as years go by, I bet the visitations you may recieve now, will become fewer and fewer, and your old friends and family will move on with their lives and they will forget about you too, as if you never even existed. And you will be even more lonely than you are now... all for what???? Was it worth it to you? My cousin is an Angel now, my guardian angel... and he will live in the glory of the Lords house forever and will never be forgotten.

And you --- you will take your final breaths, an old man in your lonely, empty jail cell. Enjoy.

May Wayne R.I.P.

Wayne's Cousin

(You are forgiven ---- and now you are forgotten.)

The Fight To Stop The Killing of Innocent Lives...

Abortion
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

How can anyone be pro-abortion???

The Fight To Stop The Killing of Innocent Lives...

Abortion
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

Another group of pro-lifers! Yeah!

The Fight To Stop The Killing of Innocent Lives...

Tour2005_UPENN4.sized
Originally uploaded by StephyGem.

I came across these pictures on a website called repentamerica.com, being a Catholic and a decent human being... I am a firm believer in the right to life. These pictures tell the story so many people who are pro-abortion - refuse to acknowledge. Those poor babies never asked to be created, and never deserved to be destroyed in such a malicious and selfish manner. It makes me so sad. God Bless our babies.