Gemma LaSalette Niewald

My brother Luke and his wife Amy welcomed their sixth child into the world on Father's Day.

Gemma LaSalette Niewald
6lbs. 12 oz
18 inches long

She is very loved by her older siblings Benedict, Sebastian, Scholastica, Athanasius, and Magnus.



I've always thought strawberries were a delightful and elegant fruit!

Welcome to the the world, Gemma. We are so glad you were born.

What does God intend you to become?

John heard on the Catholic Radio Station that instead of asking our children what do they want to be when they grow up, we should ask them "Why did God create you? What does HE intend you to be?" "What does God want you to be?" We try to make a weekly visit to the Pink Sisters Adoration Chapel. Before going in, I always remind them to ask Our Lord what he wants from them and what does he intend them to become. The Chapel is place where peace inhabits every corner of the building. All fears, worries, and tribulations are cast aside upon entering.


St. Catherine of Siena said, "If you are what God intended you to be, you will set the whole world on fire." I want to put this somewhere in our home. What a powerful quote.


I pray in your life that you remember to come see Him often. He loves you and loves to see you. Remember to bring your little sister along. She is a fiesty one. Too bad she is loved too much. She wouldn't keep her shoes on. She is probably dropping hints that she would rather be a discalced Carmelite.
When I was little, my mother use to take us often to make a visit. We were taught that when you pass a Catholic Church, you should make the sign of the cross. Beautiful, little traditions that are so very important.
A couple months ago, I made an appointment for Lillie, Rose, and Zellie to meet personally with a couple of the Pink Sisters. I had them each prepare questions to ask the nuns. Rose asked, "How did you know you were supposed to be a Pink Sister?"
Lillie asked, "Did you always want to be a Pink Sister?" Zellie was mute, but cute. I couldn't contain my smile and neither could the nuns. I pray that they will always be open to what God wants from them. We would never want to push a vocation to the religious life only to introduce it to our children and if they feel called, they will be familiar with different orders.

Do you see the second one in from the left? I know she believes that I exist to take cute pictures of her.

I CAN only imagine

This song and video is up there on my all time favorites. I love his love for his son. I often say, "If he can do that, I can do this." I love the value he finds in his son.



This song makes me reflect so much on heaven, our short earthly existence, our very purpose for being created, and then we all move forward ideally to our heavenly home. I cannot imagine what it will be like. I have had glimpses of extreme, heavenly happiness. We watched the puddle duck outside tonight waddling around in her little onesie that has a green shamrock on the behind. Perfection. I know heaven will be these moments. We were sent a video tribute of little Olivia McCoppin who passed away this week. Lillie was standing next to me and I was watching her watch the slideshow of pictures. One of the pictures, Olivia is reaching towards the camera. I watched Lillie reach back and smile. Why does this make me cry? Every time I thought of that moment with her, I cried. It was so pure, innocent, sweet, and other worldly. Her heart is beautiful. She is our child who sees beauty in everything. I was walking with her out of a store and she saw two birds. "Oh Mom look, two beautiful little birds." I've noticed she looks at things differently than my other children.



At times for me and probably most mothers, loving a child is painful. Watching them grow, the passing of time, the changing of their voices, realizing that something they did so routinely everyday changed and you didn't even notice it, the struggle to work on certain habits and then suddenly they are big.



I realized today after so many sweet moments that if God had not made life a struggle than we would never want heaven. If I existed in a constant state of happiness on this earth, I would cling too tightly to it and never want to let go. I already do. I hold on to moments way past the time I am sure God intended. I thought all day about Lillie's sweet gesture towards that video. I have to remind myself that I saw it for that moment and it is time to move forward. I need to be grateful for the things I notice and not hold onto my children's littleness and embrace what God has planned for us each and every day without mourning the passing of time.


I Can Only Imagine lyrics

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine


Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in honour of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
When I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine



I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine



My favorite part of this song:

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

It will be beautiful to just forever be with our Creator in a state of pure joy. It makes me want to spend my time on this earth never losing the perspective of where we are meant to really be going. I want to embrace the moments each day, conquer the tasks that lie before me and then when my final breath comes be ready to embrace it with satisfaction that each day I lived the motto "Carpe Diem." Each day we are one step closer to being with HIM forever.

Zellie's 3rd Birthday

Oh Zellie! Can the world contain such cuteness? From the tips of your hair to the bottoms of your feet, you are precious. How can you be three? I know we just had you. I know I just brought you home and couldn't believe I had three little girls.



I could have posted millions of pictures of you. EVERY picture taken of you could tell a story or win an award. Your personality can't be beat. How can I list the ways I love you? How can I list the unbelievable amount of cute things you do in one day. You approach us every time you need to use the restroom and ask, "You come with me potty?" All you want is someone to walk you to the door and then you say, "Thank you, I can do it myself now." This past month, we awake to your face in our bed. Sometime during the night, you don't just climb into bed with us, you barrel roll into bed with us. Your Papa and I always look at each other in the middle of the night, smile, and then go back to sleep. I love that you find happiness sleeping between us.



My very favorite moment of each birth is being handed for the first time your brand new baby. I feel as though time stops for a moment. I have often said that God gives us a little sneak peak into heaven for a moment when we first see the face of our child. It is as if heaven's doors open for a brief moment.



The love affair I have with each of you begins immediately. I sit in the hospital staring almost at times thinking "they aren't real." They are too perfect. Look at this little body with froggy legs. Legs that I felt for months and now I am touching them. There is such an aura around a newborn the first 24 hours especially. They smell like the womb, feel like the womb, and almost have a celestial glow. I always forget that I need to let others hold our new babies.




Then after a couple days your little life begins in our home. This is always the hardest part for me. I bring home the new love of my life only to be greeted by the other loves of my life. I feel my heart hurt sometimes literally. So many blessings and only one of me as their mother to show these gifts how much they are loved and wanted. You were loved before you were born, but probably were kissed 1,000,000 per day. Lillie and Dominic always wanted to hold you. Nothing makes a mother's heart happier.



This was taken right before your first birthday. I was giddy to have three girls. I have a major obsession with finding matching or color related dresses so having three girls sent me over the top. Your eyes are as blue as the ocean and could capture any heart. I love little girls with long hair, but had to cut your hair just once to see what a little girl looked like with "stacked" hair. It was over the top.




This was taken on your second birthday.


Today was a wonderful day. We've talked about your birthday forever and what kind of party you wanted to have. You have gone back and forth about which cake you wanted me to make. On Monday, you put your final request in for a Snow White cake. So for a week now the topic of discussion has been "My Snow White Party." Too bad you have never seen Snow White, but it was fun none the less.
We spent the day at Mahoney State Park riding horses, playing on playgrounds, eating, and swimming for three hours. Grandpa, Grandma, Andy, Cacki, Mary, Isaac, Margaret Mary, Lucy, Emma, Joe, Paul, and your own siblings made the day so special for you.

All you talked about was riding the horses, but caved at the last minute and were content to watch everyone else go.










It was nice that your best friend came and was very good for having missed both her naps. She sat by me on the towel for three hours while you swam. She loves you.



We are grateful to everyone who joined us and told you 100 times how much you are loved. We came home at 5:00 because Papa was off work and had your party with just our family.



One of your daily hobbies is coloring with pencils. I still get giddy when I buy a brand new box. You started coloring immediately.




You also received a Porcelain doll that you quickly name "Gemma." She was such a hit that she was rushed off into the other room by your other mothers to get right to it. We heard a lot of boundaries being established about who holds her and who can hold her hat. D.A.R.L.I.N.G. Thank you, thank you for giving us such joy. I love how the older siblings convince the younger ones of what they need.




Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet girl. You are in irreplaceable part of our family. Please don't ever grow out of your gerbil voice. Your Uncle Timmy called this morning to wish you Happy Birthday and after having talked with you for some time, he told me that you completely melted his heart. You have your ways of winning over everyone who meets you. Your love is one that is much sought after. Please don't stop reading your books upside down and pretending you know all the words. Please don't stop leading our family in prayer every night wrapping up each session with Salve Regina, Immaculate Mary, and Hail Holy Queen. Just for kicks the other night we let you just sing alone. We checked outside to make sure there wasn't a line for tickets being sought after. Please don't stop fake laughing. Please don't stop asking me the FIRST thing every morning with your dragon breath and crazy hair, "Can you get me some Cheerios, honey, and juice?"

Please don't ever stop loving your siblings and being one of the gang. I love your love for Vianney. She really does love you and will be your buddy for the rest of your life.

Zellie, I love you so much. Thank you for having been born. Your life is beautiful to us.

What does God intend you to be?

John heard on the Catholic Radio Station that instead of asking our children what do they want to be when they grow up, we should ask them "Why did God create you? What does HE intend you to be?" "What does God want you to be?" We try to make a weekly visit to the Pink Sisters Adoration Chapel. Before going in, I always remind them to ask Our Lord what he wants from them and what does he intend them to become. The Chapel is place where peace inhabits every corner of the building. All fears, worries, and tribulations are cast aside upon entering.


St. Catherine of Siena said, "If you are what God intended you to be, you will set the whole world on fire." I want to put this somewhere in our home. What a powerful quote.


I pray in your life that you remember to come see Him often. He loves you and loves to see you. Remember to bring your little sister along. She is a fiesty one. Too bad she is loved too much. She wouldn't keep her shoes on. She is probably dropping hints that she would rather be a discalced Carmelite.
When I was little, my mother use to take us often to make a visit. We were taught that when you pass a Catholic Church, you should make the sign of the cross. Beautiful, little traditions that are so very important.
A couple months ago, I made an appointment for Lillie, Rose, and Zellie to meet personally with a couple of the Pink Sisters. I had them each prepare questions to ask the nuns. Rose asked, "How did you know you were supposed to be a Pink Sister?"
Lillie asked, "Did you always want to be a Pink Sister?" Zellie was mute, but cute. I couldn't contain my smile and neither could the nuns. I pray that they will always be open to what God wants from them. We would never want to push a vocation to the religious life only to introduce it to our children and if they feel called, they will be familiar with different orders.

Do you see the second one in from the left? I know she believes that I exist to take cute pictures of her.

Dominic's First Holy Communion

It feels like yesterday we heard the words, "It's a BOY!" Now, we are standing with you watching you receive your first Holy Communion. You were beyond words. We couldn't have been prouder of you. You were beaming and kept looking at us with such a beautiful smile.


You were very well prepared by your father and your spiritual father, Monsignor Nemec. He is the same priest that baptized you. We are so blessed to have such a saintly pastor.


Your sisters will always be a major part of your life. They teach you the lessons we as your parents can only verbally explain to you. You are patient because of them. You are joyful because of them. You are gentle and tender because of them. They were the most excited for you and make anything you do important to them. They will be your friends for life. They think Dominic can do anything.


When your papa and I received our First Holy Communion, our parents bought us a rosary. This was my favorite part of planning the whole event. I knew it would be a treasure you would carry with you for life. I knew it might be something you prayed if God calls you to the priesthood. I knew it might be something that you used to lead your own family in prayer. I knew it might be something you held during your last days on this earth. We wanted it to be very special. I had it narrowed down to four different ones...three blue and one red. One blue one in particular had jewels around the image of Mary. You are fond of things with jewels. The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was on the Friday before the big day so I picked a red one with Mary on the middle medal because Saturday was the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When you opened the gift, your reaction was precious. "Thank you, mom! Thank you! It is so beautiful! I can't believe how beautiful it is. Look Papa! It is so beautiful. I love it!" I find you looking at it all the time.


We are always so grateful for family and friends who make our families events important to them. It is humbling to me that people take the time to write to the kids a beautiful note, send them a special gift, or give time in their day to be at the special event. We are very grateful for our family and friends. You make it so special to our children. It's always fun to enjoy cake with everyone.




You were really insistent about keeping track of your communions. You woke up the next day almost more excited to receive your Second Holy Communion. You told me you were going to genuflect before receiving Our Lord. These are such beautiful times in our lives. Small happy children receiving the beautiful sacraments. We have much to embrace and be grateful for.
We pray that you always stay close to Our Lord in Holy Communion. All the answers in the world await for you there. He will always be with you. We pray that you grow to know and love His Mother.

Our family on your Second Holy Communion.

Olivia's funeral arrangements

Dear friends,
I know many of you don't know this family, but below are little Olivia's funeral arrangements and the address of the family if you feel so inclined to write to them.

Thank you all for your generous gift of prayers for this family.

(Below is the email I received from the lady who was forwarding me Olivia's updates:
Dear Friends:



First, I want to apologize for the very briefly worded emails I have sent, and that I have simply forwarded emails. This whole thing has left me a bit short on words!



Today, I found God granting me the opportunity to greet Dave and Diane and their family quite unexpectedly. I attended a funeral for a dear elderly parishioner in our parish. The funeral was held in Syracuse. However, his burial plot was at the beautiful St. Joseph's Church in Paul Ne. This is just 3 miles from the McCoppin's home. I was surprised to find myself so close. I felt urged to stop in and give them my personal sympathies and those from our group. They were so grateful and gracious. This is going to be a long hard grieving process.



While I was there, the priest called ( I am not sure if it was Fr. Bush, their pastor, or Fr. McCabe, Pastor of St. Mary's), but they confirmed the arrangements for the Rosary and Funeral.

I am hoping that A LOT OF US can attend. There are very few Catholic Home Schoolers in their area. The McCoppin's have for years been a very strong and faithful Catholic Witness in an Evangelical Home Schooling Community.

I hope many of us are able to attend this Rosary and Funeral Mass to be a Catholic Prayer Support for them now and in the weeks, months, and years ahead.



If you have never had the chance to visit their home, you would be blessed to see that they live on a "dead end" road that has only two things on it:



Their Home and across the road St. Bernard's Catholic Church and Cemetery. It is a very beautiful gift to them that their little Olivia "Ollie" as they affectionately call her will be at rest so very near their home.



St. Mary's Catholic Church

520 1st Ave., Nebraska City, NE



Rosary:

Friday, June 18th, 7:00 pm



Funeral Mass:

Saturday, June 19th, 10:30 am



Both the Rosary and Funeral will be held at St. Mary's in Nebraska City

Please pray for the Priests ministering to them during their time of Grief.







Here are the McCoppin's other children's names and ages. I thought you might like to pray for them by name:



Corrine- age 20

Emily - age 19

John Paul-age 15

Eli - age 14

Thomas - age 10

Sophia- age 6

Hanna Rose- age 3



Also, if you would like to send them Mass Prayer Cards, Spiritual Bouquets over the months ahead Here is their home address:



Dave and Diane McCoppin

73698 Hwy. 75

Brock Ne 68320-3014





+AMDG+

Olivia

Olivia passed from this earth into the arms of Jesus at 8:45 pm. Continue to keep this family in your prayers during the days and weeks ahead.

I cannot even imagine.

Let us offer all our sacrifices, trials, and sufferings for this family.

Update on Olivia McCoppin

Dear Friends:

We just received a call from Diane's sister, a difficult decision has carefully been made to discontinue life support for Olivia.



Please pray for the family.

Update on Olivia McCoppin

Mary Heitkamp just called with this report on Sunday night at 11:45 pm. She just left Children’s Hospital in Omaha where she was with Diane and Dave McCoppin.



At the present time, the doctor’s are not hopeful that Olivia will pull through this. They performed a CAT scan and the results are not good. Her little organs are showing signs of damage from the lack of oxygen. They don’t expect her to make it. Unless God performs a miracle and chooses to let her stay here with us, it looks like Olivia will be meeting Jesus soon. She is not brain dead at this time. She takes occasional breaths on her own. The part of the brain responsible for breathing is very well protected and is the last to shut down. In a few days, if she is still with us, the doctor’s will perform an MRI to assess the extent of the damage. The doctor attending to Olivia have told the family that a waiting time of a few days is necessary for the full impact of the damage to show up.



Diane was at the hospital with her husband Dave, her mom and dad, her sister (or sister-in-law) and a niece. Dave’s parents are at their home caretaking the other children. When Mary visited, there were also two priests ministering to them. Mary was able to pray with Diane and show her Christ’s comfort.



Emily, the second oldest McCoppin child was already scheduled to come home on Tuesday. I’m not sure at this time if she will move up her flights or not but pray for traveling mercies for Emily. It would be hard to get the news about Olivia when you don’t have the comfort of family around.



Be in prayer for Olivia, Dave and Diane, their children and extended family, the doctors, and those that will minister to the McCoppins in the days ahead. God’s will should be pleaded. And through all of this, that HE be glorified.

The verse below was shared with me today via a friend of Dianne McCoppin's. I pass it on as it is a powerful comfort and message.

Prayer is the most aggressive, pro-active, offensive, invasive action one can take in any situation. Prayer reaches into the spiritual realm and accesses all the power of heaven for the circumstances of earth.
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor. 10:4-5).



When life gets too hard to stand.........kneel.

Urgent Prayer Request!

I am begging for your prayers right now.

Dear Friends:



An URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! Dave and Diane McCoppin Family, a Catholic Home Schooling Family from the Nebraska City Area are in need of our prayers.



Dave found their youngest child, Olivia, who is about 18 mos. old in their swimming pool a few hours ago.



At the time he took her out of the pool she did not have a pulse nor was she breathing. It took 25 minutes doing CPR to get a pulse. She is not breathing on her own, but does have a pulse now.



She was lifeflighted to Children's Hospital in Omaha, they are there now.





I will send updates as I receive them.

Adjusting to a New Life in the Home

To my girls,
I have been blessed during my life with many holy women who are dedicated to raising souls that God has entrusted them with. They see each new life given to them as a promotion.



My mother has always been a constant reminder that Mary, our Heavenly Mother pondered these things in her heart. I believe that each child God gives to us we are to stop and ponder. Ponder what fabulous miracle this new little body is. Ponder how each child was deigned by God even before your father and I knew of your existence. Ponder how God has plans for you already. Each child is meant to change you as a mother. Each child stretches your heart to love and to love deeper.

My very favorite quote from Mother Teresa "LOVE begins at Home. It is not How Much We Do, but how much LOVE we put into what we do." I had this on our refrigerator most of your childhood.



Here are a few basics that I adhered to after each new child given to us. My mother passed this wisdom to me. Her mother passed this wisdom to her.

1. Give yourself 3 months for the chaos to settle down. Expect it. It is normal. Mama has changed. The whole dynamics of the family has changed. Your father and I expect it after every baby. After three months, you will truly find it miraculous. You will say to yourself, "Things really seem to be calming down."

2. Expect nothing of yourself for the first six weeks. If you want to clean, clean. If you don't want to clean, don't clean. If you need to order pizza, order pizza. If you need to have the little ones watch a few extra movies, watch a few extra movies. Don't worry or stress about anything. Don't make this the time to judge if you are a good mother or not. You are tired. You are overwhelmed with gratitude for your new life. If you have weight to lose (like your mother), don't put pressure on yourself to get it off right away.

3. Remember your husband needs a break to. Your father and I try to go on a date shortly after we have a baby just so we can talk and look at each other. We've had the best talks and cries. I tell him my fears and he always calms me down and reassures me everything will be fine. Try to do small things to make him still feel so special even though you are completely consumed with the new baby.



4. After most of my babies, I feel a distance between me and my other children. It has helped me to take each of you on a date. It may be to Starbucks for a hot chocolate, or just along to the grocery store. I take this time to really focus on the child with me and to let them know how special and loved they still are to me.

4. Most women I talk to are so overwhelmed during the first three months after a baby, they feel as though they could never have another child. This isn't the time to be thinking of such decisions. Your life will settle down. This new person will very quickly become part of the rest of the crowd. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, over emotional, over tired, etc., etc. It is the map of this journey.



5. Do not put pressure on yourself about your "lack" of prayer life. I am not saying Do Not Pray, but don't beat yourself up for the sudden change in your prayer life. I often try to give God my little gifts...diaper changes, late night feedings, jealous two year olds. Sometimes all I can pray during the day are the simple words, "I love you, Lord." If you can, nothing is better than making a holy hour with your new baby. I love just sitting in His presence and saying or doing nothing. Sometimes, I cry. I tell Him my worries and ask Him to mend my heart. I ask Him to be with each child during this time and let them feel loved by Him.

6. Just a random memory I have: Shortly after one of my babies, it was a day that all were squirly including myself. Instead of correcting everybody and lecturing them about this and that I said, "That's it. Everybody get an ice cream bar." Your faces were wonderful. We went and sat outside and the ice cream was medicine. I know you all were expecting me to lecture and were quite surprised. It was a wonderful memory and not the norm, but sometimes necessary during hectic times.



These are just simple things, but have proven to be very helpful to me. I hope they are helpful to you. I love you and will be here for you if God calls you to the vocation of motherhood.

34 weeks with Baby #6

It seems that all of the pictures I take are of the kids. I think this might be the first picture I've taken of me pregnant with this new baby. I can't believe we have only 6 weeks to go. This pregnancy has flown by.
Little does she know who she is sitting on.




By this point in pregnancy, it usually helps to make a weird face to detract from the puffiness.



My brother-in-law calls these pants my "MC Hammer pants" I agree.

Did you celebrate National Doughnut Day?

We did! Bright and early first thing this morning. I got home from walking and told them to put their shoes on.
"Mama, we still have our jammies on!"
I said, "Let's go! It's National Doughtnut Day."
Lamar's was giving away free doughnuts!

Dear Dominic,

"Don't worry about genius and don't worry about not being clever. Trust rather to hard work, perseverance, and determination. The best motto for a long march is "Don't grumble. Plug on."
"You hold your future in your own hands. Never waver in this belief. Don't swagger. The boy who swaggers-like the man who swaggers-has little else that he can do. He is a cheap-Jack crying his own paltry wares. It is the empty tin that rattles most. Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness.
"Love the sea, the ringing beach and the open downs.
"Keep clean, body and mind."

-Sir Frederick Treves, Bart, KCVO, CB, Sergeant in Ordinary to HM the King, Surgeon in Ordinary to HRH Prince of Wales, written at 6 Wimpole Street Cavendish Square, London, on September 2, 1903, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Boy's Own Paper

taken from "The Dangerous Book for Boys" by Conn and Hal Iggulden

A Spoonful of Sugar helps the Medicine Go Down

Mark Twain for Kids: His Life & Times, 21 Activities


We found this great book at the library that Dominic just loved. It provided all sorts of great facts and information about the events and happenings around the time of Mark Twain. One of the activities was regarding the medicines they used and made during those times. This was his favorite. He was determined to make these to help the different ailments in our family. We drove over to Walgreen's and they were so nice to him and gave him the medicine bottles because he was doing a school project. I love watching them talk to adults at different stores when they are in search of something.
He was very thoughtful in his medicines.
The first was for colds because Vianney had a cold. Make sure you shake well.
The second was Alermony for dandruff or rough skin. That was for anybody in the home especially Rose he said.
The third was Clorhall for backaches. That is what the book said.
The fourth was Chlorine to cure Rheumatism. He was determined to make this one.
He made up the names, but the book told him what the different ingredients would cure.

I love their handwriting.