Avia Joy

The Birth of Avia Joy

Where did Avia Joy begin? The answer goes back more than a decade to a little idea, alove of faith, and the desire to share the things that have shaped my life

Like Sarah and Elizabeth, I was beyond my childbearing years, but for a number of months now, I felt the sense of a new life bubbling within my being. I had felt this way four years ago, when I ended up giving birth to a manuscript about a very holy women, but that's anothe...(read more)

Avia Joy - who will she look like? No - what will she look like?

Although there is talk about "designer babies" these days, it wasn't so when I had my children. Who would they look like? What color hair and eyes? Their gender, weight, and height were all things you pondered. The answers wouldn't be known until that blessed event occurred. But once they were born, it didn't much matter, because you loved them so very much.

Well, giving birth to a blog is quite different. You do get to design or choose what you want, and how it will look. But I had no ideas or inspirations. Yes, I had a name, but that was given to me. So, I told God that if this was of Him, He'd better show up and inspire me. Read more...

Avia Joy: Avia Joy - who will she look like? No - what will she look like?

Avia Joy - How do I describe you?

How does one describe one's heart? ... One's belief's... The core of one's being? How do I describe this new creation, that will invite you to want to journey with me?

I really didn't know, but it was Sunday, and Tuesday was right around the corner. I wanted to get my homework assignment at least started. I needed to come up with a description that would explain Avia Joy. I desperately wanted to have something to show my daughter-in-law, so we could move on with our new creation. Read more...

Avia Joy: Avia Joy - How do I describe you?

Avia Joy has two unique birthmarks

Before the birth of Avia Joy, while she was still being formed with the womb of my heart, and designed by the inspiration of God, I just had a sense that something was missing.

She was lovely to behond -- there was no denying that! Her soft shades of coral and blue -- her beautiful name -- her unique description -- and of course, I can't forget the hummingbirds. It was all so pretty, but not quite complete.

A sign, Papa - You have to send me a sign!

Although things were moving along with Avia Joy, I was starting to feel somewhat uncertain and insecure about the territory that I was journeying toward. If I did decide to give birth tho this new creation, how many times a week would I be commiting myself to write? Would I have enough material to do so? Who would be interested anyway?

My questions now were directed to God. "Why do You ask me to do things about which I know nothing? You know know I don't have a clue about all this! Why did I say yes to You anyway? A sign, Papa. You have to send me a sign!"

Avia Joy: A sign, Papa - You have to send me a sign!

Avia Joy is all about relationship

Relationships -- our lives are full of them! some warm our hert and make our lives worth living, while others challenge and stretch us. There are some that we feel indifference toward. They really don't impact our lives in a deep or lasting way, so we put no effort to deepen them.

Although there are people we just "click" with, for the most part, relationships we cherish did not develope overnight. It took time and effort from both parties to become bosom friends.

My relationship with my God

I can't even remember a time in my life when I didn't know and love God. I was blessed to be baptized within two weeks of my birth. My parents then placed me on the altar of God to be offered to Him; they also dedicated me to Our Lady. In honor of Mary, I wore only blue and white until I was seven years old. As I got old enough to notice pretty pink dresses or red and black velvet ones at Christmas time, I wished that I was not so restricted in my choices. What a sacrifice and hardship it must have been for my mother, being limited to just two colors when buying clothes.

The Father - He told me to call Him Papa

When I was a little girl and thought about God the Father, my concept of Him was the "God in charge." Jesus was the obedient Son and the Holy Spirit, well, He did whatever the Father or Jesus asked Him to do.

At the same time, I thought of Him as my heavenly Father who cared and watched over me. I knew that He loved me very much because He had sent Jesus to open the gates of heaven, that had been closed because of the sin of Adam and Eve. He wanted me to be a good little girl so I could be with Him someday in heaven. It saddened me that there were people who did not love God, nor want to make Him happy. I promised Him at a young age to do what I could to show my love for Him.

The Son - my dear sweet Jesus

I'm really not sure when I began to call the Son, "my dear sweet Jesus," but I believe it was somewhere in my adult life. As I child, I just called Him "Jesus," but there was a certain sweetness in the sound of His name. I knew how precious I was to Him because of His death for me on the cross, and was very much aware of Jesus' love.

I was very excited when I was preparing to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. I wanted to make my heart a perfect dwelling place for Him and keep it spotless. I remember practicing a song entitled, "Little White Guest,"* and singing it wholeheartedly when that special day arrived. Throughout my life, that song still warms my heart and brings feelings of love and tenderness for our Lord.

Avia Joy: The Son - My dear sweet Jesus

The Holy Spirit - He's Sasha to me

As a child, and even for much of my adult life, my relationship with the Holy Spirit has not been what I would necessarily call personal. I received the Sacrament of Confirmation in third grade, and although I was catechized very well - I was a Baltimore Catechism student - I didn't really feel close to the Holy Spirit. Sure I prayed to Him at what I saw as the appropriate times; like to help me remember the answers to a test for which I had studied, or for the right words to say in a difficult situation. I also asked Him for specific gifts, fruits and graces, since I figured that was His territory. But it wasn't really much of a relationship.

It's about my journey with Them

I have journeyed for a little more than six decades with the Blessed Three, and although I know I am now living in the "autumn" of my life, I still feel a youthfulness within my being. I believe it is Their Life within me bursting forth, bringing about a freshness and newness that otherwise would be absent. They have found a home within my heart, and I humbly cherish Their Presence.

My journey has a destination, and that destination is, hopefully, heaven. This has been an awareness that I've had all of my life, though at times, my decisions did not reflect that fact. But my God is a patient and loving God, and like a GPS, has redirected me when I have wandered off course.

My Catholic Faith

My Catholic faith is not something that I just practice on Sundays, but is an integral part of my life. It is the air that I breathe, the blood in my veins, the beats of my heart. It is at the core of my identity and a gift from God that I cherish deeply.

Like an acorn planted long ago at my Baptism, it has changed and grown over the years, into a large tree whose roots stretch deeply into the Church to find its nourishment. It has experienced both bright sunny days, as well as dark stormy nights, but with the grace of God, has managed to remain standing tall.

The Family of God

Belonging to the Family of God brings such a smile to my face! And finding out all that I can about my holy "siblings," has been a source of pride and pleasure, throughout my life.

Of course, every family has a mother, and God's family is no different. Mary is "The Mother" par excellence and holds each one of her children in her Immaculate Heart to bring them to Christ, her

Son. While on earth, Our Lady lived as the perfect disciple, by accepting God's will with complete trust, as it was revealed to her. We are called to imitate Mary by doing the same, for in scripture she tells us, "to do whatever He tells you." In her unique role, as Queen of angels and saints, she sends help from heaven in our struggle toward sanctity, and watches over us with a mother's love.

Avia Joy: The Family of God

The way it shapes my life

I can't even fathom, nor would want to imagine, what my life would be without God and my Catholic faith! The impact they have had, has been all encompassing. . .most especially in my adult years. I don't believe I would be the woman I am today without them.

I have been shaped, formed, and stretched in ways that I would not have chosen on my own. I have been called to love, when I would have preferred to lash out; to seek forgiveness; when I did not think I was the guilty party; to give, when I just did not feel like it. I am called to love others as God loves me, which will be a challenge until the day I die - it may kill me trying to do that!