Memories for Henry of Your First Holy Communion

Henry is the fourth child in our family to receive his first Holy Communion.  Because we homeschool, it is up to Steve and I to prepare him well for this beautiful sacrament. We used many of the same materials (scripture, this book, this one, and this one, too), engaged in daily conversations about the Eucharist, and prayed with him as we did when preparing his older brothers.

But, Henry's preparation was different from the others in the sense that, as his parents, our own personal relationship with the sacrament has deepened significantly over the past two years since Steve has been ill.  

It's a difficult thing to grasp, the mystery, the gift, the glory of the Eucharist and how it is all charged with unfathomable graces, graces steeped in the sacrificial love of the cross.  For Steve and I, the cross of Lyme disease and mold toxicity has drawn us in more deeply to this mystery, and our utter dependence upon the graces we receive from the Eucharist naturally shape the way in which we approach the formation of our children.

As Henry grows and matures into manhood, perhaps he will remember very little of the time we spent preparing him for this spiritual milestone.  But I do hope, with all my heart, that what we have taught him is not limited to our time of study together, but that his knowledge flourishes and takes root deep in his soul through a real and continual example of love and devotion to the sacrament by his father and I as well as his older siblings.

Memories For Henry of Your First Holy Communion...

For weeks leading up to your special day, you continually asked, "How many days until I get to receive Jesus?" I loved your great anticipation and awareness of what was to come.

{Thank you to my friend, Kristen, for the great photos!}

Tradition is very important to our family, and one tradition that began with your brother, Benedict, was that all of the boys in our family would wear the same attire for your 1st Communions, the necktie being the most important.  Unfortunately, the red striped First Communion tie got mixed in with the clothes that were laundered during our mold remediation and was ruined. You were a great sport about it, though, and did not complain about having to wear something different.

This picture of you with Fr. Aaron is great! He is an incredible priest, and you admire him very much. I have a feeling you will always remember Father and the great enthusiasm he has for our Catholic faith. He is a great blessing to our family and to our parish!

{Easy Printable Banner Letters}

On your special day, I woke up very early to decorate the house and to prepare the brunch before Mass.  Before the sun was up, I heard the faint sound of footsteps on the stairway carpet and I knew, without a doubt, that it was you who would be the first to greet me that morning.  You were so eager to admire all of the decorations and to get dressed in your special attire.

Because Holy Mass is early at our parish, we decided to host a celebratory brunch afterward instead of waiting until lunch.  You helped me plan the menu: 

Egg & Mushroom Kielbasa Casserole

Bacon

Cinnamon Rolls

Cranberry Orange Scones

Mini Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Fruit Platter

Assorted Juices & Coffee

{Recipe Links}

When I asked you what you would like for me to bake, you chose three things (THREE! Really??), and I just couldn't say no to your innocent, enthusiastic request. 

{We decided to make candy-dipped pretzels instead of a traditional cake.}

You even helped me do all of the shopping earlier that week, and we stayed up on Friday night making your party favors while watching the Royals beat the Twins.  We had so much fun!

You and your brothers declared the brunch to be a feast, and stuffed yourselves with multiple helpings of everything.  Watching you guys eat with such gusto is something I will never grow tired of.

Thankfully the weather was so nice out that day that you were all able to jump off all of the sugar on the basketball court and trampoline.  Even Rose thought she was a part of the party!

We don't have very many pictures of you with your Godparents, Uncle Doug and Aunt Jen, so this one is a treasure.  They gave you the chalice tie clip that you proudly wore to Holy Mass that day.

George has this very saint book and since you are always asking him if you may look at it, your dad and I thought you might enjoy having a copy of your own.  The stories and illustrations in it are very beautiful.

Granny and Grandpa gave you a four-way medal, which included a description of what each symbol on the medal means. You wear it every day with the St. Henry medal we gave to you for your first reconciliation.

A good friend of mine suggested that we give you this Lego representation of the Mass, and I'm so glad that we did!  You put it together right away, and it really is a fun memory of your reception of the sacrament.  You can also use it to teach your younger brothers about the Mass.

Because the third name we chose for you is Augustine, you and I often talk about St. Augustine and his incredible conversion story.  I know that at such a young age this quote from his writings is too deep for you to grasp, but I hope that one day (perhaps at your confirmation?) we can return to it and converse at greater length his inspiring words on the Eucharist:

"The Body of Christ" you are told, and you answer, "Amen."  Be members then of the Body of Christ that your Amen may be true.  Why is this mystery accomplished with bread?  We shall say nothing of our own about it, rather let us hear the Apostle, who speaking of this sacrament say: "We, being many, are one body, one bread." Understand and rejoice.  Unity, devotion, charity!  

One bread: and what is this one bread?  One body made up of many.  Consider that the bread is not made of one grain alone, but of many.  During the time of exorcism, you were, so to say, in the mill. At baptism you were wetted with water.  Then, the Holy Spirit came into you like the fire which bakes the dough.  Be then what you see and receive what you are.

Now for the chalice, my brethren, remember how wine is made.  Many grapes hang on the bunch, but the liquid which runs out of them mingles together in unity.  So has the Lord willed that we should belong to him and he has consecrated on his altar the mystery of our peace and unity."

{Excerpt taken from Catholicism - Christ and the Common Destiny of Man by Heri De Lubac}

The Joy Would Be Worth the Pain If Indeed They Went Together - Our15 Year Anniversary & Thoughts from A Severe Mercy

Last night, in the deep midnight quiet, I leaned against the wall of our room and, sliding down to the floor, clutched to my chest the broad, heavy album of wedding pictures, memories of the day Steve and I began our life together.

My Love is gone, a few hours away, working, sweating, struggling to withstand the miseries of a failing body while attending to business and helping his parents on the family farm. And, while we juggle work, children and family responsibilities apart from one another, I am intensely aware of how much I wish he were here to hold me, to hear me speak to him the words,

Happy Anniversary. Thank you for choosing me.

Slowly, I turn the pages of the album, crisp and clean, photo after photo reminding me of where we began and how far we have come.  Fifteen years. How quickly they have passed, and how dearly I hope for fifteen more.

Beside where I sit, there is an old dusty bookshelf and on it is a copy of Sheldon Vanauken's book, A Severe Mercy (one of the few books I can credit for breaking wide open my vision of love and commitment). I reach up for it and flip reminiscently through highlighted pages that had once been dog-eared for times such as these, I suppose.

On one page, circled in faded pencil, I read again:

"What is beauty but something that is responded to with emotion? Courage, at least, is partly emotional. All the splendour of life. But if the best of life is, in fact, emotional, then one wanted the highest, the purest emotions: and that meant joy. Joy was the highest. How did one find joy? In books it was found in love– a great love… So if he wanted the heights of joy, he must have it, if he could find it, in great love. But in the books again, great joy through love always seemed go hand in hand with frightful pain. Still, he thought, looking out across the meadow, still, the joy would be worth the pain– if indeed, they went together. If there were a choice– and he suspected there was– a choice between, on the one hand, the heights and the depths and, on the other hand, some sort of safe, cautious middle way, he, for one, here and now chose the heights and the depths. Since then, the years have gone by and he– had he not had what he chose that day in the meadow? He had had the love. And the joy– what joy it had been! And the sorrow. He had had– was having– all the sorrow there was. And yet, the joy was worth the pain. Even now he re-affirmed that long-past choice.” 

The joy would be worth the pain. The joy would be worth the pain. It's funny how concrete words can be. Those words, pain and joy, are a real thing inside of me. (You, too?) In marriage they can be inseparable, and often difficult to explain to others how wonderful their unity actually is. How they give such substance to our daily life and guts to our commitment to one another. They are like old friends, and I breathe them in and out from lungs that have inhaled and held in all the joy and all the pain of the past fifteen years.

Setting the book down, I reach back for the photos.  The first page I see is one that holds a large photo of Steve and I, hand in hand, reciting our vows. The vows.  For a short while they are simply words. Expressions. Promises. Then there is the first day of a new life together, then another, and another and slowly the vows, when honored, when truly honored, despite feelings, despite circumstances, despite the crumbling of every ideal you had fashioned in your imagination of marriage to be, they become like tightly-woven threads.  Layers upon layers of threads that, one day you wake up and realize, are holding your love together with the most incredible security despite feeling sick instead of healthy, poor instead of rich, worse instead of better....but, despite the pains, you are together and you are in love, and it is the highest of joys.

If I may, I would like to speak to you, who perhaps are engaged, or single, or married and struggling to stay in the dance. The (real) reality of marriage is that it is not a self-fulfilling fairy tale, but a slowly written story of self-gift, the constant and consistent letting go of self for the good of another. Marriage is the highs and lows, it is not the safe, cautious, middle ground of self-centeredness.

It is the poverty and illness and infidelities and anger and loneliness and children and longing for children and everything in between that, at times, makes the idea of the safe middle ground so attractive, so tempting. I know. I've been there.

And, yet it is the very hideous and hurtful pains that make the joys all the more astonishingly beautiful, especially, after wrestling through the struggles, when we find ourselves all the more tightly bound to the one we've given our lives to through it all.

With all my heart, I encourage you! Do not be afraid to do the hard thing, to forsake the safe middle ground, a life that you've planned for yourself, and to choose a life that is lived for another, to choose the pain so that you may know the joy, the real, endearing joy of a love of heights and depths.

Honey, if you're reading this, which I know you aren't because you're fixing a broken down tractor, Happy Anniversary.  Thank you for choosing me.  I love you.  I can't wait for you to come home.

Joining the Ranks of the Baptized Brothers ~ Highlights From Joseph's Big Day

Happy Monday, Friends! I'm finally catching a moment in between baby feedings and toddler melt-downs to give you the highlights of Joseph's baptism.

The night before our children are baptized, I lie awake, unable to sleep, thinking about how beautiful and meaningful the sacrament is. The joy in my heart is indescribable!

Our parish priest suggested that we celebrate the baptism on Saturday afternoon, which I thought was perfect, because it would give me an entire morning to get prepared.  But, of course, you all know how that song and dance goes. Sure you have plenty of time to get ready, but in the end, no matter how planned and prepared mama is, everyone always ends up racing out the door at the last minute combing hair, tucking in shirts and you're trying not to lose your grip along the way!

Father Aaron is a truly wonderful priest. He welcomed our family into the church that afternoon with open arms, and his unmistakable grin. Our boys just love him, I can see the respect and admiration they have for him in their eyes and in the attentiveness they give him during mass.

May the power of the Holy Spirit,
O Lord, we pray,
come down through your Son
into the fullness of this font,
so that all who have been buried with Christ
by Baptism into death
may rise again to life with him.

The rite of baptism is beautiful, the prayers are rich with meaning, many of them mirroring the prayers of the funeral rite, both marking our entrance into and exit from this world.  I try so hard each time our children are baptized to hold back my tears, but it really is impossible.  When I start to think about the generous love God has for all of us, that he would allow us to experience that love through the tangible means of cleansing water, anointing oils, burning candle light, and the beautiful prayers of blessing spoken by the priest, prayers gifted to the church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I am truly overwhelmed!

Steve and I had a similar experience of looking out upon our five older sons, all who have been baptized, and feeling so much joy as they proudly celebrated the sacrament with their youngest brother.  They really knew that it was a very special day for Joseph, even Charlie sat quietly through the baptism, watching closely with sweet attentiveness and curiosity.

George is always first line when it comes to holding Joey.

It's hard to describe the intensity of the desire that I had to pray for our each one of our sons during the baptism. I want so much for each one of them as individuals to live fully the graces of their own baptism, and to experience their own personal relationship with our Lord - not mine, not Steve's.  Raising hearts for Christ requires great faith on our part as parents, and a firm resolution to pray continually for our children, trusting in God's plan for their lives.

My sister, Sara, and her husband, Johannes, happily accepted our invitation to be Joseph's Godparents. The timing of the baptism was perfect, since they had traveled to the States with their children from their home in Switzerland to visit family for a few weeks this summer.

After the baptism was over, I really wanted to capture the joy of the afternoon in a few pics of the boys.  We handed Joseph over to Benedict and it didn't take long for all of them to gather around Joseph, baptizing them in their own way with a smothering of hugs and kisses.

The Band of Baptized Brothers!

Notice how one of the gang is not dressed like the others? Welp, you know every important event must have a fashion emergency. The morning of the baptism, I was gathering up everyone's attire for the afternoon when I realized Henry's white shirt was missing.  After a little digging around, I found it buried in the corner of his closet.  Big surprise.  For a moment all hope of matching was not lost, until I saw the smears of crusty chocolate fingerprints left lingering from the Easter egg hunt our church hosted for the kids after mass last spring. 

Aye Caramba. 

There was no time to get that shirt in shape in time for the baptism. I had no choice but to put the boy in blue.  As you can see, he wore it proudly. *sigh*

We call this the picture of providence. Andrew often talks about being a priest one day.  When he saw this photo, he said, "Mom, it looks like I'm blessing everyone.  Wouldn't it be great if I could baptize my brothers' kids someday?" Oh, my, would it ever.

I was too busy enjoying the post-baptism festivities to take very many pictures.  But, I wanted to include a shot of Joseph's cake.  Isn't it beautiful? My amazingly talented friend, Missy, kindly agreed to share her culinary gifts with all of us. A sweet way to end such a special day!

Mmmmm....Chrism!!

By God’s gift, through water and the Holy Spirit, 
we are reborn to everlasting life. 
In his goodness, 
may he continue to pour out his blessings upon these sons and daughters of his. 
May he make them always, wherever they may be, 
faithful members of his holy people. 

(Rite of baptism for a child)

The Story of Our Meeting With St. John Paul II For the Blessing of Our Marriage

Okay, you guys, please, please, please tell me that you are as excited, over the moon, happy- dance-happy as I am that, on Sunday, our beloved Blessed Pope John Paul II is going to be canonized a saint??!!

In celebration of such a great honor, Steve and I had planned to host a big party here this weekend fully equipped with polish food, beer, games and lots of fanfare, but early contractions (hello!) and a fire (I know, talk about plans going up in flames), caused us to hit the pause button on all festivities.  Since Steve is still playing fire-fighter out west, and I'm here with the chillins and can't sleep, I thought I'd console myself by accepting Jenny's invitation at Mama Needs Coffee to write a little JP II love story for the link-up she's hosting.  If I can't party in honor of my favorite saint, the least I can do is write ya'll a story...

I really don't know how else to say this, but technically, my cheek is a third class relic.  Yeah, that means just what you think it means.  It means that the man has touched my face.  I know, I know! I swear I have fewer sun spots and wrinkles on that side, but as for the holiness rubbing off....well, if only you knew how many times I've been to confession this month. Anyway, back to the cheek - I mean the blessings (yes, plural, blessings, details shortly) - well, I've always wanted to write something down about our meeting with Pope John Paul II, one that our kids could read someday, and now seems like the perfect time to do just that.  And, you can read it too, if you like.

Grab yourself some vino.  Or cafe.  Or tea.  Then, come back and I'll try not to put you to sleep.

Rewind life to June 10, 2000, the day Steve and I were united in holy matrimony (applause and glitter and kissing). A beautiful day, the beginning of our life together!!

Fast forward two weeks to a sunny afternoon when I'm planting flowers out in the yard and unexpectedly fall over in the grass dizzy and nauseous. I wasn't just love sick. I was pregnant (more applause, yay for babies!)!

Fast forward again to a trip to Kansas City where a visit with an old college friend brings about an introduction to a wonderful priest, Father, McDonald, who, upon congratulating us on our recent nuptials says, "Did you know that you can have your marriage blessed by the Holy Father?
Oh, yeah, sure we knew that....uh, no, no, actually, we didn't.
"You just have to write a letter of request to the Vatican secretary, and of course it helps if you have someone write it for you....someone who, say, might have an inside connectiono at the Vaticono."

(We may have fallen on our knees at that moment and begged Father McMiracle to make this happen for us...but I'm not sure...my mind's a little fuzzy on that one.)

*Side Note*

The thought of going to Rome to meet the Holy Father was almost overwhelming for the two of us. The seeds of admiration, which would blossom into great blooms of love, for him were planted in my heart in 1993 at World Youth Day in Denver.  He inspired me to open the Catechism, to pray the rosary with devotion, to pour over the gospels and to know and love my Catholic faith like never before.  After seeing the Holy Father at WYD in Paris, Steve was also inspired by his message - Be not afraid (to serve and follow Christ)!  His shelves at Franciscan were packed with encyclicals, letters, and books written by the pope, ones we still dig into and find nourishment in today.  In a word, to meet and be blessed by our great shepherd would be an unspeakable privilege.  And, here we were, in a completely unexpected situation, standing in the face of a grand possibility!!

Pause for a reality check: Two kids (plus bebe in le belly), just married, no dinero, no connections (until now, hey, hey, hey!) possibly going to Rome to meet the man who inspired the youth around the world, upheld the dignity of women as no pope had before, passionately defended life at every stage, played a key role in bringing down communism, a poet, a philosopher, an athlete a servant!  We knew that one way or another, God willing, if our request should be granted, we would find a way to make the trip.

A couple of weeks later we received a phone call from Father McDonald, who informed us that he had received a letter from the Vatican with confirmation of our acceptance for a marital blessing. Our names were officially on the calendar for the November blessings.  The only requirements for the fulfillment of the invitation were that we arrive on time and dress in our wedding attire.

No problem! We can do that! 

Somehow we convinced our parents that trip was a wonderful idea, scraped together money for plane tickets, found some sweet nuns who were willing to let us stay in their guest house for 8 days and even squeezed our way into a SECOND meeting with the Holy Father (yes, a private audience!).

When the big day came for us to attend the blessing, walking the short distance from the convent to St. Peter's Square, we were met by numerous vivacious and very outgoing Italians who went out of their way to blow us kisses, and praise, "Beautiful! Magnifico!"  One gentlemen who passed us even boldly proclaimed through a thick accent, "Have a great conjugal life!" If only we could show him a snapshot of our family! We still laugh over his exuberant expression today!

{Steve shares with the Holy Father that we're expecting our first child, and Benedict receives a blessing in my womb!}

Now, as you can see in exhibit A, here, showing up in the wedding attire wasn't as easy as we thought it would be, at least for me, anyway.  Spanx hadn't been invented yet, so the things it took to make that dress fit at 5 months pregnant are nothing short of miraculous.  Pardon the overflow in the bosom region.  A shawl might have been handy there. What was I saving our cash for, gelato?? Souvenirs??  Honey child, why didn't you buy yourself a shawl, or borrow one from one of the 10,000 zealous old Italian ladies who super-piously elbowed you out of the way to get a good seat in the square that morning?  Oh, Dio Mamma Mia!

The marriage blessings typically took place during the pope's Wednesday audience, a time when he would greet the public and teach on a particular topic for anyone who wanted to come and listen. Thousands of people squeezed into the square that beautiful, sun-drenched day, and all of the couples who arrived for the blessing were given special seating close to the pope's stage.

The event was all very surreal.  When it came time for the blessing, there was so much joy amongst the couples, and the Holy Father, who is known for his writings on marriage and family, also shared in our enthusiasm.  Such a beautiful and profound connection between the vocation of priesthood and marriage!!

The moment passed by in an instant, and Steve and I both walked away wishing it could have lasted just a bit longer.  If only we knew then that we would be meeting him again!!

(Pause.)
Do you need a refill, a stretch, a foot rub??

Okay, encounter of the second kind, here we go....

While sipping very strong coffee (the kind where you first pour cream into your cup and then add a splash of coffee but the sauce in the cup is still nearly black) during breakfast at the convent my ever-so-shy and terribly tactful husband moseyed right up to one of the sisters and asked her how we (everything is we now), would go about getting a private audience with the pope.  I've tried to erase her "you're an American, so of course you think you can do this" expression from my mind, but it's still there, stuck like glue.  In a very charitable way, she explained the protocol: submit a letter of request to the Vatican secretary then, wait for a response.

Then, he did it.  He asked for paper, a pen and an envelope.  (This is the guy who asks for free apple pies at the McDonalds drive-thru and almost always finds one in his sack.  Given his appalling success rate at Micky D's why shouldn't he believe he could sneak us into a private audience with the pope??)

She didn't exactly roll her eyes, but I could tell it took all of her optic might to keep those peepers in place.  Up to our room we skipped to compose a letter of request.  After trying to make penmanship on printer paper look professional, we locked it up in the even more attractive envelope and traipsed back to the Vatican where we only had to show the letter to the Swiss Guards while explaining our entire (impossible) idea. No biggie.

All I can say is that, to our immense delight and surprise, the next day, after our return trip from Assisi, Sister Sweetheart was waiting for us at the door with a letter in hand.  The baffled expression on her face could only mean one thing: we had received a letter of response from the Vatican.

It is here that I must confess, once again, the help of a connection.  We may have gently implied in the letter of request that we were students of Dr. Regis Martin and Dr. Scott Hahn (two of our favorite professors) and graduates of Franciscan University, of which John Paul II was a big fan. And, it just so happened that Dr. Martin was also in Rome the same time we were.....and he, too, along with his family, was invited to join the Holy Father for the private audience. What Providence!

The day before our return trip back to the States, Steve and I found ourselves, once again, sitting on the steps of St. Peters anticipating an opportunity that we never dreamed in a million years would happen to us.  Patiently, yet nervously, we waited to be led into the Pope's private chambers.  I remember feeling so sheepish about our attire, as we only packed clothes for the tourist trek around Rome, not clothing fitting and proper for the meeting of the Shepherd of the Catholic Church.  Despite our supremely informal dress, it was obvious that the good Lord wanted us to be there, and that was enough to ease the embarrassment we felt standing amongst those donning dresses and suits and ties.

After being escorted into a large room we all found a spot at the room's perimeter and waited for the Holy Father to enter.  I remember the very moment he walked in, acknowledging all of us with a gentle nod and a joyful smile. If not for the pounding of our hearts, you could hear a pin drop.

One at a time, we approached the Pope, and as we bent down to greet him, he handed us a rosary and said, "Ah, the children from Franciscan University!"  We smiled in affirmation and very briefly shared with him how much we loved him and thanked him for leading the youth of the world to Christ....although I'm sure we sounded like babbling toddlers.

Being pregnant, there was just no holding back the tears of gratitude, elation and awe. That was the moment he reached out and touched my cheek with such endearing affection, I couldn't keep it together. Open wide the flood gates. The pretty cry was over.

Words cannot describe the eyes of this man - to look into them, the purest, brightest blue, was like looking directly into heaven.  Through one brief, yet tender gaze, he showed us heaven, he showed us Christ.  Holiness is powerful.  It isn't just possessed, it is transmitted, and we felt the holiness of our father deep in our souls, deep in our bones that day.

When we came to share with others the story of that particular event, I couldn't help but try my hardest to communicate the feelings we experienced during our encounters with the pope.  Not for superfluous reasons, but because I truly wanted people to know that the love they (and we) have for him is real.  It's a love not based on feelings of admiration, but on a deep desire and inspired passion for Christ.

The very roots of our faith in Jesus Christ, a faith that John Paul II challenges us to live and to love every day,  they are the very roots from which he himself lived, roots that anchored him in deep dedication to the shepherding of his flock.  They are roots that connect us to him in a sincerely tangible way, a way that is felt deeply across the span of time and space, even though many of us would never have the privilege of meeting him.

{One of our most favorite quotes from the Holy Father, 
the very one that inspires us every day in our vocation!}

I could go on and on about this man.  I could zealously encourage you to read this and that or copy a million quotes to this page, his thoughtful words that would leave you pondering for days, weeks, months, even years! But, I'll let the story end here.

If you don't know Pope John Paul II, it's not too late! Google that man, and let his story and his legacy spill over into your life - you'll be so happy you did!

Will you raise your glass with me on Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday?  Let's toast this great champion of our faith and then never forget that he is ready and waiting to pray for us from heaven, to help us, as he helped us here on earth, to find our way to Christ, the way to heaven where we might one day meet him again!

St. Pope John Paul II the Great, pray for us!!

On Our Anniversary ~ Diamond Seekers

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary!!  In honor of such a lovely occasion we'll be enjoying the usual wrath of Monday bananas -  baseball games, golf practices, 40 mph scorching winds, boys bouncing off walls, Cheerios stuck between the toes and marbles "accidentally"rolled up the nose, bills to pay, laundry to fold, mouths to feed, messes to clean and hay to harvest, but we'll be doing it in love, and that, my friends, is a miracle!!

Yesterday, at the end of Holy Mass, the priest announced a hearty congratulations to a special couple who was celebrating their 67th wedding anniversary.  67 YEARS!!! That's 7 years beyond the 60 year diamond anniversary! Like those around me, I turned around to get a glimpse of the two being honored, and was so touched to see the husband reaching out for his bride with a tender kiss and embrace. Awesome.

With our sprawl of polo clad brutes sitting between us (yawning, picking noses and thumb-wrestling), Steve and I immediately locked eyes, our expressions full of admiration for that couple, remembering that the next day we would celebrate our own anniversary of 13 years.  Marital infants. That's what we are, really.  What I would have done for a 5 minute interview with that couple just to get a quick copy of their recipe for success!

Hearing about their wonderful news truly lifted my soul.  Their love is an incredible testimony to the beauty and strength of marriage - you know, that old fashioned out-dated institution that is constantly being thrown in the gutter like a piece of useless trash?? It's like, don't say the "m" word, it's sooo taboo. Oh, wait, you're married too?? Does it bother you that I just referred to marriage as trash?? It should.  It should bother all of us deeply.

When I speak of marriage,  I'm not speaking of the modern idea or even the ideals of marriage, but of the sacrament itself.  For Catholics, a sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace.  We, as married couples, are meant to be a living sign of Christ's love and of His grace. Many of us fall in love with an idea of what marriage should be, should feel like, should look like, and when it doesn't live up to our hopes and dreams, to our fantasy novels, Holywood horror movies and Pinterest boards, we start searching for the exit door, because Lord knows difficulty and discomfort are not a part of the plan, a part of the perfect picture.  We've been told that we deserve more, that we deserve to be happy and if happy isn't here in this home with this man, then by golly, we're going to find it - somewhere or with someone or in something else.

The sadness in that unfortunate escape is that the person(s) never give themselves the opportunity to experience authentic happiness. Whether we like it or not (and I'm saying this to myself), none of us can escape the paradox that beauty blooms brightest in the midst of suffering and sacrifice. It is written into the story of all of our lives. If we are to be that outward "sign" of Christ, of Trinitarian love, than we cannot separate ourselves from the cross.  We are to be a sign of mercy, of hope, of selfless, disinterested love. None of those things can possibly come without a cross.  There is a deep, abiding purpose in that cross - to make us more Christ like, to refine us,  and ultimately to make us holy.  We were made for something more than this life.  We were made for heaven.  If you are married, then the purpose of your marriage is to help each other get to heaven.

Was that a Debbie Downer moment?? I'm sorry, let's lighten it up a bit...

How about a (real) love story??

**Just so there's no confusion, I'm not referring to the fake "let's have sex on our first date, move in together and then get to know each other impostor bull$@*% lust-is-love Schmaltzywood stories.  Was that too vague?? Mkay, good.**

We all know that the greatest love stories are called "great" because they endure the test of life and the test of time. Lovers triumph over difficult odds and tempting evils, they hold on to one another despite the discomforts of life and intense pressures that are forced upon them by the world and by circumstances which they cannot control. They fight, they laugh, they cry, they stay close when they really want to run, they believe when it's easier to doubt and they pray when all hope seems to be lost.   And most of all, they forgive one another again and again and again.  Those are the love stories we love. Those are the love stories that last, stories that we can believe in.

When we are faithful to our vows and committed to our commitment, we can be that love story for others.  We LIVE the story that inspire others, the one that helps young lovers to trust that real love is possible, the one that we will tell our kids and our grand kids about if we are willing to stay in there, to believe in ourselves and in our spouse, and with the strength of grace, endure the deep refining pressure of sacrifice and struggle, so that in the end our life together might emerge beautiful, like a diamond.

Now, with that, I believe that it's time for me to text my husband something super romantic like, "Babe, your lunch is ready. Sandwiches served with a side of smooch is on the menu."

To love is to cherish one thought, to live for the person loved, not to belong to oneself, happily and freely with one's heart and soul, to be subjected to another will...and at the same time one's own.

~ St. Josemaria Escriva, Furrow

Memories for George of Your First Holy Communion

From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian 

life and the zeal to share that life with others.

~Blessed Pope John Paul II

Dear George,

Today was an extraordinary day.  A day that I have thought about countless times and looked forward to since the day you were born.  The very moment I held you into my arms, gazed into your eyes and felt your breath on my cheek, I embraced not just your soft, fragile body, but your pure and glorious soul as well.  In that moment, I was keenly aware that you had just come from God, and that you were beginning your journey back to Him.  A journey on which, for a precious amount of time, I would get to be your guide.  What an unfathomable privelege for your father and me!!

The journey towards the Father, thus far, has been rich and fruitful, filled with wonderful experiences of God in truth, goodness and beauty.  But, today was particularly monumental, because to receive your first Holy Communion is to receive not only a gift of Love, but a gift of Life!  It is true, as St. Ireneaeus has said, "The glory of God is man fully alive."  Today, in the reception of our Lord, your soul is more fully alive than ever!!  

As you continue to grow into becoming the young man that God intends for you to be, I can only pray that your heart will be stretched with the desire to know Him, to love Him and to serve him with the graces that you receive each time you are able to partake in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  The mysteries of the Eucharist are often times very difficult to fathom, but for what we cannot understand as children, or as adults, we can entrust to the Lord in faith, and recieve with humility.

I am not sure what you will remember about this blessed day on our journey together, but if I could help you to treasure just one thing about this milestone in your spiritual life it is this: Jesus longs to be close to you, to share in a profound and life-giving love with you.  He reaches out to you, calling to your heart in many ways, but the greatest way is through Holy Communion.  I pray that you will have the courage and the wisdom to meet him with the joyful expectation to be loved by Him and to love Him more deeply each day in return every time you  are blessed to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.

All My Love,

Mom

P.S.  Here are a few highlights to help you remember your special day!! 

Benedict and Andrew helped you get dressed and shared their words of wisdom with you, including, "Be sure to give thanks after you receive communion" and "Remember, sip, don't gulp."  What would you do without big brothers??

When you and Dillon are grown up, I hope that you will remember this day, and this photo, and spur each other on to the higher callings of the Christian life! You two may look like future politicians, but beneath those snazzy striped ties are big hearts, ready to be warriors for truth!

Remember our friend, Joel?? He took this photo of our family, and when we look at it, we can remember to pray for him as he enters the seminary this fall.  Glory to God!!

All I can say is that this pic is real, honest, funny and true.  Jesus is all of those things.  Remember that.  No one understands the "realness" of life better than our Lord.  You can trust Him with everything.

Do you see Henry in the background?? In two years he will be preparing for his first communion, and will look to you and your older brothers to be an example to him of virtue and holiness.  Your mission begins now!!

Grandma and Grandpa Splichal, Granny and Grandpa Husband and Great Granny Wehkamp came for your celebratory lunch after mass.

  We had a big feast, and you got to sit at the head of the table! The celebration continued with cake, ice cream, stories and memories of grandparents' first communions, then the opening of gifts.

You did not want me to order a special cake from Dillons for you.  You wanted me to make one, and although I was nervous about taking on the task, I knew that it would make you very happy if I said yes.  You chose this design, and helped me with some of the decorating, always ready to "advise." We made a great team! {*Cake instructions below*}

Opening the gifts was a great joy for you.  

I really admired the way that you took your time, slowly reading every card, studying each gift and showing loving appreciation to everyone who brought you a treasure.

You didn't know that Sara and Johannes and your cousins had sent you a gift all the way from Switzerland!  It was the first thing you packed in your backpack for the trip to Denver.  We are going to have many great talks about the stories that you read!

Your Godfather, Mr. Heap, sent you a copy of Jesus of Nazareth with a bookmark from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.  He also included a very special letter, one which you will read again and again with your own father, inspiring hours of "man talk."

Your father and I couldn't wait to give you your gift.  We had so much fun picking it out, and knew that you would love it very much.

The story of St. George is one of your favorites.  His example of courage and sacrifice is a model for all boys and all men, an example that you take very seriously.  I believe that your name is a gift from the Lord, and that with the prayers of your Grandpa George and the example of St. George, you too will be able to conquer all of the big dragons in life.

A PRAYER TO ST. GEORGE

{Link to prayer source}

Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit.  Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ.  I fervently implore thee for the sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them that persevere unto the end.  ~ Amen

* For the cake, I simply used two box cake mixes, subbing melted butter for the oil, milk for the water and adding one extra egg.  Those simple changes make the cake more moist and also add density which makes the cake easier to handle and frost.  Divide the mix between one large loaf pan (for the center of the chalice) one 9" round cake pan (divided to make the top and bottom of chalice) and one small round cake pan (for the Eucharist). 

I frosted the cake using this recipe, but used half butter, half shortening.  For tinting the frosting, the gel tints are easier to blend and control than the liquid food coloring, just choose your favorite colors and use a very little bit at a time when mixing. The chalice frosting was piped on, and white fondant (purchase at Wal-Mart or any major craft store) was used to cover the eucharist.  A little hot glue secured the leaves and wheat to the silver cake board  (also purchased at Wal-Mart).  It really was a surprisingly easy cake to make - you can do it!!