Life Is Sweet!

That was the inscription on the decorations for the tables, today, at a reception that we attended.  It was also basically the theme of the weekend- truly a celebration of life.  (And my main excuse for not getting to this blog in a few days.  Sorry!)

Yesterday, my husband rode in a ride for the MS Society.  (While I think the connections are morally black, he decides what he wants to do, so ride he does...)  He biked 35-miles, with the option of going farther, however the weather was rainy and we had a birthday party to attend.  Celebration #1 was the ride.  From the MS ride, we drove to the 1st birthday party of our friends' baby daughter. The theme was music. There were nine children between the ages of four and six months.  It was truly a fun time watching all of the children interact and have fun.  The babies were having fun with the other babies and the big kids were having their own fun.  Adults, of course, served as entourage for the children: schlepping, feeding, cleaning, photo taking.  But really, it was a great time for all, and all were perfectly tired following celebration of life numero dos.

Today we awoke and after my son exited School of Religion, Pre-K, we drove to yet another birthday party.  This time, the celebrant turned 2 and the theme was trucks.  Our friends' son had a pretty good time, though he napped through the first half hour as everyone arrived.  He seemed happy to play with all the children, though.  Again, another nine children, not all the same, but similar age range as some of the families did repeat.  It was nice to catch up with the respective families at each celebration. Part of growing up, is meeting new people and the families that helped form them, but the catch is that even if you develop good relationships with the extended family, you really don't see them as often as you would like.  Birthdays are an excellent opportunity to catch up.

Our third celebration ended, and we moved on to celebration number four.  Definitely a more somber celebration than the first three, but just as important.  A dear friend of ours, that we have known for nine years now, was diagnosed with breast cancer almost six months ago.  She endured a double-mastectomy and chemotherapy over the summer, and for now, prognosis seems good.  We attended a beautiful Mass of Thanksgiving, and then the reception that followed.  It was beautiful:  pink everywhere, friends that most of us have not seen in months, and candy/sweets as far as the eye can see.  It was like falling into the cotton candy bin, though the candy was far more varied.  Our friend looked beautiful, regardless of the fact that she had lost her hair and that she had been through so much, she glowed with the promise of future days with friends and family.  It was touching to see her parents there to support her.  I was struck by the fact that they too were once holding their baby girl not knowing what awaited them so many years later.  It made me sad, but gave me hope for them and hope for each of us out there.  We all have our trials and tribulations.  We all have so many, many blessings to be thankful for, but God walks us through each step along the way.  He provides us with so much: comfort, strength, moments of joy.

The priest today gave a beautiful homily discussing the Gospel story: the workers who were paid the same regardless of when they came.  He made a point that I'd never heard when hearing this story before.  The workers that were chosen first were likely the strongest and the most able to give a full days work.  Those chosen later on in the day, were likely the weaker or less healthy or possibly women and children, who also needed a days wages.  The wages in that time were just enough to feed your family and yourself.  So, the master, was making sure that regardless of ability, everyone received what they needed.  He was not trying to gyp the first workers, only ensuring that those who were least able to work could still eat and feed their families.  Father said that we should remember in those times that seem unfair, that God is providing us with what we need and nothing more.  He is making good out of our experiences and helping changes take place that can increase our holiness.

It hit me in that moment.  It truly felt like the priest was talking to me.  Maybe it was the location.  We were married in the same church almost six and a half years ago, and experienced both the miscarriages in that church.  Walking in today, that was on my mind, but after the homily, it occurred to me that maybe it was in some way to lead us to the parish that is now our home.  I'm NOT saying that God caused the miscarriages, but rather that out of the pain, He led us to our current beautiful home.  A place of great growth and great peace, amazing friends and a pastor for whom I never cease to be thankful.  Beautiful things can come out of great sorrow, and yes my friends, life is sweet!

Since it's ilegible: "Alleluia, Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord Christ Jesus!"

Ever grateful!

This experience post-surgery has really taught me so much about my family and my friends.  My mother has been helping almost around the clock.  Not easy!  It's hard working taking care of a small child and an infant (last week, I was also included in that mix).  Whew!  I know it wasn't easy for her or my husband when he had the duty on the weekends, because I can't imagine an adult with little capability into the mix.  I live the child care portion, and I know what work that is, but to add someone else must have been exhausting!  My mother and husband both really stepped in and showed their love for our family.  The self-sacrifice that they showed in caring for us really impressed me.  At one point, I would need something, the baby would be crying and the preschooler would be running around yelling.  Chaos!  If it was a sitcom, it may have been amusing. Can't you picture the episode?  Oh, and add in large dog with his own needs, I'm sure you can picture the constant work.  But, they managed and we all lived to tell the story.  I'm not saying that anyone else has it easier, I'm sure larger families only have more on their plates.  For me, though, this was an example of extreme self giving and love.

Our friends too, have stepped in to help me when my parents could not. They came to the house to care for the three of us, mostly carrying the baby since I could not. (Ugh!)  They brought meals, and more importantly, said prayers.  I am ever thankful for the Lord's mercy and grace that He provides.  Without the amazing people that He put in my life, his process would have been so much more difficult.  Friends and family can truly be a witness of Christ in action!

Apparently my timing needs work.

The "lightning restaurant"

I think I'm functioning on "paper publishing" turnaround rather than that of a blog!  I apologize!  Life gets busy and it feels as though I barely have a second to sit and write.  I think that maybe this will improve with my oldest starting preschool this year (!) and I'll hopefully manage more than a post every four months.  LOL

Again, my apologies. We were on vacation.  A wonderful trip to the beach: St. George Island, FL.  I guess I should say an eventful trip to the beach.  A waterspout hit the main line to the island and we were all without power for about three days.  Three days without air conditioning.  Three days where my husband and I scrambled to keep two little ones cool.  Intense heat and small children scares me.  Even more so, when one of those children is only seven months old.  We all survived, though.  Survived with stories to tell both to the kids and among the rest of our family.  This beach trip is almost an annual reunion of sorts for my husband's family.  It will go down in beach vacation history along with the year our rental house was hit by lightning, and the year that we had to evacuate due to hurricane.

This year also, we ended up out in storm that produced a lightning strike on the beach in front of the open air restaurant where we had all just arrived for dinner.  It hit and I, having just handed off my infant daughter to my mother-in-law, immediately hit the decks in an unwitting attempt to protect the child no longer in my arms.  My sister-in-law let out a stream of words that would make a sailor blush, and a random woman grabbed my brother-in-law in a bear hug while the rest of the patrons screamed.  Needless to say, my son is now afraid of both lightning and thunder.  And well, storms in general.

So we got through the beach, and then my children and I embarked on a trip to spend a week with my in-laws in anticipation of a wedding for one of my husband's college friends.  I didn't want the kids having to travel back and forth in such short succession.  In hindsight, this made for a very frazzled mama.  (And truthfully, two grateful grandparents...so in the end maybe that made it worth it.)