Thank God for small miracles

Today I had to pick up Einey's First Communion dress from the cleaners. A task I dreaded.

You see, on a photo shoot last week, I allowed Einey to get sat in a tree and the dress got dirty. real dirty. On a crisp white dress. Not pretty. We immediately dropped it off at the cleaners, but they couldn't promise the beading wouldn't melt or fall off during the cleaning process.

And so I dreaded today. I feared the worst.

But Hallelujah! The dress is good as new.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go put it in it's air tight glass case where it will reside until the event Sunday.

As I mentioned before, I didn't have any set religious upbringing.

In fact, I didn't make my First Communion until I was 18 years old. Midnight Mass, Christmas Eve, 1998. It became important to me to make my first communion before we were married. Our wedding was set for October 9, 1999. I didn't wear a little white gown, in fact, I don't remember what I wore. I have yet to make my confirmation, to become a full adult member of the Catholic Church. I don't know why I haven't, but just haven't. I probably should check into that.

Growing up, there was a white gown, with a lace top and a small cross hanging in my parents closet. It was yellowed, but I would sit there and finger the gown and dream about wearing it one day. I believe it was my mother's, but I don't know what the occasion was (she wasn't Catholic). The other thing I coveted was the family bible, passed down on my mother's side of he family.

Last week, my mother, Einey and I went shopping for her First Communion gown. Einey is beyond excited. She's been waiting for this day for over a year, when she first started asking about it.

I started off by grabbing a few 6 and 7 gown's off the rack. We go to the dressing room and found that they were way to big. There were no size 5's. There was one size 4. She tried it on. It fit, but was plain, not even a first communion gown, just white with a bow. She wanted something more. We asked if other's could be ordered. They said yes, we could look in the catalog. Nothing came in a size 4. A few came in size 5. We found a gown that she likes in a 5. it's on order and should come in this week. I hope it fits.

Her invitations have come in. We mailed them out last week. We're doing a small brunch following the ceremony with just immediate family. Her friends will be celebrating with their families. her gifts are ordered and we've started finalizing the menu. We declare to be Switzerland - at our home and her ceremony.

To be continued..... (in May)

Bless me father, for I have sinned

Monday, Einey made her First Penance in a small ceremony at school. It brings her one step closer to her First Communion in May. For those of you not Catholic, First Penance is first confession, where they confess their sins for the first time (yes, at age 7).

I wasn't going to go to the Mass. I didn't realize that they had things to share with their families. It was only when Einey mentioned she was signing at the front of the church, alone, that I decided to go. She did fantastic!

Prior to making their first confession, the teacher sent home some worksheets for us to follow with the kids, to get them comfortable for when the time comes. She didn't want to practice, she was confident and self-assured. I didn't ask what she was going to confess to, I believe that is between her and God (and the Priest). But I hope, that as she grows, when the time comes, she will come to me if she needs to.

Each year, as she makes her journey through school and grows with the chruch, I too am learning. I wasn't raised in a religious household, although that's not to say I was raised without a religion. I was baptized Catholic as an infant. My father is Catholic, my mother was Protestant. I attended CCD (briefly) in first grade. I went to church with friends - Assembly of God, Episcipalian, Methodist. I attended Synogog's and Southern Baptist Masses. I read the bible and learned scripture. I'm glad I got to find my way, to experience other faiths and tradidtions.

We're open with the girls, and answer questions when they ask. But they love their chruch, their religion. I've said it before, their school is like a giant network of extended friends and family. A place of security and serenity.

To be continued.......

Hello, Goodbye

Yesterday, we got word that our church is closing. We don't have an end date yet, but it will be soon (the other 4 churches being closed at the same time are all slated to close their doors in September), they are waiting for our priest to retire. He celebrated his 86th (at least I believe it was 86, he's always said he's stuck at 82 - for his last few birthdays) in February.

And surprisingly, I'm saddened by the announcement. We knew our church was on the chopping block. We knew, in our hearts, due to it's size and aging priest that it would be one that would be closed. But the announcement still caught us off guard.

For those of you familiar with Catholic churches, they are not known for their warmth. There are no nursery's, no after Mass get together's in church Hall. There are no teen groups or children's groups (apart from Catechism class). But our church was different. There was a sense of community. The priest knew everyone's name, knew who was sick, knew who needed help. He really knew his parish.

Our church. It's where I made my first communion. It's where Husband made his confirmation. It's where we were married. It's where we said good-bye to Nana. And great- meme. It's where Einey was baptised. And Meenie. And Moe. It is a big part of us.

We already know where we'll end up. We will join the church affiliated with the girls school. Their school-church. It was an easy decision to make. For one, it's where they go to school - and where they will make their sacraments (although we had discussed having Einey make her first communion this coming year at our home church, but in the end, decided it would be best for her to make them with her friends). We know the priest. We know the church (we've attended Mass there throughout the school year). We have friends who go there. And we already support the church and school. And it's close to home. Much closer than our church.

Unfortunately, my in-laws will be joining a different church. Even though the school church our new church was where Husband went until middle school, where his mother and her parents before her, were raised, they will not be returning to that church. At least not now (I don't know how the church they are choosing to attend will turn out). And what does that mean? That means that for the first time ever, I'll be going it alone. Sure, I'll have Husband with me sometimes, but a majority of the time, he's working weekends. And so, I relied on my in-laws for help. For support. And to keep my three little monsters girly's in line.

Good-bye, sweet little white church we love. Hello big, brick school-church.