RCIA Updates

Last week there was a Parish Mission at our Church and I was honored to have Father ask me if I would speak one of the nights, about my journey of faith. I said yes as I felt like I was meant to. It was hard to do b/c I couldn't tell my journey w/out telling my father's journey last summer...but I did it. It was very well received and I know my father was so proud of me, as was my family.

Saturday night, at the Easter Vigil, my sister and I will make our first communion and confirmation. I wish my father was here but I know if he were here, I wouldn't be at this point in my life.

Luke 11: 9-10
"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

I found this treasure the other day.

Christmas

I don't need to tell you how hard it was for all of us. We went to the cemetery as a family. After I announced we'd be going, Delaney got out her crayons and paper. I asked her what she was doing and she said "making a Christmas card for Poppy!". A blue eyed, brown haired angel flying in the sky.........

We attended Christmas Eve mass and Delaney was in the pageant as well. As I looked down the pew, at all of my family who was there, that normally wasn't, I cried. I cried b/c we were there. I cried for the man who wasn't, yet, was responsible for us all being there. Then I saw my angel come down the aisle and cried some more hoping and praying that her Poppy could see her.

Save a Place for Me

First Reconciliation

Carter made his first reconciliation (confession) Saturday. We were so proud of him. He even confessed to Father a few things we hadn't talked about. He accepted his certificate and offered Father his hand for a hand shake. Father seemed pretty tickled by that as none of the other kids were doing that. Each child lit a candle, had holy water put on them (in remembrance of their baptism) and finished w/ a blessing from the Deacon. At each station we read a small prayer to Carter. I was surprised to find myself moved to tears more than once. I know partly b/c I was proud of Carter and partly b/c someone was missing---someone who would have been standing right there w/ us and someone who might have been even prouder than I was of Carter. I know he was w/ us---- I know this b/c after everyone had lit their candle, and we all sat down, Carter said "mom, look, one candle is burning brighter than the rest, it's the only one I can see, I think it's mine......." and as we walked up to the alter to check it out........it was, indeed, Carter's candle. He lit the one smack.dab.in.the.middle! He'll make his first communion in May. I can't tell you the positive effect religion has had in Carter's life. The changes are amazing. I can't forget my fathers words to Carter in the Children's Bible he gave him on Easter of last year.......

"May God's words guide you to manhood and help you grow up to be a good man."

Carter and Father

Merry Christmas from Heaven

Today, at Church, a special lady gave an ornament to my mom, for our family. The ornament is pewter and says "I love you all dearly, Now don't shed a tear, I'm spending my Christmas With Jesus this year." and is accompanied by this poem:


**click on it to make it larger!

How beautiful is that? Thanksgiving was so hard and when my husband stood up before we ate and said "I'd like to propose a toast to Kraig......" we all cried. The Christmas season has been even tougher but we continue to go on. As he would want us too. We continue to find strength and love and hope in Jesus as well.

Wishing you and yours a very blessed holiday season.

xxoo

Tough Day

10 weeks
70 days
1680 hours

since my dad left this earth. two things i've come to know since his passing 1) i'm no longer afraid to die and 2) life does go on. we all miss him so much and some days are harder than others but i hold onto the belief that we will be united with him one day.

my sister and i continue our journey w/ RCIA. i am finding much comfort and peace in Jesus. it's been so good for my family and especially for my children. funny how i never understood my fathers time and devotion to his religion when he was here on this earth.

what's a post w/out a photo? this was last summer. a glass of wine, a sunset and a view of the lake. i think you can see how much he loved those things.

and a song......

.Thank You.

I don't know if anyone comes here anymore but as I lay in bed last night I was thinking of this blog and of all of you who visited, cared, prayed, gave us strength, shared your own tragedies and triumphs and left beautiful heartfelt comments. I miss you all and I wanted to say THANK YOU, for everything. You've no idea how much it's all meant to my family and I through this difficult time.

I will start the RCIA program Monday night, w/ my husband as my sponsor. My sister will be attending as well, w/ my mom as hers. The kids will be taking religion classes at the same time. They started last week. I find it ironic that my father found his faith, after he lost his father and the same thing is happening to me. I feel my father's presence when I'm at the Church. I feel close to him and connected. He would be so proud that we're doing this. I wish I could walk the walk w/ him but I KNOW he knows---I know this b/c before school the other morning, my son asked me if I had a picture of Noah's Ark and I went upstairs and got his Boy's Childhood Bible that my dad gave him on Easter last year---and as I opened it---there was this hand written note, to Carter, from my father, but I couldn't help but think, it was his message, that morning, to me, that he was so thrilled that "those babies were getting religion" (he always would say that to my mom "those babies need religion" but not to me---he didn't preach).




Then out of it, fell this picture---it's my dad holding Carter when he was just days old.





Of course I cried but what a treasure for me to find. I will cherish it always as I have nothing in my father's handwriting.

If you are reading this, it means you're still stopping by, still thinking of us and for that I thank you.

xxoo