Friday we not only had to do all of our normal monthly errand running, but the dogs both needed to go to the groomers, I had a special shopping trip to take, we had to finish cleaning up the main part of the house, and get ready to have people over the next day! Up and atom before 8 AM we did manage to get all of that done. The dogs looked great, we had what we needed from our errands, I got a new vacuum cleaner, I took a shopping trip with Grandma, the house got cleaned (mostly), and all was ready for the next morning. We did vacuum Saturday morning and extend the table out for more seating, as well as put the table cloth on. We hadn't gotten home from our running until nearly the campers bedtime, but we managed to get it all ready pretty much.
My shopping trip with Grandma, while Daddy and Papa watched the kids? Well, I hadn't bought a new bathing suit since prior to Peanut being born. The two I had sitting in my drawer either didn't fit at all or barely fit. I've gotten a bit more modest than I used to be five, nearly six (YIKES!), years ago and the one that barely fit I just wasn't comfortable at all in. Thanks to some department store cash gifted me by Noni, a discount card that Grandma had, and an early donation to my birthday I was able to get a wonderful new bathing suit! Nope. No pictures, it's not warm enough to swim and really y'all don't wanna see that LOL.
OK, back on topic (though the new bathing suit is a blessing for me, have y'all seen the prices on those things lately??). Saturday morning we were up before 8 AM again. Doing the last minute cleaning, making sure everyone ate breakfast, and getting dressed. ECJ looked very smart in his suit and YCJ nearly broke my heart in her little white dress. Off to the church, thinking we'd given plenty of time to save seats and everything else... Only to find out the number of children had more than doubled because our parish and another had decided to join together, and somehow we'd missed the announcement! Oh well. We all managed to find seats. I went back with the Cracker Jack's and made sure that they were ready, including putting on YCJ's veil (which did break my heart and I was a mess the rest of mass, they get too big and too beautiful too fast). I went out to sit with the rest of the family and we all watched as mass began. 
When it was finished we took lots of pictures, Mommy cried some more, and then we headed back to the house for the celebrations. Family members we don't get to see very often, in some cases less than once a year, were there and made the day extra special. We were missing some family that day, but they were with us in spirit even if they couldn't make the long distance travel. YCJ hadn't realized that you were given gifts when you made your First Communion and that just made her day. She loves statues, jewelry, and rosaries and she got one or more of each. Peanut pouted on and off all day long because it wasn't her day, but being with cousins she loves really helped.
Most of us agreed that since they were making it at the same time, due to us moving so much in the past, that it was like shopping for twins. (I feel this way a lot due to their similar sizes in clothing.) But, we all agreed that it would be much simpler from now on since they'll be making their sacraments at different times from now on. Two years from now ECJ will be making his Confirmation when Peanut is making her First Communion. We have cousins in between every age so pretty much every year one member of the family or another will be making a milestone at church, but this year we had four!
That's right, four! Buddy, the eldest camper, made his Confirmation last month , the Cracker Jacks both made their First Communion on Saturday, and the eldest cousin made her Confirmation on Sunday! As that part of the family lives more than 70 miles away, we were again up before 8 AM and ready to leave shortly there after. The mass was beautiful, I love seeing how other churches hold mass and their church is much more "musical" than ours. The cousin was lovely and did well receiving the sacrament. The family celebrations at Auntie's house were wonderful, Mommy ate far more food than she should have, and the cousins had a wonderful time.
Three days in a row they saw their grandparents this week and that made them very happy.
Even though we did school today (Monday), it felt more like a weekend day than a school day. I'd scheduled us for a half day as the girls both had check ups at the doctors this afternoon. Lessons flew by quickly (a blessing on Monday's or any day) and Mommy's been able to catch up on some of the laundry around here. I managed some crochet time in this weekend just to keep my hands busy while I tried to unwind my mind before sleep.
It's been such a busy, but blessed, weekend!!
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It sounds wonderful. They look so happy on their special day! Do you mind sharing a short explanation about First Communion and Confirmation for those of us unfamiliar with them? Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly were happy! Of course, no problem! Super short explanation would be that there are a lot of sacraments to the Catholic faith (7 I believe). You have baptism, confession, first communion, confirmation, then your wedding and so on. So, the first communion is when the child learns all about the body and blood of Christ and they're allowed (after months of study and truly believing The Word) to take part in communion for the fist time. Each area is different but in our parish (and in our archdiocese) this is done in second grade, so the child is usually around 8 years old. Then when they are in 8th grade, again this is for our area but I believe it's generally around the same age range, they receive their Confirmation ... which means that they are now "adults" in the Church's eyes and are responsible for their actions. It doesn't let us parents off the hook for their well being and learning and reminders to stay faithful but they've personally now made a commitment of themselves, the Church, and God to be Catholic and to lead a faithful life. (I'll probably add something similar to that to the bottom of the post now that you asked lol, but I wanted to make sure I got your question answered right away before I head off to work on supper). I hope that helped. :-) I'll work on being more informative about some of these things, it wasn't that long ago I had no idea what these terms meant myself LOL
DeleteWhat a busy, blessed week! I managed to keep it together pretty well during my son's First Communion this week. The toughest part was when the kids sang a song after communion, all by themselves, acapella. It was about receiving Jesus in their hands today and becoming the hands of Jesus in the world. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ReplyDeleteI'll be stopping by your blog more often, I really enjoyed it. My son didn't hit me as hard as my daughter, something about her face in a few of the pictures and putting a veil in her hair. OH, who am I kidding? I'm an emotional basket case at all their big events LOL
DeleteThey both look so adorable and happy to have made their First Holy Communion! I remember being jealous of my Catholic friends growing up because I was so drawn to the rituals and traditions of their church and I loved the little "wedding" dresses! I did not grow up with any religion but I used to go to church with some of my friends sometimes! Congrats to you all for reaching this wonderful milestone!
ReplyDeleteThey made me cry lol ... I'm too emotional sometimes. But that little veil did me in :-) I grew up much the same. Jealous of my Catholic friends and going to church with them sometimes. I wasn't raised in a church, we all believed in God but my grandparents belonged to the Church of Scotland and there is none here in MI (I don't think there's a branch in all of the US for that matter lol) and my father's side was a mix of Baptist, non demoninational, and Shamanism ... plus a whole lot more. I converted as an adult ... even if I'm not "official" yet (still need paperwork and to go through the rest of the process"
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