Peyton's First Holy Communion - April 29th, 2012

It was really a  perfect day.  The weather was beautiful, the company cheerful, the food tasty, our family blessed.

The Mass was celebrated by a retired bishop, who is the great uncle of one of the First Communicants.  I thought we would miss our Monsignor terribly, but Bishop Harrington was delightful.

I can only think of one word that summarizes Peyton himself:  Special.  Our dear Fr. Joe was at their practice night earlier in the week, and he told me that Peyton stood out from the other kids because of an intensity and focus that clearly showed he understood the significance of what they were doing.  I believe him.  During his preparation, Peyton was just the right mix of nervous and excited to let me know that he got it, as well as any 8-year-old does.

At the end of the day, I asked him what the best part of the day was.  We were hours past Mass, and I was prepared to hear about a certain gift, or having lots of people at his party.  He thought for a second and said, "The Body.  It tastes better than I thought it would, and It melts in your mouth."  It was very much a little boy's take on things, but his response showed me that receiving our Lord for the first time was still fresh in his mind, and at the forefront of his day.  Love that boy.

He did receive some beautiful gifts, my mom was a huge help with dinner, and Father Joe came by for dessert, completing the day for us.  We are so blessed.

Family Vacation - Tennessee - April 2012

Cousins.

Cades Cove - Smoky Mountains

Last day at Grandma and Grandpa's...

...practicing raising one eyebrow.

Holy Saturday at Auntie's

Doesn't this sweet little thing fit right in with my boys?

My cute husband.  He tries to steal our nephew sometimes.  Like, for keeps.

My cute sister and her sweet hubby.

My sweet, sweet Pey.  And a reminder of that 4-digit ortho bill I mentioned previously.

Fun with balloon rockets and giant foam airplanes.

Fruit salad by the fire pit.

Trying to get a ball down out of the tree.  Unsuccessfully.

Time

We had dinner at my mom and dad's house last night, to celebrate my dad's birthday.
All of my siblings, their spouses, and their children were able to be there, a rare treat.
My mom must have been feeling sentimental, what with the entire lower half of her family tree in one place.
Pretty soon there was an old home movie on the t.v.
I looked up and saw myself, a skinny fourteen-year-old with braces.
All dressed up for homecoming court, a shy, awkward boy by my side.
Floods of forgotten memories invaded my mind, things I never think about anymore.
We all laughed, and then moved on with our evening.
It grew late, and one family left to find their tired baby's bed, then another.
We said our more difficult goodbyes, to the sister who's my neighbor at heart, but hours away in reality.
Home we went, brush teeth, babies to bed, chat, pray, sleep.
I woke up at a still dark and quiet hour this morning, last night's sights and sounds still playing through my mind.
I thought of that video, those young, unfinished faces, that boy.
I opened my eyes, and there he was next to me.
No longer shy and awkward, but the man who unflinchingly takes care of me everyday.
The years have been good to us.
I don't long for those days, the way some regret the passing of time and loss of carefree life.
Not a bit.
I thank God for shaping us into the people we've become.
For taking two lost kids and, against all odds, leading them down a beautiful path to eternity, together.

St. Patrick's Day S'mores, At Grandma and Grandpa's

"Just let me do my job, woman."

"I wonder if I can get this to catch fire and still make it look like an accident."

The many...

faces...

of Sebastian.

(Mr. Smith told me later that this face was his reaction to being caught in the act.)

"One down..."

"Seven or eight to go."

Holy blue eyes.

Brothers.

Grandpa and Sebastian.

"Why hello there."

"So what?  We have girl cousins who visit Grandma's house too!"

"It's a bird?  A plane?"

Nope, it's Oliver in the tree.