Christ our Light!
Thanks be to God!
Saturday night we celebrated my tenth birthday. How can it be that ten years have passed since Holy Mother Church opened her arms and accepted me in? Was the Great Jubilee really that long ago?
Max and Philip have recently become aware of the fact that I have not always been Catholic. It tastes strange in their mouths, knowing their mom did not grow up the way they are. It is all they know and I understand that my conversion is strange and foreign to them. They have been full of questions as a result.
How? When? Why?
Sometimes they are hard to answer. We strive to be honest and frank in this house and we try our best to talk to them as people, not just children. But sometimes, sometimes, I don’t know the words to explain long winding reasons or great theological debates. These are the kinds of questions they are asking and I have answered with truth being truth.
“But how?” Max pressed. And then I realized he wanted the gritty mechanics and processes. Things were simpler and more convoluted all at once.
“At the Easter Vigil, Mother of All Liturgies!” I answered. As I began to describe the wonder of the vigil, I mentioned candles and darkness and stories. Sold!
“Do they have it every year? At the Cathedral? Can we go? Please?? Can we?”
I was reluctant, not because I don’t love the Vigil, but because the last time we went, things did not go so well. Tess was just a babe and I nearly threw Philip out the door of the church for being too 2. I was wary. But I could also count the number of Vigils I have celebrated since having kiddos on 1 finger. It seemed right, this being my tenth birthday, to be at the Cathedral with the Bishop to celebrate the Resurrection.
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.
The night was beautiful and the kids were troopers. Philip was unenthusiastic but warmed up to being there when we started into the Gloria and he couldn’t get over the ‘big” people getting baptized. Tess got a bloody nose, removed her shoes and her headband and visited the potty twice, but she survived. Ellie didn’t cry for the entire 3 hours and managed to stay up until her siblings were in bed, too, at midnight. And Max? Max followed along with each reading, getting more and more excited.
“I just can’t wait until they say Alleluia! Then it’s Easter!”
Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
this is so great! man alive! (literally) ten years!
it’s been awhile since i’ve celebrated Easter at a Cathedral vigil, and though I missed the over powering scent of lilies, the full-immersion was pretty awesome. … Happy Easter!
There is nothing more beautiful (this side of heaven) than the Easter Vigil! So glad that you were able to go with kiddos to be part of the celebration. Happy 10th “anniversary”! Deo Gratias! love and hugs…..Roxie
Blessings to you, Annie. I wanted to take William to see the fire but I chickened out. Glad your kids were such troopers.
Thanks for the happy wishes all!
Annie, I don’t know how you guys do it!
First of all, love the blog. Since becoming a mother I’ve often thought about chronicling my “adventures” in such a manner. Not to mention, there are days that I think if I don’t write down what happened, I might block it out and my children will only have random snap shots of their early childhood to look back upon. But then I dismiss the idea of a blog because I read amazing ones like this (so honest, yet delightful to read) and realize I could never be clever/witty enough to be enjoyed by others! It’s seriously so enjoyable just the little bit I’ve read. And nice to have a glimpse of what my life might be like when we get, God willing, to baby #4… Lots of work, but ten-fold the joy I’m sure!
So back to my “How do you do it?” comment: Easter Vigil. How do you do it? We have trouble (“trouble” should read “wild/temper-tantrum riddled”) with two kiddos every Sunday! You got 4 to Easter Vigil! You guys are my heroes. I’m going to follow this blog and avidly study your parenting skills. We wimped out and did Easter Morning for the second year in a row. How we miss Easter Vigil… maybe next year.
Keep up the awesome blog! And God’s work that fills it. It’s so inspiring to follow such a Christ-centered family. No doubt in large part from the sacrifices of Mother and Father. You really are such amazing people. So glad Jacques gave me the link. 🙂
Sorry for the MASSIVE “comment/letter”. God bless.
BRIDGET!!! So good to hear from you and congrats on 2!! Awesome!
About the blog: I started this in response to my mom’s demand for more photos of the kids and have just tried to keep the same “Here it is!” attitude in mind. You could do it.
How we did/do it: We parent using something called Love and Logic. There are books and CDs and such and it has helped us loads.
Thanks for the encouragement and so flattered you are reading. Hope to hear from you again soon!