Just What You Need. . .When You Need It

Yesterday was like a breath of fresh air.  A relief. Restful.  Since the day after Christmas Lene has been preparing five days a week for the show, "Little Mermaid."  Saturday night, after nine shows, they concluded.  It was an emotional end for her, as we told her as much as we love the director and think what these kids do on that stage is incredible, we need more time with our girl.  We want her back.  Two shows this year has just about worn us out. . .and unless we can reach some sort of deal where she can only work three days a week, it just can't happen again.  It drains us, so I imagine it must drain her.  She's tired and it shows: her attitude, her whipping through her homework, sleeping in until the last possible moment. She needs a break and since she's not old enough to realize it, then it is our job to.

As usual, everything about the performance was phenomenal.  The dedication and hours these kids put in is amazing!  So far this year they have raised over twenty thousand dollars to put towards their New York trip!  There has not been a single show that we have been to that has disappointed.

Bubba cried at the end.  I love his sensitive heart.  He also told Mr. Lewis he would like to be in Hook--a little problematic for all the reasons I mentioned above.  However, these kids Kristin and Sean are role models for my kids and so good to them and encouraging.  Our final Saturday matinee was a real treat, and how much all the actors and dancers had grown since opening night!!

So, Sunday the boys were going to go riding and the girls were going to have an all day girls date.  I can't believe they took pictures and I didn't! Father and son discussing where to head next, I think.

Our day included a visit from a friend in which we learned a little bit about a famous artist and practiced our hand at painting. . .

We watched a movie and just enjoyed the day.  When it came time to go to church and the boy's weren't back yet I knew we were on our own.  The First Sunday of Lent, I wanted to be there, but the thought of doing church alone with the three-year-old felt daunting.  The girls showered and Lene combed, blew dry, and put Nessa's hair up and chose her clothes.  They both dressed up a little bit and we were off.

At church we sat two rows from the front. . .not my choice, believe me--that's a long walk if I needed to escape quickly.  But we sat and met our neighbors and kept near the end of the pew just in case. . . Around the homily, I realized we might actually make it because Nessa was just plain good.  By the sign of peace, the man in the front row turned around and said, "I am so enjoying your little one's precious responses!  I bet she is so well behaved because she learned from her big sister."  I may have forgotten to mention, Nessa is like a parrot these days, echoing responses and singing loudly the songs.

That man's encouragement/compliment filled my heart with such joy.  It was in that instant that I flashbacked on all our struggle with the Catholic Church and the idea of there not being enough for the kids. . . and I realized God met me right there in that moment.  All the squirminess, exhaustion, and attention diversions, made this moment so much sweeter.  Me and my girls experienced church together last night.  The baths and getting ready leading up to it, the dinner we went out to celebrate after it. . .all brought me back to what church is all about.

Dinner request? Shu-shi as Nessa calls it. We sat at a table and our pastor happened to be there. He had seen us at the start of mass and now he came and sat down at our table to talk to the girls. When this man speaks, it's as if he is speaking directly to you, and he knows exactly what you need to hear.  Our parish is blessed to have him. It filled my heart with peace.  We are right where we belong, it said to me.  Right where we belong. A day of rest and refueling. . .a night of affirmation and appreciation.