So I did my usual volunteer security shift at DJ yesterday. Love it love it love it! Here's a picture of what the gym looks like transformed into a chapel. It's beautiful, the kids are reverent, the music is great, the whole weekend is so much fun.
Sarah and I arrived at 7am in 10 degree weather. She slept most of the time the kids were arriving, which was good because the doors kept opening and letting in the arctic air. Two really great things happened this weekend, one of them sad but beautiful.
The first thing was on Saturday.... I took the kids to hear Ken play in the band. (They loved it!) In between the two sets of music they said the Divine Mercy chaplet. The day before, Friday, my bff since junior high called me and said her mother was very close to dying. The doctor had given her about 3 weeks at that point. She was ready for her not to suffer anymore, but also very sad of course. My mom said to tell her to pray the divine mercy chaplet, as she and her siblings had done for my grandma last Christmas as she was dying. She did. Then all 850 kids (including some of her grandchildren) prayed it on Saturday. Immediately after leaving I learned that Gloria had passed away. So beautiful that we were all praying that prayer. Please pray for their family. Gloria has such a beautiful soul, mother of 9 children, gave selflessly her entire life.
The next thing happened on Sunday. I had heard a talk about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is kind of a montessori way of teaching young kids about Jesus as the good shepherd, the mass, Jesus laying down his life for his sheep, etc. It's very hands on, and the kids play with a set - Jesus as the good shepherd, sheep, a fence, a "yard," and an altar. There is a way to teach about it that sounded very beautiful. The classes are expensive and I couldn't find the book used to save my life. The book is called The Good Shepherd and the Child. Anyway, when Sarah woke up from her first nap she decided to scream inconsolably for about 15 minutes. As I was walking her up and down the hallway trying to calm her down, I ran into an Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia. I asked her if she knew anything about the Catechesis of the Good shepherd. She looked surprised and said she had just taken a class on how to teach it! I told her what I wanted to do (make M one of these sets for her birthday and learn how to teach it as well.) She was very happy and said she would love to help me! She asked for my email (and I had to give her the yahoo one I rarely use because I couldn't really give my milkjugs one to a nun!) and she said she would meet with me. I'm SO excited! Also I asked Sew if her mom would paint the sheep for me. She will and I sent them today! So thrilled. I have a peg doll of Jesus as the good shepherd, a board that I'll cover with green felt, a fence with a gate, 9 wooden sheep, and a beautiful box to keep it all in when she's not playing with it. I think it will be a hit!
I got to attend the mass on Sunday, wearing Sarah on my chest, the same mass where I chose to be happy and praise God's name whatever happened in my life. That was in 2006, right before my second surgery for stage 4 endo, right after my second lupron shot, when I thought there was a chance I would never be a mother. Now I have my 4th beautiful sleeping baby on my chest. Thank you God.
