Proud momma

Now I know we all love to brag about how amazing our kids are form time to time, but on days like to today bragging isn't really what its about. We have been blessed with such amazing kids, and today was an example of hard work paying off. We went to 10:45 mass this morning but it was just Big E, Mad, and I...Baby Gap feel asleep so Hubby stayed in the car with him. It was one of the busiest Sundays I've seen in a long time, as if it was Easter or Christmas. We were about 5 min early and there were no seats, so the kids and i stood in the back. I dread standing in the back cause they can't see anything and thus are always distracted. Today was one of those I just want to get on my soap box kind of days. I'm in mass and I turn to the left to see 2 different families laying out blankets(as if its a picnic) for this kids to sit on and color or read books and magazines during church. As I turn to the right there's a girl much older than Big E drawing and her brother also older than Big E playing with Legos?? This happens from time to time but today it was in excess, all of these children were way to old to be doing this. Its one thing if they are under 2 or 3 and still learning reverence, which we don't allow even at that age. Its another when they are old enough to listen and understand and I they could care less where they are and what's going on. What as the world come to that we as Christians teach are kids that its too much to expect them to take an hour out of their day to be with God. I've never used the nursery that's available during some mass and if a family does there's nothing wrong with that. Though I have to say raising your kids to be reverent isn't only exhausting, but you miss most of what's going on in mass. Well today wasn't that much different from normal, I had to get on my kids for various reason, some being that they were distracted by other kids, and some being that they were talking. Either way I'm always proud of how hard they try, Big E is only a year form his First Communion and he loves God so much. He has a very strong spirit, I can't wait to see what the future hold for him, and Mad has recently started reminding me to help her with prayers. These 2 are really becoming little Catholics. What brought tears to my eyes today was to separate instances where each one of them pointed out their love for God in different ways. After mass I headed over to the religious book store to purchase a scapular for my grandfather who's ill and in the hospital. We were only in the store for a matter of minutes, but it was long enough to catch Mad's eyes on something she had to have. We were at the register paying and she hands me something very breakable(which may I add she never usually picks up anything in store, we have a hand behind your back rule in stores). She says to me "Mommy I want baby!!!" in my hands is a ceramic Holy Family, they were with children's faces and Mary was hold a very small Baby Jesus. At first glance I say no, but then notice a small $1.00 tag on it. It was on clearance regularly $12. I told her she could have it and had Big E find a $1 clearance item as well. Big E picked a cross with a star and the word "Noel" on it. We leave the store and head home. Later on we are in the kitchen about to have lunch when Big E brings up something that just about knocked me off my feet. I was telling him that his Great Grandpa is very sick and may not be with us much longer. At which time he says. "That's ok Mom, he'll be able to see us in Heaven." tear...at which point I decide to use that comment for some teaching. I ask him if his whole body will be in Heaven. He says no, and then I ask well what's in Heaven then. He stated very confidently, "Well you are reborn,(reborn I ask, what does that mean) it means that when you die and go to Heaven you are reborn into Heaven as a Ghost." His words not mine, I ask him what he means by ghost and he says that its like your body separates and I asked if by ghost he meant spirit. He says "Exactly Mom!" This amazingly wonderful little boy at the age of 6, understands what a spirit is and that your soul separates from your body and goes to Heaven with God. I even asked discussed with him if that meant who you were went to Heaven(aka A mother with 3 kids and a husband)? He said yes you go to Heaven just as you were here but without your body?!?! Its crazy it took me years to understand this and I think I may have been an adult when I finally did. Big E is so blessed with God's understanding of life and the world. I'm such a blessed mother. To top all this off just a few days ago Big E told me he know what he wants to be when he grows up.... he wants to help people and animals all over the world, but he desires to work outside...our little adventurer.

In this picture in Mad's left hand is her Holy Family, which she has walked around the house all day taking care of...she's such a little mommy.