A New Way To Sunday

This is our new way of "attending" Mass. This is breaking our hearts while we set it up so we can Live Stream the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We followed some of the recommendations. We found it was hard to follow them too carefully as many of us were still too upset about how we were not allowed or welcome to attend the Mass in person. 

The girls put dresses on and the boys were a little more reserved. It was hard to "watch" Mass on TV and not being in person. 

We all paused and sincerely prayed to receive Spiritual Communion. I like that I can watch my Bear, who was serving at the Mass and feel closer to him. I like that Pooker and JavaJava were watching and praying with us. I feel closer to everyone.

Christ The King With Bear

Bear has shared so much with us about his love of this parish. Pooker and Goobers have been to visit for Mass but we had just had a tour. Staying for Sunday morning Mass was wonderful for J and I. It was so good to see Bear in his element. He is serving God and that makes him very happy.

I warmed my mom heart seeing Bear so involved and so loved.

I love the above picture. Bear looks so happy!

This is Bear's favorite image of Our Lord. He loves that Our Lord is in priestly vestments. We miss yo so much Bear but it is so good to see you happy!

OKL Visit

Mom and Dad were given an invitation to join Bear at a form Seminarian Christmas Dinner. The dinner and Mass were held at Bear's parish that he is working at for a pastoral year. 

He loves the parish, he gets along really well with the pastor and J and I have friends in the same parish. The dinner was nice and we talked with Archbishop Coakley.  

The morning after the dinner, my friend from that parish hosted a Color Street Party. I had fun, I hope they did as well.

We then met up with Bear and had some food, did some sight seeing, went to Confession and then saw more sights.

The memorial for the OKC bombing is such a moving place to visit. The memorial is incredibly well done.

Then off to another beautiful church.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is one of my absolute favorite images of Our Lady. The door was that imagine and to enter you had to grab Our Lady's hand. It felt wonderful to hold her hand. 

We saw so many wonderful sights, and prayed in many wonderful places. The evening ended with a delicious fancy dinner with Fr. and Bear.

Bear Serves Mass in OK

I follow the facebook pages of Bear's "home" parish in Oklahoma City. This picture was shared on that page. I love seeing him!

Kids Meet In Texas

Sugar and Possible fly to TX and have a blast while preparing for the holiday season.

Pooker is happy to have some time with the girls before they head to St. Louis and she heads with JavaJava to The Highland Games.

One of the seminarians sent a picture of Bear getting ready to fly home with a note saying how excited he was for family time! Love the crowd he hands with, they are good people.

This time of year is insane and crazy but I love it!

Bear is on the Seminary Calendar

Sugar:

"I’m so proud of my big brother!! Can’t wait to see the amazing things he will do for our church!!" 

Pooker:

"We’re so proud of our Bear! I miss this man a lot. His weekly calls are now favored and treasured among all of us, his sisters especially. We usually all have a phone call after we each talk to him to compare notes and get the most information. 💙 He’s where he needs to be and as much as we miss him and wish we could send him stupid text messages or call him when the moon is full, I know he’s praying for us and in that communion of saints I feel so much closer to him."

Bear's Birthday

Happy 23 rd birthday to Bear. This young man has always lived life to fullest. He never wastes time playing politics, he just gets things done. He has grown from an adventurous child into a strong confidant man. I have been beyond blessed with each of my children including this bright loving soul. I pray that this day, like each day, will bring him closer to our Lord. Love you, Bear!

To be honest I have been worried about this young man. We miss him but have each other, how is he doing. I discovered why he doesn't miss us that much. He is surround by a group of great people. He is one of 6 seminarians representing the Oklahoma City Archdiocese. These guys are true brothers Christ. They all joined us on Friday night to celebrate Bears' Birthday with him. My heart swelled as I listened to this group act like real siblings. They encouraged, and teased, laughed, taught, supported and enjoyed each other's company. Bear had found a beautiful place. Happy Birthday Bear!

Parents Weekend With Bear

Something wonderful happened Today. J and I got to see Bear in his clerics for the first time. He has dressed for occasions and for school all the time. We have never been around, only saw it in pictures. There was something powerful for J and I seeing him dressed for the job that he feels called to.

The stain glass windows in this chapel are so beautiful. J and I were both moved by the experience.  I can't wait for all of Bear's siblings to see him dressed in clerics.

St. John Vianney seminary is full of faithful, intelligent and joyful young men all desiring to serve the church. We saw so much hope for the Catholic Church in each of these seminarians, especially the crowd from the Oklahoma City Diocese. They honored us by allowing us to take them to lunch early in the day to meet them and get to know Bear's peers. Later than night they went with for ice cream. 

We heard someone pull their kid back from the boys and say something about needing to be careful around priest because they liked to hurt little boys. It hurt so much when we heard that directed toward these strong young men of faith but we also because I understood why the parent said it. The news had been full of bad reports all day.  God Bless our church and the good news is that these young men will change it for the better.