I will get pancakes. I wish I had her faith!

J has been making big breakfast for the kids every Sunday morning. When we were on complete lockdown we would watch Mass (with Bear serving from OKC and Pooker and JavaJava watching the same Mass from TX) and then have a huge meal with special drinks, facetime phone calls and anything we could think of the make Sunday special. After we started back to regularly attending Sunday Mass, the breakfast size shrank.  J still makes a big meal but all of the choices are not at each meal. 

I have been struggling with the changes from Wuhan Coronavirus. As many of you know, I am a complete social creature. I want to be out and about in life’s adventures. The lockdown period was about two months for us, but I would continue to shop for groceries at least once a week. Often, I was desperately searching for much needed toilet paper. Masks were not required and I didn’t wear them, as I can’t stand them. So now as the restrictions lift but newer mask requirements are added, I am actually going out less and less.  Most of our grocery shopping is done online with delivery or curb side pickup. This means a lot more planning and a lot less spur of the moment decisions on what to eat. 

Saturday evening one of my daughters announced that she can’t wait for pancakes on Sunday morning. I heard Jason tell her that it was unlikely because we didn’t have any mix and he would not be going into the grocery store any time soon with the requirement of wearing the masks.  Shortly after her announcement Jason went to bed. This child came to me and proclaimed that she would have pancakes in the morning and smiled a huge grin. I explained that it was very unlikely and why. I said next Sunday for sure, but she would just have to be ok with waiting. She told me with the greatest of confidence that, “My daddy really loves me and he always tries to make me happy. I know I will have pancakes, I don’t know how but I trust he will provide!”

I don’t share this story to point out that this daughter was acting a tad cocky or that she had true-spoiled, unrealistic expectations. You see, I struggle with trusting in God. I struggle with trusting in those little things. I know the big things are covered but the little details worry me way too much. My kiddos don’t struggle to trust in God, and my husband is the reason. This is something I need to work on so much. Over the lockdown at the one time we got the privilege of getting to confession, I was given the penance of mentally responding to every worry with, “Jesus I trust in you!” I realized that is very easy to say but so hard to feel.  Not for my kiddos.

Early Sunday morning J had to run another child to early Mass and then to her lifeguarding job. He drove through somewhere and ordered a stack on pancakes. The truth is that our kids are not really spoiled but they trust that their dad will do what he can to make them happy. He works very hard to make their lives better.  It is that complete and innocent trust that we are supposed to have in our heavenly Father! I am most thankful that my children will not struggle with trusting in God that much because they have such a loving dad! I pray that I will gain this trust in HIM.  

Stations At Home Again

We are all stuck at home still so again we said the stations.

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.

You no longer GET TO GO TO MASS!

The president has limited travel, public places are closing including the pools where some of the kiddos work, and we as a family have decided to quarantine. We did huge shopping on Monday that should last us for at least a week. I could not find toilet paper but other than that we got what we wanted. The news is all about Social distancing and how that can help limit a quick spread of the virus. 

Now what?!? The news is intimidating but we got this. . . or so I thought. While I was shopping on Monday the Archdiocese of St. Louis issued this statement. Still processing what this means . . .

“Do we HAVE to go to Mass today?” A child would ask on a any given Sunday in a whiney sleepy voice. J

 and I would respond, “You don’t have to go to Mass, YOU GET TO GO TO MASS!” Never, in all my life, could I imagine not being able to attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Even during the hurricanes in Houston, if you could get to the church safely the priest welcomed you to Mass. I have never lived in an area where the Catholic Church isn’t strong and I have always had several locations and times for Mass to choose from. I will admit that, ‘Not getting to go to Mass’ and not even having an option to attend is very unnerving to this cradle Catholic. I know I am not the only one. This is so hard to comprehend. Mass is always an option, or so I thought.

I am sure that God can make good on things that overwhelm the human heart. I didn't think that Mass on Sunday would be my last one for awhile. God help us!

Mass Because WE WANTED To

Today Mass was very hard. I was afraid to go because I had a cough. I had been sick and was now feeling tons better but I still suffer from a post nasal drip leaving me with an awful habitual cough. It means nothing yet had me not wanting to offend anyone. My kids made me go, telling me that I wasn't allowed at the shower if I missed Mass. The Arch Bishop said I didn't have to go but the kids insisted. (I am proud of them!)

I wanted to take pictures but it wasn't appropriate. We went to 9 am Mass and sat right in the main section. There were not many people present at all.  My crowd took up two whole rows. The Tobias Family, with all my kiddos (minus Bear) and J and I were all there to worship together. My heart was full and my eyes teared. I coughed but few noticed. I was so happy to receive communion. We went to the priest because he was the only one allowing us to receive on our tongues.

I thought to myself that if I needed to receive on my hand or any other changes I would be happy to do them. At least we could go to Mass. We didn't "HAVE" to go but we "GOT" to go. We were not required to go today but we wanted to.  Thank you God for being our comfort in this odd time.

Stations of the Cross

We are now at the second weekend of Lent. Sugar wanted to make sure that we would all say the stations together so she got out the books and set us up in the dinning room. 

Leader: We adore Thee, O Christ, and bless Thee.

All: Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Bagel is Confirmed

So this young lady is begin Confirmed today. We are so excited for her. Here in St. Louis it is the norm to be confirmed in 8th grade so she has prepared at home and will be confirmed with people she doesn't know. This is very different from what we were used to in Houston. I am so exited for her. She picked the beautiful Miss Mary B as her sponsor. (Mary stayed in St. Louis for the week so she could be at the ceremony.)

My kiddos take the saint picking very seriously. This was hard to Bagel. So man of the saints are "taken" by her family members all ready. She looked long and hard to find a unique saint that we had not heard of. Goobers sent her this article on St. Eulalia and Bagel was hooked.  Something about fiery tempers laughter her eye. She learned that this Holy women was from he very early church and the time of the evil Roman emperor Diocletian.

There are two devotions that are very similar yet different from different locations. There is a devotion to St. Eulalia of Barcelona and St. Eulalia of Merida. It is now thought that they are actual devotions to the same young women with some of the details being confused. 

Congratulations to our precious BAGEL! May God bless today and always. WE all ask the St. Eulalia watch over you and pray for you.
Come Holy Spirit!