Rose's First Holy Communion

Our beautiful Rose made her First Holy Communion on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at St. Teresa's Catholic Church. I will not be able to capture in the written word what our hearts experienced this glorious weekend. Rose has been preparing for months at home for her momentous day. We prayed the First Communion novena everyday together and I loved watching her pray intently and with intention. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, and over 30 of her cousins came to celebrate with her. What a very loved child.

The mass was supernatural.  The homily was spectacular.  The reverence was second to none.  Something was uniquely special about Rose's First Communion mass that I cannot put my finger upon.

I know she felt like the queen of England.  She waltzed through our home as though she was regal.  I plan to have all the girls wear the same dress, but each can pick out their own veil.  She chose one from Gloria Deo with roses on the headband.

I included this picture because of my hand.  I love my mother's hands.  With all the last minute details, it can often get a little hairy trying to get out the door on these big days.  There is the meal to be made, hair to be curled x6, white tights to be found x6, shoes to find x8, a baby to nurse, etc., etc., etc.  I felt rushed to do her hair, but took just small moment in prayer to ask to let me just savor the moment of being with her.  She didn't care how her hair looked.  She was just excited so I am grateful I just sat with her and answered her questions.  Thank you for that moment.

I whispered in her ear that she is our favorite.  She smiled at me.  I tell each of them that and tell them not to tell the others.  I think they know the little game. 

Rose Boever, you are everything I hope to be when I grow up.

It is difficult to capture the exact moment each child receives Jesus for the first time.  This is the best we got, but none the less, Rose was glowing.

We have never participated in CCD before this year.  The Christ the King sisters teach CCD for the sacrament years and once Rose met Sr. Mary Caritas she was enamored by her spiritual beauty.  Sister invited Rose to come on every Wednesday and we couldn't turn down such a wonderful opportunity for her to be around such a powerful example.  I thoroughly enjoyed picking Rose up each week only to find her chatting happily away with Sister.  If Rose becomes a nun, I will attribute this short encounter with Sister as a seed planting moment in her life. 

Rose has a spiritual depth that would delight the heart of any parent.  She explained tonight in prayer that to love someone is to want the best for that person.  To want the best for that person is to want that person to be in heaven.  To want that person in heaven means you would never put that person's soul in the state of mortal sin.  You got it girl.  She thanked us tonight for all the small details that went into her First Communion weekend even down to the egg sandwiches we ate this evening and for making the effort to take everybody to Dominic's football game.

The essence of Rose.  She is all grace and beauty but she is as athletic as they come.

Good Uncle Joshua pitching to Rose.

First Base on her First Communion.

I couldn't capture in the photo how many kids were stuffed into the fort. 

When going to bed last night, I asked John what he will remember most about this day.  He said he will always remember Rose playing all day in her dress and veil running wildly with her cousins having the time of her life.

Rose went on her First Communion retreat the previous Wednesday.  She was so excited she couldn't sleep the night before.  We worked this past week on creating her banner.  In the past, we made one from scratch, but this year due to a time restraints I just bought the kit.  Man, I should have just bought the kit the past years.  She couldn't have had more fun decorating, gluing,  cutting, and arranging this banner.  After it was finished, she commented how she was sad that it was over and wished we could start over from the beginning.  Children are so awesomely simple!!!!!!!!!!!!