Princesa's First Holy Communion

One of the great joys of having so many grandchildren is watching them receive their Sacraments.  So many Baptisms!  So many First Holy Communions!  What could be more wonderful?

Last Sunday, our little Princesa, the second-oldest child of our middle son, received the Body and Blood of Jesus for the very first time, and it was a beautiful day.

First of all, the blog name I picked for her surely fits, for she did indeed look like a princess in her lacy white First Communion finery.

Our sweet girl was very reverent and serious while receiving, and then after she got back to her seat, she folded her hands and bowed her head in prayer.

Then she looked up, with a joyful expression on her face--just the sort of expression one should have after receiving Our Lord for the very first time!

Princesa had both sets of her grandparents there for this very special event in her life.  My husband and I count our blessings all the time, knowing that not every grandparent is as lucky as we have been (especially since our move to VA, which makes us practically neighbors to so many of our beloved children and grandchildren!).

Along with her parents and four siblings, and the aforementioned four grandparents, our sweet First Communicant had lots of other family members there to share her big day as well: two sets of aunts and uncles, ten cousins, and one of her dad's cousins (who is also local and came with her hubby and three kids). We actually managed to get a photo of our whole group, which is nothing short of a miracle.

Afterward, we all went over to son #3's house and enjoyed a celebration for her, along with a very good friend of hers who was in her group of First Communicants that day.

I made the cake.  Her other grandmother made some of her famous decorated sugar cookies.

It couldn't have been more perfect.  God is so good!

And in less than two weeks, we'll get to do this all over again, when son #2's oldest boy makes his First Holy Communion.

It's a wonderful life.  Deo gratias!

Easter Sunday Fun Day

We had the most lovely Easter; I hope you did, too!

My husband and I went to the Easter Vigil Mass, so we were free on Sunday morning to get ready for our gang to come to our house for a brunch get-together in the early afternoon. We had sons #2, #3, and #4, their wives, and the 13 children they have between them gathered under our roof (and out in our little strip of side yard), along with son #4’s in-laws and a dear family friend who went to college with two of our daughters-in-law.  So 11 adults—and 13 kids aged 7 and under!  It was the very best kind of chaos.

G-Man, 7, the oldest child of son #3 and our oldest grandson, gave a little speech he’d memorized, telling the story of Easter and it’s true meaning.  It was beautiful.

My girls and I joined forces on the food, and it was delicious and plentiful: we had quiches, bacon (6 pounds of it!), all kinds of doughnuts and pastries, pulled pork sandwiches, salads, fried chicken tenders, hash brown casserole...everyone ate their fill and was able to take home leftovers as well.

We were able to enjoy the mild, sunny, VA weather outdoors, and had we an Easter egg hunt for the little ones.

All in all, a blessed, perfect (tiring!) day.

Our youngest grandchild, #19, napping with his daddy as the festivities came to an end.  ❤️