Last Minute Gifts for Communion (that aren't rosaries)

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Happy Communion season!

My little second grader will be walking down the aisle soon to make her first Holy Communion along with her class. It's an exciting time in our family. There's the dress, the veil, the day, and the party. In her case, BBQ. This kid's second food was a rib bone that no one thought she would eat but did.

While waiting for the rosary I got off Etsy to arrive from Bosnia, I browsed Amazon. There are so many lovely items and it's not too late! If you are lucky enough to have a religious store in your neighborhood or Amazon Prime, here are some of my favorite ideas.

Last Minute Gifts for Communion (that aren't rosaries)

Making it to Church and Crossing Things Off My List

I am Catholic, a bad Catholic but nonetheless a Catholic.

I went a way for a while, for many reasons but I am trying now to reestablish a routine and include the kids. 

First step was to volunteer again at a church. I use to teach PSR (aka CCD, aka Catechism) so it was natural for me to do it again. I started when I was right out of high school and even though going to church was not a priority, teaching for me was a constant. I taught until I became pregnant with my son. I was asked to leave and I agreed – I was not married.

After having my baby girl three years ago, I decided it was time and I am still teaching fourth graders the beatitudes, explaining the candles in the advent wreath and making rosaries. But, I was not going to mass because my daughter hated it. She would scream from the top of her lungs and when she realized there would be an echo if she just waited for the music to stop, well you can image. I tried the “crying room” but it was nerve racking, she hated that even more. I gave up.

I kept teaching, I kept saying my prayers, and I kept hoping that I would make it that next Sunday. I also had a better understanding as to why my grandparents and great grandparents insisted that you married Catholic. It is really hard to go to church alone never mind with a screaming, angry kid. It sucks.

One day, during a PSR family dinner I was presented with a form to sign baby girl up for Sunday school during mass. Sunday school –genius, she needs some socialization and I need to go to mass. It was time, time for me to let go of my doubts and embrace the rituals that I once loved so dearly.

Finally! I am not only correcting my bad habits but I am continuing the tradition of dragging my kids to church. Sure, baby girl is easy because she gets to make stuff but the third grader, not so happy. I told him he could catch up on his sleep or sing, just so long as he goes with me.

Crossing things off my list one at a time…

Wordless Wednesday - These Aren't Your Mama's Communion Portraits

 

Counting down to my baby boy's First Holy Communion and I could not resist sharing some of the amazing shots by very talented husband.

Don't forget to enter to win an 8x10 canvas print of your favorite photograph!  Giveaway ends on May 10, 2013!

Word(less) Wednesday - First Reconciliation Gift

My baby boy makes his Reconciliation next Tuesday in preparation for his First Holy Communion and for the special day I found a LEGO rosary!  This is so neat I find myself saying it.  I found this on Etsy, of course.

Catholics are not Allowed to Like Gospel

“What do you have against Gospel music?” he said, shocked that I would actually admit to not liking Gospel music.

“I have nothing against it,” I explained with a shrug, “I just don’t care for Gospel music. Why are you surprised by this?”

“Well, you know, isn't your husband… Baptist?” he said, with that overly casual tone. 

He shifted uneasily in his seat, trying not to appear as uncomfortable as he clearly was as our conversation took on a more serious tone.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“Besides, being Catholic, we are not allowed to listen to Gospel music.”

“What!”

“Yep, it is written in the bylaws. It is right on the list of things not to do like attend a church that is not Catholic and committing suicide.”

(source)

I could see the wheels of his Catholic educated mind turning, trying to recall that moment in school where one of the nuns or maybe a priest may have told him that we, as Catholics, don't listen to Gospel.

I was trying so hard not to laugh out loud.  Trying to stay as solemn as I could, I
stifled my giggles. Honestly, how can he not see I was not being serious?

“You're kidding?” he replied, still trying to figure out if I was really serious.

“Yes,” I said. “Yes, I am.”








Link up for RemembeRED.

This week, we’re writing about pivotal conversations. The goal was to focus on body language, word choices, and the pauses between the words to create meaningful, powerful dialogue.

And remember, this is memoir–so as tempting as it is, don’t write what you wish you said.

To give, to give up... Lent

Ah Lent.  The time of "giving up" something.

Lent is about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life. That always involves giving up sin in some form. The goal is not just to abstain from sin for the duration of Lent but to root sin out of our lives forever. Conversion means leaving behind an old way of living and acting in order to embrace new life in Christ. For catechumens, Lent is a period intended to bring their initial conversion to completion.
Catholic Online

It is not a secret that I struggle with some of the teachings, practices, ideals, beliefs of the Church but that does not mean that I do not believe, for the most part, in what the church stands for and represents.  And...  This is by far my favorite part of the year because it screams of renewal and a chance to renew my faith.  I admit that I am a bad Catholic.  I am not the best Christian.   Proud of these things, not really but, I am... human.

Adopted?

Little known fact about me:  I teach PSR.  What is PSR?  Well, PSR is Parish School Religion, which was once called:  CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine), and is also known as Catechism.  In other words, if you are Catholic and don't attend a parochial school you go to PSR.  At least, if you or your parents want you to complete the sacraments, but that is another post and for another blog all together.

Anyway...

I took Goofy to PSR with me tonight and one of my students (I teach 4th grade) goes to the school that Goofy attends.  Goofy talks about this girl a lot, all day and all night.  Her sister is in his kindergarten class and we have attended a party at her house so my student is actually one of the few people in my church that A.) I actually know and B.) knows my family.  I am relativity new to this church and only just started to participate outside of just going to Mass.

After class this student was helping me...

student:  the other kids think your son was adopted

me: ha

student: they don't think he looks like you

me: oh (amused)

student: I think Goofy looks like your husband but how can they think he was adopted?

me: eh, let's not tell them and let them think what they want...

Even if I heard the kids talking about my kid being adopted (which assure, he is not) I am not sure that I would correct them...  adopted or not he is mine.

I don't feel the need to explain.  The only time I do (fell the need to explain) is when he starts talking about his other mommy and then I have issues!  She is i-m-a-g-i-n-a-r-y.

I feel like if I have to explain why he is darker then me then it diminishes our sameness.  That our family is somehow different by stating that our family is "mixed" when we are no different then any other family - adopted or not.  That somehow we are not a family because of the preconceived notions others have put on us.

It also does not help that every time one of my students asks me how many kids I have I would give a different number...  boy the looks!   I also do this with my age and any other personal question they throw at me.  I just can not share with the kids anything personal that I would gladly publish on the internet. 

Maybe, I am afraid that they would see me as someone other then their teacher.  Maybe, they would see how human I am and who wants to see adults like that anyway, never mind a teacher.

Or maybe, I just feel it is not their business and if we could get through just one lesson with out me shouting, "Ladies and Gentleman... please stop talking" I might be more incline to share and not ring their angelic necks.

Church and why I have not gone...

Sunday and all the guilt of not going to Church.  I teach PSR.  My kids are baptized.  It is important to me to be Catholic and still I struggle going to Church.

I thought teaching PSR again would bring me closer but it has not.   I want to be part of the Church but the more I reacquaint myself with some of the teachings I struggle even more.  The Church is so unforgiving but I was oblivious to it growing up and I am learning that I had it all wrong... or I am just wrong now.  I always had a feeling that the Church accepted all and forgave all but now... 

CatholicComeHome.org has a top 10 list of reasons to... well... "come home" and they are all the reasons I love the Church and want to be part of the Church but then there are are all the points (actually highlighted on the website) that I just find wrong, deep in my heart.  Things that I have prayed upon and have affected me personally.  I don't think gay marriage should be wrong, I am pro-choice, I would like to see a woman become a priest and I use contraception.  I am not a good Catholic.  But... when I attend Mass I feel at peace. 

I love the universal community and I feel welcomed in my Church.  It is only when I dive deeper into the "rules" that I am uneasy.  I know that scripture "supports" these beliefs but the bible also supports slavery (Exodus 21) and women should not be in a position of authority (1 Corinthians 14).  Never mind the numerous accounts of women and daughters being subjected to their father's and husband's demands, but in our modern world, they do not have the same interpretation.  The Bible was written by man, inspired by God.  So... how could they not inject their own personal views into the material?  

The answer?  Continue to go to Church and pray for the best.  I do not share my personal beliefs with the children.  I teach but teach exactly what I was taught and I still turned out to feel the way I do.  I pray that some of these policies will change because they need to change. Until they do...  I will still be Catholic and I will still struggle to get to Church.