Wow! I am still on a high 72 hours after the date! This past Sunday my boys made their 1st holy communion. I didn't realize how touched I would be to witness this. My boys worked long and hard this past year, memorizing prayers, talking about reconciliation, learning more and more about God, Jesus and our church. They have amazed me with their thoughts and feelings and all I can say is I'm truly blessed. Two years ago my boys hadn't been in a church more than a handful of times and now in the past year we have become extremely active within our new church. Thanks to the S family we found the perfect church for us and the pay off this weekend made it all beyond worthwhile that we drive a half hour every Sunday for church and CCD.
The weather couldn't have been beat. It was sunny and 70ish. Actually it matched my mood. I was nervous for them but of course they were fine. The church really made the mass all about the 11 children who would receive the body Christ for the first time. Before mass began Father took out his guitar and he and the children sang a song together. The children did all the readings, collected the donations (with the help of a proud mommy and daddy =) ), and brought up the gifts. They went up to the alter as Father prepared the Eucharist and said the Lord's prayer together with Father. They lit candles and proclaimed their baptismal promise that we proclaimed on their behalf 8 years ago. They presented us moms with a single white rose and even as I look at it now I cry at its beauty. We proceeded as a family to witness the boys take their first communion and then took communion ourselves. We said a special prayer over our children and told them how proud of them we are. The finale was the children singing a song. My sweet loving Matthew cried as he sang. When we asked him later why he was crying he said they were tears of joy. He really did feel how special the day was.
After our glorious mass we proceeded home and had party to celebrate with our family and friends. The boys looked so handsome and never complained when we made them wear their shirts and ties all afternoon.
As they were getting ready to go to bed the boys asked if I would read to them from one of their books they got that day about the 10 commandments. We read it and I just looked at them and was again amazed at what special boys God has placed in my care.
