Eric, Kath and I had the opportunity to go to a Catholic youth conference in Spokane last weekend. As usual, while preparing to leave home I was kicking myself all over the place, wondering why I had committed to this. I have no time....and when I say that, I really mean it. Then, at the last minute Max received his first black eye. Since I was looking for excuses to jump ship I watched him closely to ensure he did not have a concussion as well; he had been hit in the head pretty hard. We were bringing a couple other kiddos with us, so I really couldn't back out, but those thoughts were running through my head. Then we arrived in Spokane to 105 degrees. Since we were staying in stuffy dorm rooms at Gonzaga, I really began questioning my logic when I committed to this!
A black eye transformed him into a little boy vs. my little baby!
After all the initial anxiety, simply getting out the door and leaving all the littles behind, I cannot quite begin to describe how awesome the conference was! I was volunteering for the weekend, so I was unable to listen to every talk, but the people that I worked with were amazing. Often, I feel like the world is going to hell in a hand basket, for lack of a better term springing to mind....like the very fabric of our family and what we believe in is under attack from every direction while there is nothing we can do in our own defense. In a nutshell, I feel hopeless. Of course, this is what Satan wants. If we lose hope we're not going to defend what is good and true and we'll certainly not be a light to others. If we don't hide under a bushel basket, we may cave and take the easy road, letting society absorb us into its vortex of apathy.
While the music and speakers were good, the people that I met were what filled me up. When I would speak about my family, no one even blinked. Homeschooling? I was in good company because if they didn't do it, they were thinking of it.
You're oldest daughter is transferring colleges? They got it! After all, college isn't only about education.
You have a child named Maximilian? Named after Maximilian Kolbe, right?
The entire weekend made me realize how many saints are out there, saints militant, but saints none-the-less, and we, this little family of ours, is so not alone.
1200 teenagers excited about their faith ~
And this is a small conference, a few of the others are 6,000-7,500!
This last year has spiraled a bit out of control. Everything has. My attitude. My prayer life. Everything. Some of this has been out of my control, yet others are fully in my control, I was simply too lazy (or tired) to regain control. On my way home (before I chickened out) I called a priest that we know a bit to set up a schedule for Spiritual Direction. Much to my surprise, he answered the phone. No one will replace Fr. Stu, but I'm super excited to get my spiritual life back on track. Okay, maybe excited is a bit strong, but at least relieved. Certainly, Shannon is relieved!
The boys couldn't have been less cooperative for pictures.
And this....they are only in the same frame together
because I threatened that they'd hitchhike home.
Then, there are the girls, nothing further needs to be said.
We celebrated Mass Saturday and Sunday and it was unlike any Mass I've been to for a while. I must admit that I have not been mentally present at Mass for the past 12 years or so. I prefer Mass quiet, peaceful, so this more charismatic environment was a bit out of the norm, but it was good.
But it wasn't the music that made Mass special, we have good music, and it wasn't the homilies because I've heard some darn good homilies in the past several years. It was something more, something better and I just wanted to stay there ~ planted on my knees on the concrete floor.
Of course, upon returning home, I realized that those awesome feelings come crashing down pretty hard as reality sinks in. After all, I have eight children and a husband that need to be cared for, but I have a plan now. I just need to stick to the plan and remember that I'm not alone.
Eric and Kath thought the entire experience was even better than I did! One of Eric's favorite times was the Eucharistic procession. They spent over an hour on their knees, again on the concrete floor, in front of the Blessed Sacrament, yet they are excited to do it again! We are so excited to take a larger group next year so that others may experience God in a new way. That's what it's all about ~ sharing Christ with the world.
They're all thinking how they could go swimming to cool off later ~
Shannon was super excited that I volunteered for night trail security ~
Katherine with the Catholic version of a celebrity ~
Sarah Swafford.
Michaela was jealous :o)
I'd rather have this picture than one with any rock star!
Super excited to take this pic, he was.
But since he loves his momma...and wanted dinner...he jumped up on the bulldog,
then the pooch's nose was cropped off as I quickly tried to catch the moment
before Eric changed his mind.
Now the girls....it was their idea!
Swim break on the way home ~
They make traveling much more bearable.
