Joy and Sorrow

This year's Holy Week was not what I was expecting. While I was making plans on Monday for two Easter dinners and an egg hunt at our home on Easter Sunday, I got a call that my Grandma went to the hospital and was declining fast. Then, in the same day we got a call from our case worker from our adoption agency that we had a birth mother that wanted to talk to us. She loved our profile.

The next couple days we got updates on my grandmother; the priest was there giving her last rites, they all prayed the rosary and her four children and their spouses kept a vigil by her bedside. She continued to hang on. I went to our adoration chapel to pray for her and felt so conflicted about making the 3 hour drive to say good bye.

On Wednesday afternoon, we had a 30 minute conversation with the birth mother. She talked most of the time and wanted to tell us she loved our 'simple lifestyle' and cried when she read our profile book. She couldn't go through with the appointment she made to terminate the pregnancy because she was so tormented. Then the tears came for me. Oh, how this baby was meant for us.

Thursday I couldn't wait any longer and jumped in the car with Little E and drove the 3 hours to get to my family. I made sure Little E was in bed and taken care of when my sister and I drove to see my grandma. My mom called. Grandma had passed peacefully trying to get the last laugh. Oh, I missed it. She died at 7:50 PM or so on Holy Thursday, perhaps she wanted to be at Holy Thursday mass. She was ready, 92 years is a long life. It was full of laughter and love. We got to the hospital to have a shot of Irish whiskey with my mom, aunts and uncles and said goodbye.

The funeral plans were made for Easter Monday and Tuesday. We got to spend lots of time with family celebrating Easter and reminiscing about Grandma. The viewing was both sorrowful and joyful. Extended family came and we all got to chat and share laughter and tears. She wanted bagpipes at the mass. The readings were perfect and the homily was personal and beautiful. More tears. It was a beautiful Irish Catholic send off, so much like her.

After the luncheon, I got a call from our case worker. The birth mom loved us. She wants to place her baby with us. We will draw up the contracts. Baby arrives at the end of August.

I really can't believe that this all happened in one week. One week. It has been hard to catch my breath. So many of my prayers were answered in one week.  Grandma had a peaceful passing from this life. A birth mother chose us.  I am eternally grateful to the Blessed Mother and God's Plan. Amazing.

Liebster Award

Not sure its actually an award, but I will indulge by dear friend Cristina.

1. Where do you live? And why do you live there?
We live in Carlisle, PA. My husband is from here and had the job. His parents live close so it makes life a little easier when we want to get away so we have someone to watch the menagerie of animals here. 


2. What are you currently watching and/or reading?
I am reading My Life with the Saints by James Martin SJ. It is very good and I'm enjoying this Lenten read. 


And Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew. Very enlightening. So much I didn't even think of when discerning adoption.


I also just finished Father Elijah. Wow. Very, very good. There were some scenes beyond my comprehension but overall an excellent read by an excellent writer.



3. What kind of Catholic are you: cradle, or convert? (Or considering?)
Cradle. I don't ever remember not going to mass *almost* every week. My family was very active at our local parish and I went to a *Catholic* university. 


4. Can you point to one moment or experience that made you a practicing Catholic? (Or want to be?)
I attended a TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) weekend my senior year of high school that was very powerful. But really it was when I was on my Cursillio weekend in August of 2006 that I was struck my God's immense love for me and that I wasn't really doing my part. 


5. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Probably 10-15 but I wear the same 2 or 3. I tried to donate the shoes I wore for my wedding and my friend saw this and said, "You are donating your wedding shoes?!?!??!" So back in the closet they went. 

6. Are you a good dancer?
Not really. I was in 2 musicals in high school and took ballroom dancing lessons with DH when we were engaged. But I don't think that qualifies me as "good."


7. Who usually drives, you or your husband?
My husband. Even though I can be rather critical. It seems to me that he drives slower when we late and I said this recently and when I was driving Little E somewhere recently she informed me that it felt like I was driving slow. Go figure. 


8. What's your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?
Christmas. We go to family friends' on Christmas Eve and either go to midnight mass or 10 AM Christmas Day. I bake cinnamon rolls (that another friend gifts us) in the morning and we open gifts after mass. We have my DH's family over for dinner and open gifts with them. Usually the next weekend, we travel 3 hours to visit my family and have another gift opening fest. It.is.fun. 


9. Which is correct? Left or right?

I don't really care as long as it isn't empty. 

10. Do you have any scars?

One on the palm of my hand from when I fell onto a heat vent on New Years Eve (no, I wasn't drinking) and had to get about 5 stitches. My dad was annoyed that he had to leave the party at our house to take me to the ER. I was a senior in high school. 

11. What's the most famous thing you've ever done?

Not really much of anything. I have run a few community 5K and 10K races. Our high school girls soccer team was #1  in the nation (ranking by USA Today) my freshman year. I wrote a couple Letters to the Editor in 2011. So, nothing famous. 

Thanks, Cristina!

I'm tagging Sew and Mrs. Mike.