Alter Boy

Last night, Aaron had Alter Server training. This is something he has been excited about doing since the beginning of this year. There are 2 opportunities for training this week...last night and tomorrow (Saturday). Needless to say, my eager son elected for the earliest possible option.

The first part of training was a bit over the head of those 2nd graders because they had never been a server before...they just talked through all the steps. But then, they got to walk through a little bit. Here's Aaron pretending to carry a candle up to the alter.



Similar to my photos from his 1st Communion, these aren't the best pictures. I wish we had better lighting in the church. Don't they know the lighting should accommodate us moms who want good pictures?

Memories

I am always amazed at how tightly our memories are tied to our senses. We hear a song, and it takes us back to those days of cruising the drag in high school, or take a bite of watermelon for the 1st time in the summer and be transported back to summertime seed spitting contests.

The other day, I was in a garage and smelled a familiar smell. I suppose it is probably just the smell of diesel and oil to most people, but to me, with that first whiff, I paused, closed my eyes, and was instantly back in my granddad's store.

Blackwell Supply was an amazing place for a kid. In the front of the store, there was a deer. I think it was maybe ceramic, but I'm really not sure. It was placed right in front of the green and yellow riding lawn mowers. I would "ride" that deer through forests and brooks, on all sorts of adventures. I also spent enough time "driving" those mowers to have mowed all of Scotland a dozen times.

There was also a shop in the back, with tractors and grain trucks to climb on and in. And Granddad's office, and the front desk, with an antique cash register. Granddad always had stick gum at the front desk...the kind that wouldn't stick to my retainer. And two comfy chairs sitting by that desk, plus a few stools, where farmers would sit and trade stories or talk news.

And then, there was the coke machine and the break room. First, the coke machine...Nickel cokes in glass bottles. Yes, they were really only a nickel, and no, I didn't grow up in the 30's. This was in the 80's, 90's, and even in the 21st century. Yes, Granddad paid way more than a nickel for the cokes to stock the machine, but he did it anyways...and never complained about losing money on them.

If you didn't like Coca Cola, he always kept glass bottle sodas of all sort in the refrigerator in the break room. But more importantly, he kept candy in there! Hersey bars, Paydays (my mom's favorite), Reece's, and peanut patties. And a big ole bag of peanuts for people to shell. And all of these were available for a donation...whatever people wanted to put in a jar of change in the center of the table in the break room.

I spent several hours out at the store every other Christmas break, doing inventory. And I always looked forward to break time. There would be my Granddad and dad, and the 2 mechanics, and usually a few farmers gathered around that break room table. That is where I first started learning about the real world...politics, religion, work ethic, finances, family. It was a great place to grow up, and I owe a large part of who I am now to those experiences out there...

I haven't been inside the store in years. Granddad passed away almost 9 years ago, and the great company of John Deere decided to close down this small dealership because they weren't making enough money (they weren't losing money, but it just wasn't worth their time), even though my dad had run the store for the last 5+ years. So after Granddad passed away, Dad sold off as much inventory as he could and then we auctioned everything else.

I still drive past the building every time I go back home. I can still remember how every trip home from Amarillo would end with a contest between us kids to see who could see Granddad's store first. It still feels like a part of the family, even though the building is now used by a trucking company. I still often picture my dad in those green pants and yellow snap shirt. I still have fond memories of John Deere, but now those memories are tainted a bit with the foul odor of big business...

But mostly, I just miss Granddad...

And all of these memories and feelings flashed through me in the short amount of time it took me to take one simple breath...

Aaron's Big Day (Mom's a Bit Late Posting It)

So I had a major lag in posting over the winter months. I can blame it on a myriad of things (winter depression, busy with ending the semester/holidays/beginning a new semester), but it won't really matter. The only thing that matters is that I dropped the ball in blogging, so now I have some making up to do.

On January 31, Aaron made his 1st Communion! We spent quite a bit of time preparing for it, both at home and at school (I love that our kids go to school at St. Mary's...really helped with the prep work). He had to pass an interview first, and he did an amazing job. He knew all the answers, except one, which Sadie answered for him. Actually, he did know the answer, he just didn't understand what was being asked.

On January 30, the entire group of 2nd graders got together for pictures. Of course, that was the weekend right after the huge snow storm, so just getting out of the garage in the minivan was questionable (the CR-V would've had no problems). However, we did safely make it to the church for the photos. We finally got the professional pics in about a week or so ago.

Then, the big day. Unfortunately, it is tough to get good pics in our church, thanks to the lighting. Plus, apparently, Monsignor doesn't believe in smiling for pictures, and neither does Aaron. Makes for great photos. But, here's what I have...

Here they are walking in...not a very clear shot

And here's the big moment...His First Communion!

Very prayerful (and handsome)

Here he is coming back to his pew after receiving his scapular.

And this was taken after mass. See what I mean about them not smiling? What's with that? Why are guys like that, and why is my 8 year old already like that...

Despite the cold and snowing weather (which kept a few people from being able to make it to mass that morning), it was a very special day. Thanks to all of you who were able to come. I know Aaron really appreciated it!

Happy Easter!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen today! What a glorious, wondrous day. May God bless you abundantly as you celebrate His resurrection today!

Here are a few pictures of the kids dying eggs yesterday and hunting eggs this morning (it's tough getting pictures of them hunting...they're getting too fast for me).

The rest of the hunting pictures were blurs and backs! Happy Easter!!!