Prayer, Fasting, Good Works......

I began the day with Ash Wednesday mass at QND with Mario and 500 or so other people in the gym. Every time I go to mass in that gym I recall my last mass there....I sang the traditional Our Father with a beautiful electric piano accompanist and shocked the heck out of the staff and students who didn't know I could sing. I will never forget that.

We just had a wonderful weekend in St. Louis. We traveled down Saturday and arrived at the Ewersmanns around 1. It was our great fortune to get to take care of Makenna that afternoon at our hotel while Chris and Maria met Carrie's family at the Mid Rivers Mall. To be alone with our newest little granddaughter and get to know her was a joy. I could tell immediately that she gets excited when someone is talking to her, and at 2 months old, she is trying to talk back! I can't remember if that is normal child development, but I predict this one will be talking before she does any of the other great baby milestones.

Saturday evening the Dede gang and us spent with the Ewersmanns for a spaghetti supper at their house. Then there was the ping pong....let's just say the guys all had a great time. Blake brought his buddy Caleb, and Mario and Tony played too. We all crowded into the game room for the action. The girls drew self portraits on the chalkboard on the wall, and Nolan found things to entertain himself too. It was a good family evening.

Sunday Morning....Makenna's day to become a child of God. It is a nice day, around 55 I think, and we are all ahead of schedule arriving at St. Paul's Church in plenty of time. The church is full of the Ewersmann relatives and friends, and momma Rita's brother Fr. Carl Kerkemeyer is the presider. He admits to being nervous, such a gentle and kind soul he is. Well, he gives a beautiful homily on the Beatitudes, probably one of the best I have heard, in his patient, quiet-natured way. Lots of good to absorb from his words. I really try to listen to every single thing he says. His delivery allows that.

Now mass is over and it is time for Makenna to don the white dress. She had come to church in our favorite color for her, well one of them, we like pink too, and you can see in the photos that she still wore her purple socks for awhile.

I do like this church. It reminds me of Sacred Heart in Franklin. Warm and inviting. Fr. Carl begins the rite with the parents, godparents, and little one in the back of church where an anointing takes place.

Next, they gather in the front pew for prayer. Finally, they approach the baptismal font, and all are ready. The proud daddy holds his baby girl over the "waterfall," and the words are clear. She is being welcomed into God's holy family. Godparents help, but the parents receive the formal blessings of the day. It is they who have the tremendous responsibility to show this child how to love.

I applaud quietly. Praise God.

A picture-taking session follows, first the godparents, then the family. The Camachos/Dedes quickly line up surrounding the guest of honor: they know the drill. Several are taking the photo. Then spontaneously the 4 Ewersmanns join the group. Grandma Rita, Grandpa Paul, Uncle Michael, Aunt Laura--they join the gang with big smiles. I love this picture. Family.

We are among the last to leave the church and head down the hill to the yellow building where we will have lunch.

WOW. There is a feast awaiting us! And they are gracious hostesses who serve the food to us. They stand behind the table and spoon the food to us. Plentiful and delicious. Lots of work and consideration went into this. There are probably 75-80 folks here, and lots of warm exchanges are occurring throughout the afternoon. And they have cheesecake from the CHEESECAKE FACTORY. Can you believe it!

We leave around 3 I think, to head back to the hotel and change out of our church clothes, and into our Super Bowl clothes. We are heading to Lake St. Louis to the home of Tom Pollihan, one of Mario's college soccer teammates, for what is sure to be a great reunion. There will be several former QC players and their wives there, guys and gals we went to school with 35 years ago. Yup...our class will have its 35th college reunion this year. My o My.

We arrive second after Bob and Pam Pollihan. Throughout the next hour, several other couples arrive, bringing wonderful food (Can I do this AGAIN in one day???) Incredible home overlooking Lake St. Louis, fun people, great food, exciting game. Just a great evening for all. One of the funniest things though, and my batteries were dead as we left the party...Tom had rigged up his QU letter jacket on a pole extended off the mailbox and pointing toward his house for the party. Those Pollihans were always fun.

Back to the hotel. Sleep well.

Monday morning and St. Louis is so foggy you can't see more than a few feet ahead of you. We are heading to the Ewermanns at around 11 Am, waiting to turn left on a 2-lane highway, and we almost get creamed from behind by a UPS truck, and a dump truck that both had to swerve around us off the shoulder of the road so as not to slam into us from behind. We finally make our left turn and realize that today, God is not calling our names.

We spend the day at Chesterfield Mall with Chris, Maria, and Makenna. Lunch at Cheesecake Factory and a little shopping. I don't usually do this....I wait until I can get a book free at the library...but I bought the book for which Oprah and the author are offering an online study. I like this kind of stuff, and the book was cheap. I have already read some of it, and I like it.

So that was our weekend, and the last two days have mostly been my routine stuff. I am still very tired. But happy tired is not so bad. I will catch up soon I'm sure. It is officially Lent, and I am trying to pray, fast, and think of good works to do to get closer to God. That is what Fr. Kurt talked about this morning at the QND mass. Getting closer to God. That is really what the Lenten season is about.

I have already forgotten how to put photos on the blog. When Tony comes tomorrow, I will ask him again how to do it. My brain is tired too! I think most of you got some photos from the Kodak Gallery. If I didn't send them to you, and you would like to see a few, email me! Love to all.