Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom. Without her I would not be here nor would I have such a beautiful example of everything a mother is and can be. I can't even begin to tell you how much my mom has put up with, all the while raising 8 boys and 3 girls. Her first born, an adorable chubby baby girl, followed by a smiling, sweet boy and then another little rambunctious girl. Prior to my birth my mom had 4 boys all in a row until I came along, her 8th child and 3rd daughter. Three more boys followed after me. Therefore, the math adds up to the 11 of us children.

As of this past year, the youngest child graduated high school, moved in with his older brothers and is now attending college. They say a mother's work is never done and I don't think my mom would have it any other way.

This reminds me of a childhood memory that appears in my mind often. Saying the rosary with the family. Things were certainly more simple back then. The rosary was so pivotal in so many of my memories, whether it was just being together, saying goodnight to our guardian angels after our closing prayers, a pregnancy being announced (any and every family announcement took place after the rosary, that's just how it always ended up), and after saying the sign of the cross at the close of the rosary, we would all remain in our seats and just talk. It would be all dark and the only thing giving light were candles that were lit on the fireplace mantle in front the Blessed Mother and the crucifix. As a child it was always so hard to interrupt play to sit down and recite the rosary with the family, cause as a child you complain about everything or anything that your parents ask you to do (right?). Now, because of our parents always making sure we gathered every evening to say the rosary, to meditate on the mysteries, and to say thank you for all our gifts, blessings and to pray for the souls no longer with us - I have some of the most beautiful memories, and those memories take place in one room with my family with rosaries in our hand, and a candle lit for Our Lady and Our Lord.

Thank you, Mom and of course with out my father my mom would not be my mother. So, thank you to the both of them for being open to life, open to having an 8th child (me) and then more. Your love and holy examples will be with me forever. Thank you mom and thank you dad.  

{We love you, Mom}

Happy Mother's Day

-Clara