Mother's Day Weekend and An Honor for Eamon

Mother's Day was the perfect weather here in southcoast Massachusetts - sunny and just about 70 degrees.  Due to work schedules and Mass attendance, we celebrated on Saturday morning with a breakfast out and only have this low-level selfie to prove it:

But I don't care because all my kids were there!  We then drove to The Cottage to take our annual family photo:

Wow has Xander grown!

Later on Saturday, Eamon had one soccer game, and Declan had two soccer games (one was a makeup for a cancelled game) and the sky decided to lightly drizzle while we were on the field.  This is why I prefer volleyball and basketball spectating to soccer spectating:

But the rain cleared out (is this a weather blog now?) and I took some kids to the vigil Mass with me where Father gave a beautiful blessing for Mother's Day:

It was hard not to cry through that blessing!

Phil made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, and then he and I walked Lucy Doodle with a Dole Whip Float in our hands for dessert.

On Sunday, I woke up to some precious cards and one homemade gift of a trivet (thanks to Brendan's 3rd grade teacher for getting her students to do that!) and then went to the gym, which was the answer I gave when my family asked me what I wanted to do for Mother's Day:

"I would love to sleep in, go to the gym, walk the dog, and have you all wash my walls."

Some walls did indeed get washed, as evidenced by the wet rags I saw.

Phil attended Mass that morning as he was in charge of the Crowning of Mary with the recent First Communicants (second Communicants now!).  After, he took me out for lunch, which was delicious.  I had fish tacos and an espresso martini, yum!

Having the Cottage open means most of the fam is working for parts of the day.  We actually had the busiest day yet, and at one point Phil and Xander were called in as backup (I took this screenshot from our camera):

A sweet customer posted this on social media

So while everyone was working their tushies off, I walked Declan and Brendan over to their tennis lesson and sat on mine.  It's a nice, pretty inexpensive program that isn't well-advertised so it always ends up as if we get private lessons:

I'm feeling very grateful to have yet another Mother's Day with all my kids around and my own mom living downstairs.  I'm taking her out to lunch later this week to celebrate her as she was busy being celebrated by her other children on Sunday :)  My mom is so fun and funny and loving and supportive to all of her kids and grandkids that it's inspiring.  I want to be just like her when I grow up!

On Monday, the kids elementary school principal borrowed our pope costume and had a little ceremony to commemorate the announcement of Pope Leo 14:

Declan was a Cardinal yesterday, but 12 years ago, Eamon played the role of Pope Francis when he was first named Pope:

Gosh I love Catholic schools!

Speaking of Eamon and the Pope, he was chosen to receive the Pope St. Pius X award from our parish.  We attended the prayer service and award ceremony last night:

I spotted Phil and I in someone's photo of the cathedral last night.

Eamon, receiving the award from the Bishop:

Eamon and Fr. Cook whom he's known since birth.  Eamon reminds me of Fr. Cook when I see him altar serving!

Here's Eamon with our pastor, who selected him for the award:

Father wrote this about Eamon in his nomination:

Eamon Martin is an outstanding young man whose devotion to the parish and its ministries is exceptional. He is one of the most faithful and consistent altar servers at St. Francis Xavier Parish, regularly serving at Sunday Mass and often at weekday Masses when he is not in school. He is the only teen in the parish who has committed to a weekly hour in our Eucharistic Adoration chapel. Each summer, Eamon helps organize and lead our week-long altar server camp, mentoring younger servers and taking on leadership responsibilities.

In addition to his liturgical involvement, Eamon recently co-led with me a small group for teens on vocational discernment. His joyful presence, prayerful example, and readiness to serve in any way needed reflect a deep love for the Church and a sincere commitment to living out his faith in service to others.

Eamon is such a humble servant at our church, at his school, at sometimes even at home ;)  His faith is inspiring (I wish I could share so many stories but I don't want to embarrass him).  He is a man of prayer and sacrifice, and it's mostly hidden, even to us, so it was very nice that he was honored in this way.

Two little stories I will share about Eamon that I don't think he will mind - the first was back when he was in first grade and at a field trip with a lot of other schools and the speaker asked the huge group if anyone knew what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Eamon raised his hand and stood up, declaring in front of everyone "I want to be a priest".  He has never been shy about his faith, but whether he becomes a priest or not is still God's call to make :)

The second story just happened a few months ago.  Eamon wasn't making up his mind about where to go for college, and the colleges were calling and emailing all the time and I was frustrated and told him he had to decide already!  He told me that he would let us know very soon.  A couple of days later he told us he decided to go to Franciscan University, and I asked him what made him finally decide?  He said he was praying a novena to make his decision and knew that was the right choice by the end of his novena.  There I was, loudly annoyed that it was taking so long while he was quietly praying a novena for guidance.  When I tell you he inspires me, I mean it.  We are so blessed to be his parents.