Elena 
1. My pre-cana talk yesterday went very, very well! Just before it was my turn to speak, I posted a prayer request on Facebook and almost instantly had dozens of friends praying for me. I really think it made all the difference. I wasn’t nervous, I spoke from the heart and I think I connected with most of the couples there.
My secret weapon for getting the young men’s attention was to bring in The Walking Dead! Yep. I talked at a Catholic Pre-Cana day and actually worked the t.v. show The Walking Dead into my speech – with great results! I think mentioning that I was a big fan of that series kind of showed them that I was not just an old lady talking head, but just maybe someone they could relate to. I’m looking forward to hearing how it went over in the evaluations.
2. Mr. Pete came back home too!! Really happy to have my hubby in the house! Apparently he sold lots of Izzy’s jewelry at his convention and could have sold MORE if she had made more! So I think this is going to be her new part-time job.
3. Because Mr. Pete was going to be gone for a few days, and because I was the sole driver in the house, I had Izzy and Rosie take their art class together on Wednesday. I was a little afraid to do that because I was afraid that they would bicker and fight, but they didn’t. And the teacher, Miss Lucia, said that they were very good girls.
4. I had a chance to have a heart-to-heart with some other Catholic moms I know, in real life and on the internet about my oldest son and his faith journey. I think sometimes it’s important to really seek out older and wiser people in our own faith tradition because they just get the subtle nuances that even other Christians outside of Catholicism just don’t get. How do you explain the Eucharist for example and how really going outside the church is just not the same thing at all without Christ present in the Eucharist.
Most echoed Jannett’s advice – slow and steady, pray, and count on that strong foundation. That’s what I’m going to try to do – with prayers for St. Monica’s intercession.
5. Yesterday was Mama’s 85th birthday. So as it is our tradition, sis and I went out to eat, only this time we went to a special luncheon for Catholic Social Charities. It was a nice lunch and I enjoyed the meal. They had one lady there talk about three of the daycare centers that the charities support. It was interesting and I could tell she was passionate about her centers, but I think it would have connected more with an Akron crowd if the centers had been in Akron, instead of Cleveland. I also note that of all the wonderful things they do for the kids in the center, spiritual and religious training weren’t mentioned once. Not. Once.
It was nice to hear Bishop Lennon speak though. He spoke so naturally and without any notes. As I heard him just hours before my own speech, I felt very inspired to try to be as natural as he was in my own approach.
6.So happy 85th birthday Mama. I still miss you. So much.
7. Three kids, a grandma, a baby, a piano, and a phone cam.
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