A Week of FUN at Camp!

Last week, Lily Grace enjoyed a week of camp in Tennessee with her Fidelis sisters.  

She had so much fun!!!  They had mass each day, confession, adoration, went white water rafting (her favorite), zip lining, did the high and low ropes, enjoyed the wave pool and water slide, had a dance party and ended with the messy olympics.  

We enjoyed getting pics and updates from the group leaders throughout the week.  

Matt and I flew over and picked her up on Thursday so she could get back for a little time on the driving range before high school golf tryouts started Friday morning.  

She's already talking about next summer!  

She had to be at the church at 3:30 am.  Yep!  Getting up at 2:00 in the morning is hard.  The drive to TN was a little over 8 hours.

Father Stephen came and said a prayer over them along with a blessing for safe travels.  It was really sweet.  They were on their way by 4:00 am and Matt and I headed home to get dressed and catch a 7:00 am flight for our own week away.  When Father Stephen found out it was the first time that Matt and I had been away on vacation just the two of us in 14 years, he had Matt and I stand with him in the parking lot to get our own blessing.  It really was pretty special and a great way to start the day!

Getting ready for paintball

Her favorite activity- white water rafting

Her Fidelis sisters and some of the wonderful ladies who give so freely of themselves to these girls. 

Her bunkmates and team leaders for the week

This is the happy face we picked up from camp.  On our way to the airport to fly home for golf try outs. 

Confirmation

Lily Grace was finally Confirmed tonight.  While it was different with face masks and social distancing, it wasn't any less special. 
The service was beautiful.  
Lily Grace, daddy and I are so happy for you.  Sealed with the Holy Spirit, we pray that you continue to grow in the love of Christ and carry Him with you always!  We love you!

The Bishop anointing her with the Blessed Chrism

Chatting with the Bishop after mass

Judy and Gracie with the Bishop.  Judy served as LG's sponsor.  Lily couldn't have chosen better.  Judy is such a loving and kind person.  Lily Grace adores her.  We all do!  She is definitely a blessing and will always hold a special place in our hearts. 

No handshakes this time...it's all about the elbow bump during a pandemic.

So happy for our newly Confirmed "Joan"

1st Place Scramble

Lily Grace played in a golf scramble this morning with her friend Seina.  Along with Ryan, their team took 1st place.  They finished with an 18 hole par 54.  

Making Tee Times

Lily Grace has been playing in a lot of tournaments this summer.  She's also been spending a lot of time at the driving range each day, lessons each week with Coach Gary and playing several rounds with friends and Matt.  She's working hard on her game and along with her skills, her dedication is impressive. Matt and I are so proud of her.  

Early morning 

Happy Father's Day!

Hands down, the absolute best daddy I know!  These two spent Father's Day on the golf course.  Matt sported the new pink shirt Lily Grace bought him. 

Handmade card by Gracie

Freshmen Uniforms

Rebecca and I took the girls shopping for their new Freshmen uniforms.  We made a day of it with lunch and had so much fun!
I still don't think it's  really sunk in for any of us that these two cuties are off to High School in August.  

Best Friends starting a new adventure together

All stocked up on uniforms and gym clothes

Last Day of School

Today is the official last day of school.  Lily Grace just turned in the last of her remote assignments. She finishes having received all A's and High Honors every nine weeks throughout all of elementary and middle school.  She has put in so much hard work.
Gracie, daddy and I are so proud of you!!!  You are amazing!!!  We can't wait to see all you will accomplish in High School.  We love you Gracie Cakes!!!

Hole in One on the 7th!

Late yesterday afternoon, Matt and Lily Grace went to play a round of golf.  About an hour after they left, I got a very excited call.
On the 7th hole, Matt hit a hole in one.  
According to Gracie, there was quite a bit of excitement around the hole, at the hole behind them and back at the clubhouse.  It's my understanding that Matt put on quite the excited show when it happened.  Ha!  Ha!
The clubhouse is giving him a plaque and of course, he saved that ball.  
While the tour still won't be calling, he can say he's done it.  Way to go Matty! 

I think Gracie was just as excited!

7th hole with a 4 iron for 168 yds

8th grade Surprise!

Today has been a special day!  Gracie has just two weeks of school left and they're starting off in a big and fun way.  
While this is a memorable year for Covid-19, quarantine and remote learning, the 8th grade teachers along with the school made sure that today was memorable for a special reason.
The 8th grade teachers started out early this morning in the pouring rain and visited each 8th grader, rolling up with horns blowing and big smiles.  They brought along a celebratory yard sign, a class shirt and a scapular blessed by the Bishop.  It was so sweet and fun!  
She's had great teachers.  These two ladies are among two of the best.  She and I adore them.  Mrs. B teaches algebra and Mrs. J teaches Science.  

Mother's Day!

Several years ago, my mom came to visit when we were still living in TN and Lily Grace was a baby.  If I'm not mistaken, it was one of the few times that Matt and I actually seized the moment and went out to dinner.  While we were away, my mom folded and put away a basket of laundry I had waiting for attention. Several weeks later I happen to reach into my pajama drawer for a tank top and to my surprise, I pulled out a baby onesie. Apparently it had gotten mixed in with my things when she put away my white tanks.  I remember smiling and holding the onesie to my chest.  I'm not really sure why, but for some reason, I just folded it and put it back.  I liked it being there.  

All these years later, it's still in my drawer and every now and again when I reach in, I'll grab it by mistake and just like the the first time, it still brings me a smile.  I even sometimes find pause and enjoy memories of Gracie as the happy baby who wore this.  

It just so happens that I came across it last week and it stuck with me as Mother's Day approached and I reflected on being a mom.  

I'm blessed, plain and simple.  I'm blessed beyond anything I imagined or deserve.  Being a mom is absolutely the thing I am most proud of.  It is a grace that drives me to be the best me I can.  This Mother's Day weekend, I received gifts and acts of love.  When Matt arrived home Friday afternoon, he and Gracie kicked into gear.  She made every meal we ate for the entire weekend and Matt cleaned it all up every time.  I also received something I wasn't expecting and it's probably the best part. 

I woke Sunday morning to a beautiful card made by the sweet girl who wore the onesie years ago, only now she's a teenager.  This card, is like that onesie, it will bring a smile to my face for years to come.  You see, I worry.  What mom doesn't? One of the things that I give considerable thought about is making sure LG know how much she is loved.  I know that she hears me say I love you every day. I'm always trying to show her in everything I do (even in the no's and you can't LG- ha!) and while she says that she knows I love her a lot, it's important to me that she genuinely feels it deep in her heart.  I want her to know my love is unconditional and genuine.  I want to make sure she knows that it's more than just words. And there it was.  The words she wrote on the back of that card reflect a sentiment that truly left a mark on my heart. A mama couldn't ask for more. 
Along with those words, I watched Gracie work tirelessly to put me first this weekend and to bring a smile to my face.  She truly did that and  so much more.  She and Matt will never fully know how loved they made me feel because there are no words.  From the bottom of my heart, I am blessed. 

Matt thank you so much for helping Lily Grace this weekend and for making me feel special.  You are truly a wonderful man and I love doing life with you.

Lily Grace as I tell you so often, you are the best part of me.  I wake up excited to be your mama every day and I go to bed grateful that God chose me.  You are an absolute blessing and I love you more than words.  Thank you!  I am so proud of the girl you are and the big heart you let guide you.  I love you!  

24 months onesie once worn by the 14 year old who handmade these beautiful cards

"Every good and perfect gift is from above...."  James 1:17