Absolution

Tonight Cameron celebrated her First Reconciliation. If you've been following our familial stories then you'll recall my negative experience with the mandatory workshop. I'm pleased to report that the overall experience this evening was very pleasant. There were four priests, all from the Carmelite Order. Two are our regular priests and two were "borrowed" for tonight. The priests shared stories of their own first Reconcilation. There was a song, a Gospel reading, singing the Alleluia and we said the Act of Contrition as a large group. (To prevent the priests from having to listen to 50 students stumble through it on their own!)

Cameron confessed to Father Brian, one of the borrowed priests (I love it when he gives the homily!) and she giggles to say that she confessed in the ladies bathroom! Yep. Father JJ was at the front of the main church. Father someone-whose-name-I-didn't-catch was in the Confessional. Father Adrian was in the Bride's room. And Father Brian was in the foyer/nursing/mother area of the ladies bathroom.

We had a short wait as there were about six people ahead of us. Father Brian greeted Cameron with a big smile and her smile matched his when she emerged as an absolved sinless person.

Well, sinless until tomorrow I'm sure....

Addendum...

While writing the "Giving Thanks" post below last night, Blogger wouldn't let add these last two photos. Perhaps there's a size limit (I'm at the home computer, without software to decrease the overall size of the photos...) but it would not let me add these two. So here they are as an Addendum.

..the true reason we were there - to see Shamu's "Believe" show. No novice this time around, Cameron insisted on sitting the "Splash Zone."
For those of you unfamiliar, there's a little part of the show where the trainers get the whole audience to make the sign for "use-your-tail-like-a-big-scoop-and-soak-the-audience" and we all chant "Sham-OO! Sham-OO!" I tried to position us where Cameron might get a little wet, but we wouldn't be deluged.

We returned Saturday early evening in time to burn the trash, and the vestiges of the days labor.

Giving Thanks

A quick recap of the Holiday weekend events....

Wednesday, Brenna portrayed an Indian at the PreK Pilgrims & Indians Thanksgiving feast. (After all, she is Citizen Potawatomi.)

Thursday we gave thanks together at my sister's house. It was a small group this year, but the food was delicious. It's interesting how good something tastes that we only have one time each year. There is just something truly special about that Henley secret recipe cornbread dressing. Note to self: shadow Dad next year and learn the recipe!

Of course I brought pies. I always make my grandmother's Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving. This year I brought a Banana Cream (something new) and at the last minute Dad requested that I fix his mother's Chocolate Pie. Not to be left out, my sister fixed two Pumpkin Pies also.

I don't think I have to tell you who wanted the pies all to herself!

Friday we headed west to Silver Belle Ranch. We had a few days of weather that makes you wish it would be like this every day forever. I love that Cameron is old enough to open and close the gates. It makes her feel important.

We popped over to San Antonio for Saturday to visit SeaWorld. On this trip we explored other areas of the park and Cameron discovered a few more "grown-up" rides that she could experience. She & Bryan took the plunge on the Texas Splashdown (think "log ride") and the Rio Loco. She loved it! And of course, the true reason we were there - to see Shamu's "Believe" show. No novice this time around, Cameron insisted on sitting the "Splash Zone." For those of you unfamiliar, there's a little part of the show where the trainers get the whole audience to make the sign for "use-your-tail-like-a-big-scoop-and-soak-the-audience" and we all chant "Sham-OO! Sham-OO!" I tried to position us where Cameron might get a little wet, but we wouldn't be deluged.

We returned Saturday early evening in time to burn the trash, and the vestiges of the days labor. While we were gone, Dad and Lisa's Brian trimmed some trees. We also saw a brand-new calf being brought out of the woods for the first time... and promptly returned to the woods.

And now I need a weekend from my weekend. I arrived back in the office this morning, after a five-day absence, and could not remember what I needed to do that was important. Never fear, this momentary lapse in awareness lasted only until I opened my email, calendar, and picked up the ringing phone.

I hope everyone reading this had a thoughtful and thankful weekend.

Sad Loss

It is with heavy hearts that we bring the sad news of another loss in our family. What should be a Thankful time has turned into unspeakable grief. My cousin, Desmond & his wife, Tempa, lost their infant twin sons in utero. Torren Henley & Kinden Nicholi were delivered still born on Sunday, November 19. Torren was 5 lbs 4 oz and 18 1/2 inches and his identical brother was 5 lbs 2 oz and 18 1/2 inches. A happier delivery was expected in just a few short weeks, but something has gone terribly wrong and I cannot imagine, do not want to imagine, this sorrow and pain that Desi & Tempa now have in their lives.

There will be a Memorial Service on Wed. Nov. 22 in Cedar Park, Texas and the boys will be buried at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Liberty Hill, Texas. They are survived by their parents, an older brother - Xaden (almost 3), Aunt Nichole, Uncle Larry, cousins Kayleigh & Lawrence, and their GiGi. A large family of aunts, uncles and cousins extend their love and support to them.

When we lose an elderly relative, we take comfort in that they lived a long life, lived a good life, shared the love of family and friends, and passed on their wisdom to others. When we lose infants.... there are no words, only tears. An emptiness. We have no understanding why God choses this path for some people. Tonight we pray for the souls of Kinden & Torren, such beautiful little angels in heaven, and we pray for Desmond & Tempa.

School Photos

Say "HI" to my knee...

"Hi Knee"
(lots of laughing) You said "Hiney" (get it? You're supposed to laugh.)

The girls have discovered "jokes". I should say Cameron has discovered them, likely at school, and has been introducing them to Brenna. Here's another.

Hey Mom, look under there!
"Under where?"
(hysterical laughing) You said underwear!

What's a button you can't unbutton?
Your bellybutton!

And who can ignore the never-ending Knock Knock jokes. Specifically this one that Brenna loves to say ad naseum.

Knock Knock.
Who's There?
Banana.
Banana who?

Knock Knock
Who's There?
Banana.
Banana who?
(repeat two more times, and then say)

Knock Knock
Who's There?
Orange.
Orange who?
ORANGE YOU GLAD I DIDN'T SAY BANANA?

(and yes, we really are glad, because it means the joke is over. At least for the next 20 seconds.)

At Last....

At Last by Etta James is "our song" that we danced to at our wedding, ten years ago. In this post it has another meaning. We're celebrating the official engagement of Bryan's brother, Brad, and his long-time girlfriend, Amanda.

They started dating at Baylor University, five years ago, and she has been a steady and constant part of his life ever since. (That I know of!) She's been through a lot with the Kelly family, losing Donna, and most recently Wanda. She is an incredibly talented artist, who works with children at the Art Institute of McKinney.

Cameron & Brenna are thrilled that Amanda is now "Almost-Aunt Amanda." They can't wait to drop the Almost. With the formal addition of Amanda, our family is filled. We have no more unmarried siblings. (Though we look forward to the addition of little Kelly cousins to join our other cousins.)

Welcome to the Kelly family, Amanda!

Try, try again

'Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again.
If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again.

We use this little saying in our house quite often to remind the girls that you don't always succeed immediately. Sometimes you have to persevere. So it went on Satuday, when we replaced the floating and flushed Gold Pumpkin with a new male Betta named "Midnight." Bringing home Betta was a little anti-climactic after last weekend. Poor Midnight has had no lengthy serious talks with Brenna, and there is no "Midnight" song from our industrious songwriter.

But he's still alive. And that's what counts.

And he's a darn pretty fish. He's a deep midnight blue (hence the name) with a touch of red. Sometime I'll get a photo and post it. A few times yesterday I found myself just sitting on the floor in front of the tank watching him swim around. It's been two whole nights and he's still with us. The girls really enjoy turning on the aquarium light in the morning. It's fun to hear them in the morning call out, "He's still alive, Mom!" like it's a big surprise.