What a difference a week makes!! Last Wednesday, school began for everyone. Brad left for his day and Addison, Parker, and I left for their school. Drop off……..whoa!!! Things are different here! We walked to school to be met by mass confusion. Parker was to be dropped of in the cafeteria and Addison in the Big Yard (on the playground outside). We had yet to meet their teachers. Parents were everywhere! We dropped off Addison with a teacher who helped her find her way. Parker and I ventured into the cafeteria where you could barely breathe! It was packed! We finally found his class and met his teacher. YEAH!! We did it. It was completely different than driving up to the school, kissing the kids before they got out of the car, and saying “Hope you have a great day! See you this afternoon!” Needles to say, I went for a hard run after I dropped the children off just to relieve some of the stress.Thursday was spent getting the “routine” of school and homework down. Friday brought on a whole new animal to tackle. RAIN!!! The walk to school was drizzly and wet. But we managed to get there pretty dry. It was the pick up that drenched us!! Right when school was letting out, the bottom let out. Umbrellas are great when the wind isn’t trying to make them a tool used for lifting you off the ground. By the time we made it home, half of our pant legs were soaked and our feet were in the first stages of becoming water logged. Thank goodness we were in for the night. After this experience, rain boots were ordered (via Target) and are on the way. Hopefully, our feet and pants will be drier the next go around. I just am having a hard time imagining this process happening while it is snowing!!!
After a great weekend (which included soccer games for both Addison and Parker), the week ended with the family Eucharist last night. This is a service where the children are the acolytes. It is less formal. Every time I have attended this service I have about lost it half way through it. It is a beautiful thing to see the children (ages three and older) serve during the service. Their faces just say so much. They carry the cross, torches, and gospel in the processional. They assist the celebrating priest with setting the table for communion. The music is more “camp” like music (which I love) and the atmosphere is very forgiving. During the sermon, the children sit on the steps leading to the alter and listen as well as participate. Matt (who did the sermon last night) did an excellent job with involving the kids as a part of the sermon…..as well as entertaining the adults. Then we all gather around the alter for communion.
Addison and Parker were across the circle from us last night as communion started. It was so awesome to watch them during this. Parker was standing by Joseph (a person in Brad’s class). Every time Joseph bowed his head in reverence, so did Parker. It made me think of how much we (meaning the community as a whole) are role models for these young developing minds. I am so thankful that this week ended like this. I once again realized that Addison and Parker are going to be exposed to SO much here. I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it. But I am so thankful for the people (both seminarians and significant others) for embracing the children of the seminary as they do. It is a wonderful thing to watch and feel. I feel fortunate to be a part of this community. GJ
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