Just in case you didn't know...

Now, if that doesn't warm a (Catholic!) Mama's/ Papa's heart, I'm not sure what does!
(In case you can't see: "Liam wants to be a priest; Maia wants to live her life for Jesus, Maia wants to be a nun; Chiara wants to be a doctor")
This is a keeper, for sure- and I'll either pull it out on the day she makes her 'Final Vows' as a nun, or I'll give it to her on her wedding day, letting her groom know he wasn't her 'first choice'!!! Well, maybe I won't say that, but I'll at least let him see the high standards he had to compete with!!!!!!
(hmmm...so much for the cryptic abbreviations with everyone's names here!)

"No Boys Allowed"

This morning, I was getting ready when L came into the room.

L: Mama, M needs a pen and paper.
Mama: What does she need them for? (Also wondering why M couldn't come and ask for them herself! But, being in a hurry to get ready and not wanting to deal with M's typical 'giving orders to her brother' and knowing everything is still in boxes from our new move, so Mama has to be the one to find paper and pens anyway, I found a piece of paper and a pen and gave it to M's servant...I mean to L.)
L: Tanks, Mama.
Mama: Sure, Buddy.

3 minutes later, I went in search of M and L to make sure they were ready to get out the door and I found L laying next to M on the ground, with his chin propped comfortably in his hands, innocently watching M finish a homemade sign, unaware of what she was writing or the implications of what she was writing.

M: Mama, how do you spell 'loud'?
Mama: Loud?? What for?
M: My sign. You know, like 'no one is loud in here?'
Mama: Uh, I think you mean 'allowed'.
M: Right, right, right.
Mama: A-L-L-O-W-E-D
M: Thanks! Do you have some tape?
Mama: For what?
M: To put this on my door.
Mama: And what is this sign for, M?
M: Look- read it.

"No Boys Allowed"

We had a little discussion right then and there (discussion topic: "Signs like this will not be allowed in our house"; and then another little discussion after that (discussion topic- perhaps more for Mama's amusement sake: "How on earth could you possibly ask (ahem, tell) your sweet little brother to get you a pen and paper, and then proceed to use that very pen and paper to write a sign that disallows him from you room?!?!?!)

Ah. The irony. Too bad no one else was there to appreciate it with me!!

"Saint Mama" and "Saint Papa"

We went to Mass this morning, blessed with the company of my sister-in-law, Auntie C and her little one (our Godson), E. At our Church, being a large parish with quite the elderly population, it is typical to have at least one funeral (if not two or three!) any given week. Since Father O'Doherty is the only pastor of our parish, funerals are held during daily Mass, also as a way for the Church body to participate in these funerals which might otherwise not have many attendees. Today happened to be a funeral Mass. I truly don't mind participating in funerals- I've been to so many in my life because of my music jobs- and I usually find myself reflecting greatly upon my own life during these celebrations. Today, being the Feast Day of St. Joseph, I loved listening to Father's Sermon, contemplating Jesus' relationship with St. Joseph. Father mentioned how he undoubtedly called him "Daddy" (or the equivalent in Aramaic, of course!). Anyways, it was a really beautiful sermon, reflecting on dear St. Joseph, protector and intercessor of all fathers and all families. Just as the funeral procession was about to begin, I had to take L to the bathroom. So M stayed with her Auntie C while we left for the restroom. When I came back, she informed me of the precious interaction I missed between her and M while I was gone... definitely had to share this!
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M: Auntie C, why can't I see the person who died? Why are they in that thing and covered with a cloth?

Auntie C: Well, that's what they do at funerals. They're no longer alive, so the family has them put in a casket like that.

M: Oh. Well, when my Mama and Papa die, I think I'll go with them.

Auntie C: Hmm. That might not happen, though, M. Jesus might not decide to have you come with them just then. Maybe, but we don't know. But you can ask them to pray for you after they die, though.

M: Oh! That's right! And maybe they'll be called "St. Mama" and "St. Papa", right?!

Auntie C: Yeah! Maybe! That's what you can pray for, because Jesus wants us all to become saints and live our lives loving him with all our hearts.

M: I'll still be very sad though, when they die.

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"Saint Mama" and "Saint Papa". Wow. How's that for originality?! She ponders death and heaven quite a lot lately. I can almost see the wheels turning constantly in her head! Lately, M has also been very interested in 'the poor'. We've read some stories about saints, which have spurred conversations about the poor. A few days ago we had another thought-provoking conversation...

M: Mama, I have a really good idea!! Can we have some poor people over to our house for dinner?!

Mama: That's a great idea, Sweetie. Let's talk with Papa about it later tonight. We could also look for ways to serve the poor, maybe at a food shelf, where they feed people who are hungry and poor.

M: But, I think we should have them over to our house! I know!! Let's go for a walk tonight, and I'll bring my piggy bank, and we can find some poor people and I'll share my money with them, so they're not poor anymore!

Mama: How will you know if someone's poor?

M: (almost rolling her eyes at the absurdity of my question) We'll ask them, of course!

Mama: Oh.

M: Can I like give them some of my clothes and toys, too?

Mama: That would be wonderful, M. We can go through all of our things at home and put together a boxful of stuff if you'd like.

M: Oh yes! Let's all do that!!
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Oh that I would have the heart and compassion that my four year old does! No wonder Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven belonging to those who 'become like little children.'!!