To Clare on her 2nd Birthday

{Getting published a bit late: Clare turned 2 on July 10. *sniff*}

Clare Bear,

This has been such a full year for you. You won't remember any of it, but in the last 12 months, you have lived in 4 different cities. You dealt with lots of medical stuff -- including major surgery. You got a baby brother.

In spite of it all -- or maybe because of it -- you have thrived. You are adaptable, but you are a creature of habit. You are a social butterfly, but do well playing independently. You know what you want and you want it now -- you most definitely have a mind of your own.

You are, as grandad says, a chatterbox. You love to talk, and you are, as we have often put it, extraordinarily verbal. You will happily read books all day long. Your attention span is pretty remarkable for a 2 year old. Maybe you will be a word-lover like your mama. Or maybe you'll be an architect with your love of beauty and building blocks.

You love princesses and pretty dresses and playing in the dirt. Nothing makes me happier than seeing you in one of your dresses looking like a total disaster from a hard day of playing. 

Most importantly, though, you love God. You are learning your prayers; you can make the Sign of the Cross (sometimes with a little extra devotion to the Holy Spirit). You love angels, and tell us that they say, "Glory to God in the highest. Peace." You pray before your tea parties. You ask to wear your "beautiful crucifix." 

You light up the room with your smile and your laugh, your sweet soul and your heart of gold. You bring us so much joy -- may the world bring as much joy to you.

I love you,
Mama

Sunday Morning

My Fiance, C, and I celebrated Sunday with our favorite ritual: a pot of coffee, a big breakfast and TV mass. Yes, we're cool and Catholic like that. Yes, we'll go to real life in-person mass later this evening. We love getting another take on the weekly readings, though, and the chance to start our Sundays off with a focus on the important things in life: God and (almost) family. Can't beat that.

Saturday Bagels

Last week, I was super-excited to share a post about Saturday morning bagels, but apparently, I'm still living in 2007, and my computer and phone won't interface to let me get the picture off my (not particularly high-tech) phone and onto my computer.

Today's picture is from this morning's bagel escapade. I love Saturday morning bagels for a lot of reasons: good company (usually a friend and her family, but this morning, my fiance), good food, good coffee. I love the ritual of getting up and getting out (and moving) to start the weekend off well.

Mostly, though, I love the people watching. I love seeing familiar faces and I love seeing who else is up early on Saturday morning.

You see a little bit of everything: people dragging themselves into Saturday morning work, people post-workout, people with their dogs and kids, families on their way to soccer games or basketball tournaments.

Most importantly, though, it is a community. I might live in a big, impersonal city, but I love the neighborhood where I live. There is a sense of friendly camaraderie that permeates the sterile chain environment. There is sunshine, there is so much to be thankful for, and there is life. What more do you need?