Communion - Grayslake Photographer

Our little girl received her First Holy Communion last weekend.  My faith has evolved from when I was in second grade and I find it difficult as a parent to pass that down to my children.  It's challenging not to pass down beliefs as truths.  Everyone has their own spiritual truths.  I hope that we are setting a good foundation for them to joyfully explore theirs.  

I often don't have all the answers they search for.  

"If God made the universe, who made God?"

I actually rarely have the answers they seek.  

I want them to know that the answers they seek are to be found inward.  

They just need to seek and they will find.  

Above all I want to show them this by example:

"This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

My Princess - First Communion Photography

What a blessed weekend we had around here!  My oldest made her First Communion, it was such a wonderful day!  They told us at practice that no photography was to be allowed during the ceremony.  I was surprised and disappointed at first.  In the end, I was able to be in the moment and really enjoy the ceremony. 

   
So proud of my little princess. 

When we went shopping for the dress she tried on about 10.  She ended up picking the simplest one.  I was trying to point her to another dress that had more decor and a few ruffles.  She clearly said "no".  I finally asked her why she wanted that one she said that she didn't like the dresses that were "too busy".  She said, she was like me, just wanted something nice and simple. 

Full of joy... just skipping along. 

I asked her, if she knew that she was so beautiful.  She replied "Yes, I do." I looked at her kind of surprised.  So I said, "You do?" She replied, "Yes Mama, I know because you tell me all the time."  :)

During the ceremony I couldn't get through this blessing.  I could no longer hold the tears back.

Loving God in heaven, here are our children.  We give them to you.  Reach out and touch them with your love.  Help them to know themselves and enjoy the person you created them to be.  Help them to use their gifts to serve you.  Help them most of all to love you above all things.  May we always remember the joy and love of this day and ask your guidance in the sometimes difficult task of forming your children.  We ask this through Christ, our Lord.  Amen.