Visits and prayers

In early March, Jane's Godmother - our own Auntie Anne - happened to be in the midwest on a work trip (all the way from Connecticut), and drove a few hours to spend a few days with us.  During the visit Anne was able to experience Caroline-something she could then take back with her to the rest of our family in the Northeast.  We took some time to listen to Caroline's heartbeat on the monitor. The kids - especially Jane - loved having Auntie Anne   to read bedtime stories and teach her the finer points of Go Fish - and we loved having a little relief from life's routine.



Before her visit, Anne crocheted a blanket for Caroline and shipped it out. We held it in the box until we had a moment during her visit to open the beautiful gift that will wrap Caroline forever. It is so comforting to us to know that she will be wrapped with love from her Auntie who cares so much.

Recently, one of our friends has taken the initiative to organize a novena to blessed Margaret of Castello on our behalf. While we were at a Couples by Candlelight dinner at our church on Saturday, March 9 she introduced the Novena to the crowd. It was an exercise in humility sitting among our friends as she talked about our situation. Yet we experienced an overwhelming sense of love for Caroline and support for us as we put this in God's hands and ask for his help.  It is not about us--God is using this concept to mold us in ways we aren't fully aware yet--but it is important to keep our trust in Him.  When we feel lost or overwhelmed we often repeat "Jesus I trust in You."  This short prayer helps us submit to God and His plan for us and our family.

The next day, Jessica's high school friends surprised her with a mini reunion over brunch. (Although they should have known better than to catch a pregnant girl so off guard and not bring tissues!)  It had been too many days to count since they'd been together, and her friends went out of their way to make it happen.  There is nothing like old friends--they don't talk every day but the second they get together they pick up where they left off.  There is no holding back, no explaining and lots and lots of laughing.  It is comfortable in a way that sort of impossible to describe and it is exactly what everyone needed.



Tom successfully slid another birthday into the books. Since Tom had a night meeting on his birthday, we took Caroline to a fancy restaurant on the night before - even if it was only for dessert. On the night after, we had ice cream cake at home with the kids-- all four of them.  It was nice to celebrate as a family.





Per our priest's recommendation, we had planned a pilgrimage to the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio for Friday the 15th.  Tom's work day had turned from one problem to the next, and Jessica discovered that they had switched times of the healing mass.  We decided to postpone the trip and will take Caroline there in a few weeks.