Anna Grace's First Communion

Anna Grace made her First Communion this morning……



She’s talked about it all week, all day long, to anyone who would listen. I’m pretty sure the whole school knew.



And me? I was dreading it.

After all, this is our challenging child, the one who purposely does things wrong in church to make my blood pressure increase, and who spent Easter with her dress hiked up around her hips while she fixed her tights.

Sigh.

Today, I started thinking back to her baptism almost seven years ago. She’d been with us for only two months at that point but was already pushing buttons….after all, she and I spent most of her baptism Mass walking the halls and almost missed the main event.

I heard “And now, it’s time for our baptism….” and came running.

“I don’t wanna be still. Put me down.”



“Who me? Whatcha lookin’ at? I’m not doing anything wrong.”



Flash forward seven years, and that fourteen month old baby is now a seven year old second grader.

One who was very excited about this new event in her life.



But as we know, nothing with Anna Grace is like it seems.

New, larger tights were purchased to avoid the whole “dress pulled up” event since that would surely detract from the ceremony….especially since she was in the first row.

Yes, you read that correctly. The very first row. Ugh.



All during Mass, I watched her chat with her neighbor, one of her best buds from the two-year old room at daycare, dance in her spot, spin her dress, and be, well, Anna Grace.

She did glance back at me during the service……



and showed she was totally excited to be there.

She was the second child to make her First Communion. And after that??

She spent her time critiquing each child who came behind her.

“He’s not folding his hands right. She did that wrong. Did you see him?”

For 62 children. Her teacher was cracking up.

Mass ended, reception followed where she dashed from Point A to Point B like a house on fire, ripped off her veil and waved it around, and was a general menace to the public.

Found Father Dan…..



and grabbed a photo before she took off running again and promptly tripped herself.

Kawhump.

Headed outdoors for a family photo



and one with her godparents



all while remembering seven years ago…..



We’ve come a long way, baby.