Saturday, July 26, 2008

*Almost* Excommunicated

















A number of "OH NO's" hit all at once:













  1. Oh my goodness! You are a wonderful writer and I'm so glad you journaled this memory. I felt like I was right there with you. Now, tell me, how long was it before you looked at your husband and neither of you could keep from laughing at the absurdity of it all? It reads like an I Love Lucy episode:-)

  2. Oh! Thank you Elizabeth!!! Coming from one of my favorite authors, that made my day! (Thank goodness for spell check. Now if I my computer just had grammar check, that would be wonderful!)

    As far as how long it took... We glanced at each other as we were running through Monsignor's home, and couldn't help laughing. It was so unbelievable, and SO embarrassing!

    Jessica!! You did a fabulous job writing it! You know, it is like I always used to say when I tried once upon a time to be a writer, I am a writer, not a speller. A good speller does not a wirter make. I LOVE my spell check!
    I just can't imagine it. You and your husband are going to laugh and laugh about this for years to come. You will never forget this First Communion!

    Oh and the drive went well. I only cried a little... well, a little for me. I started freaking out thinking about how someday she is going to leave the nest and not just for a few days!

  4. Wow, what an experience. I am happy for you that it all ended well and you can laugh about it now. God Bless you, Shelly

  5. Oh my goodness! So glad everything worked out ok! Even though you had to work for it...☺

  6. Jessica, not only are you a terrific writer, this is a very, very funny episode! (Though I'm sure it didn't seem so at the time! Like a bad dream, I bet!)

    I could feel the anxiety about possibly missing your son's First Communion! But I bet the Bishop would've been lenient about the excommunication under the circumstances. Maybe just a slap on the wrist and the promise never to return to that Church again? :)

    We had a crazy experience on the day of my daughter's First Communion, too, that really set my head spinning and anxiety wheels rolling. In the end, Jesus still came, and all was well! (And I was given a very dear and much-needed reminder that it wasn't about "me" after all!!!)

  7. Oh, my gosh!!! Amazing, you'd never think that through the pictures. You are a clever writer, and a great one at that!!! I really think you could write a couple different books,I'd be the first to buy!

    Great story, great how we never really know what people are going through. Thanks for the great story. What a great story for your kids when they grow up, poor Chiquita, she will be teased as an adult by her siblings!! :)

  8. Jessica, this is so funny! Strange how moments of stress bring about "Narnia" moments! Congratulations to your son and I'm so glad you didn't miss the moment!

  9. This is so funny! Can you map the laundromats that you must have visited during your road trip? You are a terrific writer!

  10. This story was worth the wait. I was completely going through all my shock expressions in front of my computer as this tale unfolded. My oldest son (#3 of 5) made his First Communion in May. I've worried every time about missing the Mass with a crying or sick baby. Especially this year, I had to engage in a public battle for "permission" to have my younger children with us for the First Communion Mass. I left that meeting after insisting that my entire family would be with me thinking that I had just guaranteed myself a sick kid. You made realize I need to be grateful that my little First Communion struggle happened in advance and we made it through with no incidents, accidents, or illnesses.
    P.S. I didn't comment before, but the First Communion and Blessing pictures were really beautiful to see.

  11. Ah!! Thank you everyone!!! You are all so sweet. You have no idea how badly I wanted to log onto the computer back in Nebraska to post this story! I've had a few chances to tell it though, since we've been back, and that made it a bit easier to write about. It really was both CRAZY and hilarious!

  12. Sue ~ I did do quite a bit of laundry during this trip... I got to know the girl that worked at the laundry mat (right down the street from our hotel) pretty well! ;)

  13. LOL!!! GREAT!! A.B.

  14. Too funny! I agree with does read like an episode of Lucy! :)

    What a blessing to have those angels with you in the courtyard. The Lord made a way.

  15. Oh I KNOW!!! They really were such a blessing! I don't know what I would have done, if they hadn't come to my rescue!

  16. Whoa! I sat here with my mouth and eyes open wide while reading this entry. Start with a sick baby and then have an accident from the potty trained child. This is something that we only have bad dreams about! Did you tell Msgr. T. this story later? Now you'll all be able to laugh at it, since all is well. I'm still processing your entry and still in a little bit of disbelief! God must surely have a sense of humor!

  17. Aubrey, I still can't believe it happened either, but then again I can... I always tend to have crazy things happen... A friend of mine says I should right a book, but then, I have selective memory (I think) and can never remember after awhile. That's one of the reasons I wanted to blog this, so that I would remember all the details! :)

    I am pretty sure either my hubby or one of my brother-in-laws told Monsignor T. the next day (Sunday). There was another First Mass starting immediately after my brother-in-laws, so we didn't have a chance to tell Monsignor on Saturday.

    Another funny thing, is that when we went back to the Carmel on Sunday, to visit with the nuns, there was a new rod iron gate around the entrance to Monsignor's home. I pointed it out to one of my hubby's brothers, and he said he had never seen it before, and that they must have put it up to keep us out of Monsignor's home. I am sure they will be giving us a hard time for this for years to come!

    And yes, God truly must have a sense of humor!

  18. That's hysterical, Jessica! I'm so glad everything worked out so nicely and God had his angels planted to smooth the way. You did a great job telling it for someone who is not a writer!

  19. ...and you didn't poke around to see if Msgr. had any paper towels? ;)

  20. We were in such a hurry to GET OUT OF HIS HOUSE that I never even THOUGHT of that!!! That would have been a good idea. Instead we used the baby's blanket and needed to make ANOTHER trip to the laundry mat! :)

  21. Oh that is a great story. Thanks for sharing. We all have those moments. I think you handled it perfectly....and you are a great writer so don't worry about that!

  22. That has *got* to take the cake, Jessica! That is truly a great story for years to come! every First Holy Communion - this story will be told and re-told :o)

  23. Oh my goodness, what a story!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

  24. I'm dying here! I hadn't read this post until now and I'm glad for the wait.That was an exciting tale for sure.



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