Vacation Bible School

Frank went to a Lutheran elementary school when we lived in California. When we moved to Colorado, we didn't, or haven't, established any kind of relationship with a church.

Beckett doesn't have as many options for summer camps as Frank does this summer, so one of Beck's friends' moms suggested Vacation Bible School. She has enrolled her son in several since they are inexpensive and pretty good camps. I decided to try one out this year. We chose St. Peter's, a catholic church around the corner from the Art Market. What they must think of us!!

Before his first day I sat Beck down and told him about mass each day. From 11:30 to 12:00 each day of the summer camp they go to mass. Beck hasn't been in church since he was two, so he doesn't know how to behave in that environment. We talked it over and he agreed to be quiet and not fool around during "church." So when I picked him up after camp on Monday I asked him out "church" went. He said it was "good." I asked him what they did.

Beck: We went in and said hello to God. And the girls said hello to Mary.
Me: Who is Mary Beck?
Beck: God's mother.
Me: Who is Jesus?
Beck: Ummm, God?
Me: Jesus is God's son and Mary is Jesus' mother.
Beck: Oh yeah. We saw her God necklace.
Me: Mary's God necklace? Do you mean her rosary?
Beck: Yeah, it has the God sign on it.
Me: Do you mean the cross?
Beck: Yeah, that's the God sign.
Me: Do you know why the cross is the God sign?
Beck: I don't remember.
Me: Because Jesus died on the cross.
(Beck looks out the window for a few seconds and doesn't say anything, then he finally speaks.)
Beck: Mom . . . what's for dinner?

Later that night.
Me: Beck did you pray during church today? (He nods his head affirmatively.)
Me: What did you do when you prayed? (Beck gets off his chair and walks over to the carpet and kneels.)
Beck: We did this and then we did the sign language. (He crosses himself.)
I asked him if he bowed his head and closed his eyes too. He responded that he and one of the second graders did but no one else did. (???)

The next afternoon (yesterday), I picked Beck up and again asked how his day was.
Beck: Good. Today we said hello to Jesus.
Me: And who is Jesus again?
Beck: He's our father-in-law.
Me (trying REALLY hard not to laugh): Do you mean our father-in-heaven?
Beck: Oh yeah. And Mary's our mother-in-law.
Me: Again, mother-in-heaven?
Beck. Yeah. We did the sign language again too. (He crosses himself and says) Father, Son and . . .
Me: Holy Ghost?
Beck (his eyes get as big as saucers): NO M-O-O-M-M, there aren't any GHOSTS in church!!!
Me (afraid he is going to start crying he is so upset): Oops, I mean Holy Spirit.
Beck (much relief): Yeah that's it. And a man.
Me (takes me a minute): Do you mean amen?
Beck: Yeah, that's it. Amen.

Amen indeed.

My Sister

Every day this week, sometimes several times a day, I have talked to my sister. Up until tonight, I might not have used that term to describe her. I may have said half-sister, or something else, I'm not sure.

Now all I know is that I look forward to it all day—talking to her. Tonight we looked at photos, her on her end of Facebook and me on mine. We decided that Jackie, another half-sister/sister, and I look a lot alike. Eerily so.

She has been looking for me for years she told me. I have not been so diligent. I was more fearful. Of rejection. Or maybe being an unwelcome surprise.

She grew up less than a few miles from me, at least part of both of our childhoods. I wonder if we passed each other on the street.

I am thankful to her for finding me. Very thankful. There are things I know in entirety now that I have only known bits and pieces of in the past. Lots of blanks have been filled in. And I have a sister. Two. And a brother too.

Life Throws Curveballs

I was sitting at my desk today and got an alert that I received a Facebook message. I recognized the name of the woman sending the message but this is a message I never expected to get.

A few years ago I found out that my biological father had three other children. It was a serendipitous discovery but I never would have done anything with the information myself. Given that I am older than his other children, I always believed there was a chance they knew nothing about me and it wasn't my place to disrupt their lives with an introduction.

This message came from my father's youngest daughter. She introduced herself to me and then went on to let me know that he passed away a few years ago. This part I already knew.

I don't know what will come of this. I have answered her. I am happy to have heard from her. This is a door that I never expected to be opened. I am somewhat at a loss as to what to think, how to feel, what to say. It will come.