When my family is apart it is difficult for me and this was the first time that one was gone for an entire year! Maria chose to study in Rome for her entire sophomore year after embracing the Catholic Church her first year at ST Thomas and entering the Catholic Studies program! She returned home shortly after Ruth and Paul announced their engagement, and spoke that as quickly as possible she wished to enter the monastery and become a nun. Ruth was frantic to have her wedding with Maria a part of her family celebration before she entered, so the wedding was Nov 22 - the weekend before Thanksgiving and Maria entered the Poor Clare Monastery on Jan 1st - the feast of Mary the Mother of God. All I knew on this June day in 2003 was that my family was all together and I needed a picture to hold close to my heart in all the changes ahead of us! It has been on my TEC Bible now for all these years with new grandkids and in laws added over the years, but still a wonderful beautiful gift that continues of give! The mother hen had all her chicks and a soon to be new one all in the nest for a brief moment in time... something about seeing them all there.... happy and close! Family is a blessing and how I hold onto it with all my might! Sometimes it is painful to feel the distance between us, but love conquers all.... Our faith gives us hope and acceptance of all the changes, yet we are always a family that covers the space between us by the daily lifting up in prayer. Nothing can replace the family!
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