bountifulplate

This time last year, Dominic was in the midst of finishing up his two years of special needs religious education classes and was preparing to make his First Holy Communion. I was shopping for church shoes and a shirt and tie. Since we have no family here, any celebration afterwards would be small, so I knew that wouldn't require too much planning. When the big day arrived, it was a moment captured in time, that I will never forget. Shortly after Dominic made his First Holy Communion, I became co-chairperson of a group called, Our Lady of Grace Special Families Ministry.  The ministry has a bowling group that is in its ninth year. I knew in my heart, though, that the ministry could be doing so much more. I really, really wanted a Mass for special needs children and adults. I had become, what you would call, a "dog with a bone." I wasn't about to give the idea up!!! Well, about three weeks ago, my "faith" had begun to waver a bit and I was beginning...

When Lauren left for college last August, neither of us knew how our relationship would change. She and I are very close, but respect each other's "space."  While there have been a few "tweaks" to our relationship, we are still just as close. Last Friday, I drove the ninety miles to visit her and we spent the day together - just the two of us.  With her busy schedule and mine, it took a few weeks of planning. We had so much catching up to do that I don't think either of us stopped talking the ENTIRE time. I recently discovered that there is a mall just 15 minutes away from her campus. I have been to some big malls in my time, but this one had a full size carousel in it! When we lived in Maryland, there was a park with a carousel that Lauren and I would ride frequently. I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride, but she declined my offer :) Throughout the day, I kept calling the hubby saying, "we are still shopping!" More than one time, Lauren sai...

Last Friday afternoon shortly before Dominic was due to come home on the bus, I popped into my local  Kroger to pick up a handful of items for the weekend.  As I was putting the last of my things onto the conveyor belt, I overheard the gentleman who was bagging my groceries say to the clerk next to him, "can you get me a Band-Aid ?" She answered back, "okay, I'll get you one in a minute." He was beginning to get upset about the fact he needed one and didn't have one. Since I was running late, I guess I could have just finished bagging my own groceries and gotten out of there, but that's not my "style." I always have at least one Band-Aid  on hand at all times, so I pulled one out of my purse and said, "do you want this one?" He seemed very relieved and said, "yes, could you put it on my finger?"  I LOVE the fact that my local Kroger has hired a handful of special needs individuals to work at the store. As I finished putti...