The last of the Halifax photos

This is the end. Of the Halifax photos, that is. And, if I am to be entirely accurate and up-front, these photos are actually from Dartmouth. Oh the shame ... Halifax natives will know what I mean; Dartmouth readers, congratulations on attaining literacy. (Shameless bid for comments!) These pictures were snapped at Rainbow Haven Beach on a fairly warm day. Amazingly, the wind coming in off the ocean was quite warm; but we still needed to bundle up. The twins were especially courageous as they braved the icy waters time and time again. Poor Hannah was swept over by a wave but a passerby scooped her up before she was entirely soaked. Ben was also overtaken by a wave within minutes of arriving at the shore. Fortunately, I had listened to that inner voice that had distinctly told me to bring extra pants for all the kids. In my father's words, "Mommy has triumphed!" I must record all triumphs as they are few and far between. (The majority of my triumphant moments are diminished by the use of Kraft Dinner and ice cream as bribes.)

And this last photo is minutes before our evening departure to our beloved small town. Dave and I attended a vigil mass at St. Agnes parish; rushed home; bathed and pajamaed the kids; ate still more pizza and bid my parents farewell. I didn't even cry. I did feel the tearing mechanism begin but I quenched its force and tried not to look my mother in the eye. Hannah did cry until around Sackville when she suddenly felt car-sick, was passed the Gravol bottle and told to take a swig. She slept soundly for the next few hours.

And now all pictures occuring on this blog will originate from west of Montreal. By the way, thanks for all the marriage prep prayers. The couples on the weekend were more than receptive. At least two of the eight couples approached us to thank us for the clarity of our teachings and to tell us that they were more than interested in Natural Family Planning. Sadly, as with all marriage prep weekends, this was the first time that most of these couples had heard the forceful and coherent reasoning behind the Church's stand on birth control. When such truth is presented well and enthusiatically, it can be very hard to argue with. As our wonderful Bishop said (who attended the whole weekend), "Why am I always surprised that people are attracted and convicted by the truth? I shouldn't be." We are simply delighted to have been a part of it all. The Theology of the Body, as taught by Christopher West, is easily understood and his analogies have a way of making the hearer say, "Of course. How could it be any other way?" Thank God for Pope John Paul II who responded to the Sexual Revolution with the Theology of the Body. And thank God for Christopher West who helps us to understand it. Have a blessed feast of Divine Mercy: we all need it and none of us are beyond it.