Robin's Egg

It's been a long, hard winter. Tragically, we lost our dog, Charlie. He had been with us almost 10 years and was raised with Sebastian (also 10) who did not know life without him. Sebastian regularly called Charlie his "best friend." Charlie sent Sebastian off to school with an encouraging look every morning and greeted him when Sebastian returned as though he had not seen him in weeks. To say that Sebastian leaned on Charlie through our move to Italy is an understatement. Charlie is, in fact, how I learned the importance of dogs in the lives of people and see them as gift from God deliberately crafted and generously given. 

Sebastian tried to stay steady. He didn't even tell his teachers or classmates that his dog had died when they asked him what was wrong, given his sulky and distracted demeanor. He reported to me that he did not want to call attention to himself. But under that courageous exterior, the boy reeled in pain. He regressed at home, starting to get upset about things that bothered him years ago but had recovered from. Now those ghosts were back tormenting him.  He was emotionally unstable. He was having pains in his body that there was no evidence of. Even his drama teacher told him, "Sometimes pains in our soul show up in our bodies. Is that happening to you?" Sebastian called this drama teacher his new favorite person--he certainly struck a chord with Sebastian. 

Ron has been a lifesaver. Ron is the parent mostly responsible for Sebastian's school commutes and communications, whereas I take care of the girls. Ron had to manage complete breakdowns in the morning when Sebastian was flatly unwilling to go to school. Ron took charge. He put him on a new vitamin regime. He took him completely off sugar and onto a new breakfast routine. He firmed up his bedtime, making sure Sebastian got enough sleep. He coached him, lectured him, listened to him, encouraged him, consoled him. Sebastian has been close to a part time job. Ron has been magnificent, maintaining a firm, guiding hand while supporting him, planning camping trips, hiking adventures, and--you guessed it--getting a new puppy. 

In truth, this new puppy is about the sweetest little dog I have ever seen. He is absolutely precious. Ron found a breeder of golden retrievers in Tuscany, and we went twice to see the puppies. We chose one little boy and brought him home just a week or so ago. Be still my heart! 

This puppy can never replace Charlie's place in our hearts, and Sebastian is still grieving Charlie's loss. But Sebastian is recovering. He is getting stronger. It was good that those old issues came back up because we have been able to deal with them more thoroughly and completely, and Sebastian is stronger for it. I've seen him have a few good days, and then fall apart; then a few more good days, and then another rough one. But the improvement has been on a steady incline. 

Yesterday, Sebastian and I woke up--each from our own rooms, roused by the puppy barking. We took him out, and fed him along with our bunnies. We spent an hour outside as the sun rose. Sebastian got ready for school and then we were off. As he approached the school, he pulled a robin's egg out of his pocket that he had found that morning and wanted to show his classmates. Seeing Sebastian with that little, delicate blue egg in his cupped hand, feeling so tender toward the idea of a baby bird, my heart melted. A wave of hope washed over me. Thank God for grieving, for healing, for spring time, and for new beginnings. 

GIVEN Gathering

What a joy to be invited by Sr. Mary Gabriel of GIVEN to give a talk! 

https://youtu.be/KtgZjZpUso4 

Giving Thanks

"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. . . Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (Col 3)

 

Jubilee

This is the jubilee year in the Catholic Church, the year of cancelling of debts and forgiving sins. I am praying a lot about that. I have walked through the Holy Doors at Santa Maria Maggiore multiple times and offered the jubilee indulgence (going to Mass, Confession, and saying some beautiful prayers) for my loved ones who have gone before me. I have done that for those whose birthdays have occurred so far this year. I will continue to do it all year long for all my deceased loved ones. And perhaps the one most helped and transformed by the end of it will be me. Lord, send your Spirit! 

 

Part-Y!

I love this wonderful group!  

Can You Believe?

 Can you believe that my own daughter gave me these GORGEOUS flowers?

I wish everyone had a daughter as wonderful as my Mary!

Love you, Mary!

Question for You

I have one question for you: Do you have confidence that we can find the prettiest wedding dress in Rome? I hope you do! 

With the addition of Aunt Melia hopping over from Athens and spending a shopping day with us, we were SURE to succeed. 

I won't spoil it here, but after the big day, I'll come back and post pics of all the contenders plus the BIG WINNER! 

Mary Lucinda, you are SO BEAUTIFUL!

Christmas Extravaganza

What an incredible 2 weeks: Christmas in Rome, a baby's first Christmas, an engagement, 2 birthdays, a trip to the Alps, New Years, and a first wedding anniversary. 

On December 18th, Ron, Leigh, Annie, Sebastian and I warmly received Clare and her boyfriend Liam in Rome as soon as they finished their semester at the University of Dallas (and Liam completed his Bachelor's degree--happy graduation, Liam!). Then on December 22, we welcomed Jacob, Gabrielle, and their new baby, Cecilia (good job, Cecilia, for enduring your first trans-Atlantic flight!), Mary and her boyfriend Nando, and his parents, Edna and Fernando, and his twin sister, Valeria (welcome, Davila family!). We were a happy party of 15 in our home on the Due Santi campus of the University of Dallas just outside of Rome. 

On the 23rd, Nando surprised Mary with an official proposal (even though we were already calling Nando Mary's fiancé because of their commitment to marry) and he really pulled off an incredible scene at a beautiful overlook on Lake Albano with both of their families there to witness it. It was Nando's father's birthday, so we were all going out for a meal to celebrate--Mary did not suspect a proposal at Nando's dad's birthday celebration. But that speaks volumes about Nando--family-focused and drawing loved ones together, not to mention surprising Mary when a genuine surprise was next to impossible.   

Then we had a huge Christmas Eve, with loads of ravioli and lamb, music and passing around the Adorable Cecilia Rombs--gorgeous smile, alert, engaging, and always ready to coo and bat her eyelashes at you. 

 While some went to Midnight Mass at our nearby church, another cluster of us went to celebrate Midnight Mass in Trastevere, Rome, at the Basilica of Santa Cecilia, in honor of our little girl. It turned out to be a three-hour monastic version of the Mass, with the nuns of St. Cecilia singing Psalms for 1.5 hours before the liturgical celebration actually started. Baby Cecilia Rombs was the only baby there, and at the end of the three hours, the priest actually extended his special welcome to her and the whole congregation clapped! Not knowing us at all, they were just amazed that a baby and her brave parents endured the very intense, reverent, solemn Mass into the wee hours of the morning. The whole congregation of nuns gathered around her to get a glimpse at 3am. 

    Christmas morning, we woke up to Santa's gifts and had a lovely family time with coffee in hand. Then some friends, the Dunikoskis from the U.S. joined us, and we were a party of 22 for the whole day and evening. 

   One of my favorite parts was Edna teaching me to make homemade Mexican salsa, using Italian ingredients. Her recipes had not translated for me in Italy (for example, there are no jalapeno peppers in Italy) and so she experimented with the Italian ingredients I provided her in my kitchen until she arrived at a mimic of the true Mexican-Texan deal. After trying for 5 years to make genuine Mexican salsa, you cannot imagine my relief at working out this recipe! We all enjoyed Mexican chips and homemade salsa for a mid-afternoon snack. For Christmas dinner, we made risotto (Roman styled cacio e pepe), fillet, grilled sausages, pomegranate salad, roasted vegetables, and more desserts than we could eat. 

We also celebrated Leigh's 18th birthday! She is a Christmas Day baby, which makes her extra special (sharing a birthday with the Christchild)! Leigh is a superstar, going to a Swiss highschool all taught in German and Italian (she is fluent in both). We had a birthday celebration for her and had yet another cake--tiramisu-panatone cake, if you can believe that. She looked so beautiful and I could not be more proud of her. 

   We are now in Merano in the Alps, where Jacob proposed to Gabrielle 2 short years ago (how much has happened in 2 years). 

 We will spend a week together, resting, going to the natural mineral hot springs, skiing, and having a little gluhwein and goulash as we walk through the Christmas markets along the riverwalk. We will celebrate Jacob and Gabrielle's anniversary and New Year's together (and praying birthday prayers for Aunt June! Happy 80th!!)

We are so blessed to have such a robust and loving family. Honestly, the fact that they are all faithful Catholic Christians and can resolve difficulties that come up are the two greatest gifts of my life as a mother. I love these guys so much!