Today was a good day!

Today was a gift straight from the merciful heart of Jesus. I had the tremendous privilege of speaking at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. My Mom used to bring us here as kids and it’s just as beautiful as I remember. 

As I looked out into the crowd, my heart jumped at the familiar faces I landed on. 

First, Charlie (short for Charlene) and Mike Heyden, my High School Youth Ministers. They were always there for me. They listened and prayed me through one crisis after another. The taught me how to accompany someone through the highs and lows of life. I am so grateful for those lessons learned. Oh the stories they could tell about High School Mary. 

The second group were the heart of the very first Mom’s group I ever joined. It was 1993 I was deep in despair desperately trying to keep my head above water with Courtney. These women were five to ten years ahead of me in Momdom. They wrapped their arms around me and scooped me and my family up, and carried us through some really dark days. Today they surprised me with their smiling faces it was just the best. 

They were there when I needed the encouragement and support. They were there with their open doors, warm banana bread and praying hearts. I would not have survived those first three years without them. 

Thank you Emmitsburg, MD for the very best of days. Thank you Charlie and Mike for praying me through High School. Thank you to the Mom’s group of the Shrine of St. Jude in Rockville, MD for being their in the good times and the bad. 

Well done today Jesus. Well done indeed.