All Finished At The Mall

      Pizza Hut Book-It lunch today, a big crowd with lots of smiling, happy children...and some pink for me...well, these girls wore pink and Lucas just wanted to be in a photo on the blog, so he grabbed something pink so that he could pose...so cute!  Lucas, btw, is Matt's little buddy...Matt trained Lucas to serve Mass at SEAS and take over for him at the Daily Masses when Matt went to Guerin this year.  Lucas is doing a fine job and reminds me of Matt, also beginning serving at such a young age at the Daily Masses...seems like a long time ago already.  Anyway, Lucas has taken over Matt's position at Daily Mass at SEAS and he and Matt serve together at Sunday Mass on the weekends.  The others in the photo are Maria, Meg, Leah, and Sunny, who thoughtfully selected a pink purse to carry today, just for me as she is always so sweet and thoughtful like that...bringing sunshine wherever she goes.  The second photo is for MK...recognize these girls???  I thought you might...Gloria with her girls:  Rachel (being very silly and not wanting to pose for the camera), Rebecca, and Maria...all say "hello" from Indiana. 

      We all had a chance to catch up with newsy bits, discuss curriculum and glitches in curriculum planning, relay to one another service projects and volunteer opportunities, encourage all the children in their various endeavors, and have some laughter and fun...a great way to spend a few hours on a cold and rainy day. 

       Afterwards I went to the mall.  You heard me.  The Mall.  Gasp.  Pick yourselves up, dust yourselves off a bit, and know that this is traditionally the season of miracles.  There comes a point in the Christmas frivolity when a trip to The Mall become absolutely necessary.  This is was one of those times.  I called Mark at the office and said, "I am going to The Mall."  His response?  "WHAT????"  "Yes, indeed, I am armed for combat...I have nice sturdy shoes, strategic plans (I figure if I go at 2:30, a lot of people will be home with napping infants/toddlers and/or waiting for the school buses to return their children home, and it would be too early for the school crowd or the 9-5ers, who would still be at school and work respectively), and I have a good attitude about it all...hopefully in and out in less than 15 minutes."  And, I was...14 minutes, got exactly what I needed, had no line to wait in, and get this:  I had a parking space three in from the door I needed to enter...miracles happen.  It went great.  I may have to shop more often.  Yeah, right...the trick is to quit when you are ahead.  Sometimes it is difficult to know when you are ahead, but this, I am thinking, is the time to revel in success and call it a day.  Me at The Mall...who knew?