Magical

Today Josie officially made her first communion and the best word to describe it is magical. Every moment, everyone and every event of today was just magical. When the whole thing is centered around a true angelic spirit on earth it is hard to imagine it to be anything less than magical (ok I have used that word enough).

**Warning to all of you that tell me you get your cup of coffee and sit down to read the blog...you will need a pot for this one it is going to be long.**

Josie was invited to make her 1st communion at the 11:00 am mass this morning. When she processed in with the priests, etc, she had the biggest smile on her face ever. My mom said she has never seen her filled with more joy than that moment. Father Kevin said Mass today and centered the homily all around Josie. There were divine things that happened today like the Caviezels were around and able to come all the way down for it. Holly Heydorff (my sweet angel Kalee's mom) came randomly to the 11 o'clock mass. We got Margaret Mortimore home in time from Haiti from working on a mission trip there for today. Mike, Steph and kids were able to come and my parents. Regretfully, the rest of the family was unable to make it hence the reason for this lengthy post.

This picture is of us bringing the gifts of the bread and wine down the isle during mass. Kerri Caviezel and Margaret Mortimore actually carried them while Josie and her friends walked with them. There was Audrey Raulli, Lilly Dunbar, Erin Buchanon, Lele and Bo Caviezel. Very sweet to have her dear friends there at that moment.

Close up of the procession. Look at Josie's complete joy

Josie receiving the Body of Christ Amen! (Sorry for the turtle position I am in. I was so scared she was going to bite it and it would fall out of her mouth.)

Receiving the Blood of Christ, Amen.

Fr. Kevin announcing Josie at the end of church. She loves an audience.

Procession out of the church. Josie was almost running down the isle. I had to ask her to slow down a bit at one point because I kept tripping over her feet and it would have been so embarrassing to fall flat on the floor with her.

Luke congratulating Josie after church. Funny story about Luke during the gospel reading. The Deacon doing the reading said, "the gospel according to Luke." Our Luke said in a rather loud voice, "That is me, that is my name" a few times. He was proud that they were going to talk about him for a moment.

Very special picture of the gang who was there for Josie today. We are incredibly blessed by the friendships we have with all there wonderful people. These blessings continue daily for us in the people the Lord chooses to put in our path starting with the best and most loving family on earth.

Josie and Fr. Kevin. He was standing there when she fell the fist time 2 weeks ago. As you can see he is slightly nervous to have her there by herself!! Fr. Kevin, you did a remarkable job and are so wonderfully caring to Josie. Thank you.

Josie and I. The only picture she and I got just the 2 of us. We might be a small party of 2 but our love is worth a lot more.

Would you look at those sweet, loving faces. From left, Hilary Raulli, Erin Buchanon, Lilly Dunbar, Josie, Audrey Raulli, Lele Caviezel in front Luke and Bo Caviezel.

From Left, Erin Buchanon, Lilly Dunbar, Josie and Audrey Raulli. There are some of Josie's school friends. Sweet Erin made her fist communion the same day Josie was supposed to. She came today to support Josie. Thanks Erin and Laura for making it work today. I know that it was a busy day and we appreciate so much that you were there.

Josie, Lele and Bo. The story behind this amazing group of kids would bring everyone to tears. It would also take a lot more space than I have here. Short story. Dr. Lazareff, the neurosurgeon that separated Josie and Teresa,goes on quite a few medical missions and some take him to China. Bo was born with a fatty tumor on his head and at age 2 1/2 he was brought to Dr. Lazareff to be seen while Dr. L was in China. Dr. L feel in love with this incredibly special little boy. For the next couple of years Bo kept appearing when Dr. L was in China. Finally, he brought his case to us at Mending Kids and requested that we bring this sweet little orphan boy to LA so he could operate. We did but before we brought him we knew he needed a loving home. Through the grace of God the Caviezels not only entertained the thought, but said yes. The shortest version would be to say the rest is history, but I warned you about getting your pot of coffee ready...Anyhow, Bo came, the family was complete and Dr. Lazareff was able to operate on Bo. He has since gone on to be treated by Mark Urata as well as Lele. They are perfectly healed and we are blessed that they are our dear friends. It is amazing to think because of Josie and Teresa, so many others like Bo and Lele were helped in so many ways.

Josie and Lele have such a great little friendship. They can relate to each other at a level that I don't think we all really understand. They are so cute together.

Our dear and wonderful Margaret. Margaret was Josie's first Physical therapists. The Sunday after I brought Josie home we went to church at St. Bedes. Looking back now, I was so out of my league with this child it is a good thing I didn't know it then. After church Margaret approached me to ask who her therapist was. I said I didn't think she needed one that she was emotionally adjusting really well....duh, she meant physical therapist not psychological. Margaret offered to treat Josie. Thank goodness that Margaret came up to me. I don't know how long it would have been before we would have figured our that we needed PT not to mention where to receive it. Margaret is the one to fully credit for us getting to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. We are eternally grateful for this and her love and friendship. Margaret has been there for the most important moments in the girls lives. Thank you kind Margaret!!

What a sweet picture!

Magical!!

Josie and Holly Heydorff - Kalee, Holly's daughter was in my confirmation class that I taught at St. Bedes years ago. She has always been very special to me and to Josie so is her loving family. Kalee was Josie's first babysitter. What a great surprise to have Holly there today.

Josie and her dear friend, Lilly Dunbar. Lilly is so incredibly kind to Josie and treats her so normally. They have turned out to be great little buddies.

Josie and Audrey Rauli. Audrey is Josie's oldest friend. She have gone from Mommy and Me class up to know in school. Audrey could handle Josie's seizures at 5 years old in kindergarten. As babies, she used to try to straighten Josie's head. Adorable. We are lucky that the whole Raulli family are our good friends. Thanks Peter for taking one for the team today and bringing the girls. It made Josie's day.

The cousins, Josie, Baby Carson and Luke. We missed you Trent and Matt. We were thinking of you and can't wait until we are all together. Luke and Carson did really well in church and Luke kept commenting on the "nice stories" they were telling.

Josie and sweet baby Carson - 6 weeks old.

The best family Josie and I could ever ask for. We were missing the other half and Grams and Gramps. We know they were missing it too. Thanks all of you for your unending love and support. You know for sure that I couldn't do any of this without all of you. Mike and Michele, like I always say, we are batting 1000% for in laws!! Love you all!! Thanks for bringing that joy to Josie always.


After a quick lunch at Dona Maria's (Josie picked of course) we had the great opportunity of going with Kerri and the kids to the Pregnancy Counseling Center where Kerri is a board member and an incredibly active volunteer and speaker. It was fabulous to see the center and what they offer to mothers. They just put in an ultra sound machine so that mothers can actually see the baby before making any decisions. The love and support they offer to families is just remarkable. It gives the women and families hope for their unborn child. It was a pleasure to meet the lovely people that give so much of themselves to others. Thanks Keei for all you do. You inspire many.

2 more quick events. Yesterday was the Faire at Josie's school. We ran in the 5K and 1 mile run. This is a picture of Josie and some of her friends cheering for their class mates as they finished their races. Cute.

On Thursday, some of our friends got together to do our version of the Revlon walk in La Canada. We did it in memory of Janet Banz, Jenny Banz Sullivan's mom, who lost her life to breast cancer. Jenny and I do the run every year at the Colluseum, but were both tied up this year. We still wanted to do something so this is it. It was a nice morning to take a stroll with friends.

Thank you all for the blessings you are in our lives. As we celebrate today Josie's first communion and the Jesus's Accension into heaven, I count my blessings for all that we have. As Fr. Kevin challenged us all today to do which is instead of looking up to heaven and waiting for something to happen, we should all go out and make something happen on earth while heaven is watching. With great joy, good night and God Bless. Jenny and Josie