Happ Birday

I have never been fond of celebrating birthdays, but my youngest, Faithy, has instilled in me a new love for them, as any time a birthday shows up, we are forced to celebrate her "happ birday". She is used to seven birthdays a year at the moment and today she and all of us got to celebrate the inclusion of another birthday in our family. Today was Dorothy Day's "happ birday" and in typical fashion, according to Faithy, we received all the gifts.

The morning started by setting the posts for our new welcome sign, and until the actual sign is created, guests and visitors to Mary's House in Manchester will now be greeted by Mama Mary and St. Francis.

We also have made significant progress on St. Joseph's Workshop, where a lot of the woodwork will take place, and the laundry room (which will soon be dedicated to some very dear Catholic Worker friends). And the day finally came where we are able to heat our tiny shed without propane or a generator. Yes, we now have electricity on the homestead, and we will never again take for granted having a toilet that flushes and running water.

However, with every step, we have had to stretch our resources and ourselves farther and farther to keep the momentum going. Though I often profess to trust in God's providence, I cannot deny the worry that builds up in the back of my mind. Today God reminded me, or maybe it was Dorothy Day, that we are going to be okay, that we are all in this together, and that we all contribute in one way or another. Our dear friend, Nan, who Henny met at St. Gabriel Church in Colorado, has made the first donation to Mary's House. This donation marked the official beginning of our ministry and both Henny and I found ourselves crying while staring at our new statues, maybe because of the weight that had been lifted, or maybe because of the possibility that the weight represents. Either way, I think we both realize that our mission is underway and that others understand that our world is in dire need of more examples of love in action.

Though I may never be fully comfortable celebrating my own birthday, I am thankful for my daughter's love of them and my new appreciation for recognizing the influence others have on our lives by remembering them on their birthday.