home sweet home

ahh...

and she did VERY well on the trip home. she had a few angry moments, but honestly... for the most part they were moments most on the plane were angry... boarded late.... sat on the tarmac for no apparent reason. cry child... we'd all like to!

just shared a precious moment from the time away on a friend's blog and realized that it belongs here... so before i forget...

we were totally exhausted by the time ash wednesday evening rolled around. we wanted to go to shelly's church for services, but didn't know if we would have it in us. but... we got to our hosts home too late really to nap and so figured, hey... why not?

caroline fussed a bit at the beginning of the service, but then i fed her for a bit and she fell into a deep sleep. when it came time for the imposition of the ashes i put her up on my shoulder and we walked down the long center aisle. i saw heads turn as we walked. i heard people gasp when they saw her. we were the very last people in line. "you are dust and to dust you shall return", shelly said as she looked into my eyes and smudged a cross on my slightly wrinkled brow. i tilted caroline's head toward shelly and again she said "you are dust and to dust you shall return" as she smudged a cross on her perfectly smooth brow. eyes glistening i walked my fragile, deeply breathing gift from dust down the long side aisle. people continued to gasp.