Mishaps in the Business of Family Life: A First Communion, Fat Tuesday, and Fiery Surprises
Winter 2025 is finally in the rearview mirror. Spring is starting to show its first few buds. I had to take a little break from blogging as we traveled on our winter vacation, made some adjustments to our homeschooling (I’ll share more in a different post soon!), and helped my dad move out of my childhood home.
I’m not sure what “normal life” looks like for most people, but in our family, mishaps are pretty standard. Maybe it’s the number of people, or maybe it’s just the nature of our crew… who knows. But it sure keeps life interesting!
Here are a few highlights from a very memorable weekend — including our son’s First Holy Communion, the beginning of Lent, and some unforgettable family moments.
Celebrating a First Holy Communion Before Lent
Our 8-year-old son, Theodore, received his First Holy Communion and First Penance the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. He’s part of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, a beautifully structured Catholic religious education approach. The children are so well formed to receive these sacraments.
I love how this program schedules the sacraments right before Lent — it gives children the gift of sacramental graces just before a season of sacrifice and preparation for Easter.
Smoke, Plastic, and a Blueberry Pie
Paul and I were working frantically to prepare the house for a small celebration afterward. My daughter Samantha had lovingly made a blueberry pie for dessert. I turned on the oven… and before I knew it, there was an awful smell.
Opening the oven, smoke poured out. Our three-year-old had attempted to cook a quesadilla — in plastic wrap.
We opened every window, despite the incoming cold front, and managed to air out the house in a couple of hours. That morning, instead of giving our boys a haircut like I had planned, Paul was scraping melted plastic off the oven rack.
These moments can be incredibly frustrating… but honestly, they’re also amusing. Who would have thought “scrape plastic off the oven rack” would be part of the morning to-do list on the day of a First Communion?
A Morning of Mishaps Before Mass
While Paul ran our oldest son to black belt training practice, I was at home holding down the fort. Samantha tried to help by melting butter for scrambled eggs — but forgot about it on the stove. Cue small kitchen fire.
Crisis averted, we dressed all seven kids and two adults — no small feat! Thankfully, shoes and clothes had been set out the night before.
I left early with Theo in our Honda Accord to get to church. My task: place the pew assignment cards. I opened my bag and realized… I had the van keys.
Panic! But thankfully, the Holy Spirit was working overtime — we still had my dad’s Ford Flex at home, and Paul was able to get everyone there just in time.
We Made It — A Beautiful Mass and Celebration
Despite all the chaos, we made it on time to Theodore’s First Holy Communion. The Mass was beautiful, and our small family party afterward was full of joy and love.
Fat Tuesday Gone Wrong (Sort Of)
The next day was Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. After our big weekend, we had no plans. I asked Samantha to make waffles — my favorite over pancakes!
While she cooked, I took Gregory to his first tee-ball practice (he’d been counting down the days!). We returned ready for waffles — only to discover she used baking soda instead of baking powder. No waffles for dinner.
Then, the smell hit.
Kateri had collected sand dollars on our vacation, but forgot to dump the water from the bucket. I asked her to clean it, and she broke down — discovering she’d accidentally killed a small animal that was still in a shell.
While comforting her, I looked out the window and saw a tree on fire across the street.
Yes — a tree on fire.
We live in the woods, and it was a red flag warning day, so I immediately called 911 and packed all the kids into the car. Fortunately, the fire died down quickly and it turned out to be an isolated flare-up. But it shook us all.
Paul returned with Theo from karate and picked up boxed mac & cheese. That became our Fat Tuesday dinner.
Lent Begins: A Lesson in Surrender
The Lenten season had begun. While Lent is a time for intentional sacrifice, it often feels like God hands me challenges that become my real offerings — like burnt butter, oven smoke, and surprise fires.
I believe the biggest test is how I respond in those trying moments — with virtue, patience, and humor. I don’t always succeed, but I know more opportunities are coming.
Through it all, I’m just so grateful that all our children are safe and sound at home. Life may be chaotic, but I wouldn’t trade these wild, hilarious, and holy moments for anything.
A Family Photo — and a Reminder of Real Life
To end on a joyful note, here’s a photo of our family from Theodore’s First Holy Communion. It was a beautiful day — but don’t let the peaceful pictures fool you. Behind the scenes, chaos was alive and well.
A good reminder: a photo isn’t real life — but within the real life are so many blessings, even in the mishaps, frustrations, and wrong turns.
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