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On this day

You can make plans, but sometimes God changes those plans. I planned for our family to have a quiet little Advent. We pulled out the Nativity sets, the advent wreath (we actually even had new candles!), our book we read to the kids and the Holy Heroes Advent Adventure books. I planned to visit some Christmas markets for our first Christmas in Germany.

Then all of a sudden we were on a plane, flying to be with my husband's family as we say good-bye to my mother in law.

This morning, as we discussed where to go for Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I realized that the Basilica of the national shrine of the Immaculate Conception was right here! Oh how amazingly beautiful it was! One archbishop, two bishops, and so many priests! We saw nuns from three different orders. We recognized the white sari with blue stripes of the Missionaries of Charity of Blessed Mother Teresa. Oh, and the man who sat down next to us was from Germany! He prayed all the prayers in German and I realized that the language I found so harsh nine months ago sounded so meloldic to me this morning.

Peter and Therese slept through the Mass, but woke up as we were looking at the little chapels dedicated to all the different names that Mary is known by. Peter was only looking for one thing: the tabernacle. When we came to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, he was so happy.

I have been preparing to consecrate myself to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadelupe. The Archbishop's sermon really spoke to me and helped me feel more ready to make the consecration.

Isn't it amazing how God puts us exactly where we need to be? We can plan, but in the end, we just need to trust that God's plan is perfect and embrace it.


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