First Confession

Whenever we mentioned Sparkle's upcoming First Confession to her, she'd get this nervous look in her eye and she'd shrink about two inches. Discussing the matter didn't seem to help put her at her ease. So, I made sure that she knew her prayers, understood the concepts, read her the allegory of "The King of the Golden City" (which she *loved*), and left the rest to her teacher and the Almighty.

Then the *big day* came last Saturday. She wrung her hands and fumbled when practicing her prayers in the car. (Prayers that she has had down cold for months!) We exchanged extra big hugs as I dropped her off in her class.

The next time I saw her she was striding down the aisle of the church with her class, with a *huge* bounce in her step and a gigantic grin on her face. She was third in line for confession and seemed to take longer than the other kids before her. Then she quietly knelt in her pew and did her penance. Finally she joined us positively glowing with happiness.

Here's a picture I snapped just outside the church.


Then we went to celebrate with Marble Slab ice cream!