My Faith Has Been Tested

 I was raised Catholic.  My family went to Church on Sundays.  I went to 12 years of Catholic School.  I know the Catechism inside and out.  I am pretty sure I could say an entire Mass without any prompting.  I can recite all the Catholic Holidays and their meanings.  I actually understand what the Holy Trinity is.  I raised my kids Catholic and we went to Church pretty regularly until the last kid made his Confirmation.  It was at that point I figured I did all I could to give them a good foundation and the rest was up to them.

My faith was tested many times throughout the years.  The Catholic Church Scandals did not help at all.  In my more sane moments, I reasoned that God was separate from the "men" that ran the "Church".   I concluded that the Church was a flawed constitution, but God was a common core in all religions. 

In my saddest times, I have turned to God.  In my happiest moments, I praise God.  Every morning, I thank God for all my blessings. My belief system has changed radically throughout the years.  I have many doubts and questions.  The only thing I DO know is that I turn to God often.  Does that make me a good Catholic?  I think not.  I think I am just a person who believes in God.  And, for now, that is enough. 

The Lake

 I see my granddaughters enjoying every Disney movie - watching them over and over again.  They have all the princess dresses and sing every soundtrack.  I imagine taking them on vacation to Disney in the future.

We did not 'go on vacation' when I was growing up.  We went to our summer house at "The Lake" in New Jersey.  We left the day after school ended and returned to Long Island the day before school started in September.  My cousins had the house next door.  My other cousins were about a mile away.  Our weekdays were filled with swimming lessons and organized sports.  We went to the beach everyday.  Weekends were spent with extended family.  There was always a BBQ and a bonfire.  A neighbor would come over with his guitar and song sheets for everyone.   My cousins were my best friends.  A rainy day meant hours of monopoly together.

Each year afforded us more "privileges".  First it meant going to the beach unescorted by a parent.  In later years, it meant meeting our peers at the beach after dinner.  Eventually, I became a lifeguard - I was one of the FIRST female lifeguards at the lake.  I remember arguing with the Lifeguard Supervisor because the guy that was hired with me was getting 10 cents more and hour "because he was a boy!"  Here it is 50 years later and that still aggravates me!!  LOL.

Eventually, my dad sold our house, but my Aunt and Uncle still had the house next to ours.  After I had children, I would take them there every Summer for a week - their "summer vacation".  It was my happy place and I was thrilled to give a piece of that to my children.  

Disney might have lots of rides and attractions, but "The Lake" will always be my vacation of choice.