Saints Clare and Therese

FIrst off, we are home! And so glad to be home. Clare fell asleep on the car ride home. When she woke up, she was in her car seat in the living room. She looked around and gave the biggest smile I have ever seen from her. She knew she was home! She has been the happiest little camper this afternoon. Thank you all for your continued prayers in bringing our baby home safely.

I know Clare's patron saints, Saint Clare of Assissi and Saint Therese the Little Flower, were watching over Clare during her hospital stay. Our pastor and a group of fellow parishoners were doing a pilgrimage in Italy these past two weeks. Shawn and I find it very interesting that the length of this pilgrimage coincided exactly with our time in the hospital. Each morning on the pilgrimage, Clare was offered up in the intentions of the Mass. Shawn gave a picture of Clare to one of our friends going on the pilgrimage. Clare's photo was placed at the foot of where Saint Clare's preserved body lies encased in glass. This same friend and his wife (thank you, Bob & Phyllis!) brought us back a statue of Saint Clare from their visit to Assissi. The statue was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI at a general blessing the group witnessed in Rome. We are blessed to have such friends who are thinking of us and praying for us even as they are enjoying a trip around Italy!

The day of Clare's surgery, my grandmother Teresa discovered a white rose had bloomed in her garden. She sent us a photo of this rose to let us know that St. Therese was looking out for Clare Therese during her surgery and recovery.