(photo by Lori Elizabeth)
(photo by Lori Elizabeth)
(photo by Lori Elizabeth)
(photo by Lori Elizabeth)
Larkspur must have said, “I’m so excited!” dozens of times in the last few days, in anticipation of her First Holy Communion. We spent the last couple of weeks attending to details, and I hoped that doing so would add to her knowledge of how special her upcoming day was. We began searching for a dress months ago. On my own time I spent quite a bit of time searching online and to my dismay, found that my favorite dress cost three hundred dollars. Of course Larkspur, outside of my influence, chose the same favorite as me, a handmade dress in Irish linen. As special as a First Holy Communion is, I couldn’t really fathom spending that much money on a dress that would be worn once (Bea is much smaller than Lark and won’t wear the same size next year when it’s her turn), and not just because we couldn’t afford it. So we landed on a plan that involved me sewing her dress. This despite the fact that I haven’t sewn a dress in a very long time, and I have evidently acquired a mental block regarding sewing. I figured I would get over it, because I would have to.
Larkspur and I both have pretty simple taste. We chose a pattern from Oliver + S and made plans to lengthen and dress it up a little. I called on my friend Elizabeth for help with fabric. She graciously offered to go shopping for me, because I don’t have a nearby fabric store that carries the sort of fabric I was envisioning. About a month ago she made a special trip to find a pretty white cotton for me, calling from the store to go over my options. I completely trust her judgement and after her descriptions asked her to buy up several yards of a fabric that she thought was pretty. It arrived in the mail about a week later, and it was perfect. I’ve been gazing at it sitting on my dresser, partially wrapped in pretty polka dotted tissue paper, for weeks. I meant to start tracing pattern pieces two weeks ago, but everyday there was something that stopped me. I lamented to another mom at baseball practice that I was supposed to sew a First Holy Communion dress and I just wasn’t feeling up to the task. She immediately replied, “I have a raw silk dress hanging in a closet that was never worn. I bought it on sale thinking that one of my daughters might choose it someday. It’s very simple though, and none of them ever liked it. Maybe Larkspur would? You can have it if you want.” I declined, saying that I really was going to sew the dress, that I already had the pattern and the fabric.
About a week ago, I ran into her husband at a baseball game. With an edge of desperation in my voice I asked him, “Could you please tell Cindy that I would like to have that First Holy Communion dress?” He brought it to the game the next day. I promised Larkspur that if she didn’t like it, or if it didn’t fit, that I would sew her dress. Thankfully, we both loved it at first sight. It was simple with elegant details, just our style. When we got home she washed off the baseball grime before we carefully removed the dress from it’s bag and slipped it over her head. It fit perfectly. I sent an email thanking our friends who had given us the dress telling them that we loved it and I believe I capitalized the words, “I AM OFF THE HOOK!” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to sew Lark’s dress. It wasn’t that I didn’t care enough to do so. It’s just that I didn’t have the physical or mental space to do so.
Larkspur and I went shopping for shoes and visited a local florist to have a wreath of roses specially made for her to wear on her big day. I took her for a manicure and pale pink polish the night before, an extremely rare treat.
This year, rather than having the children receiving First Holy Communion sit separately from their parents into a large group, our church spread the children out over Masses spanning about six weeks time. Rather than sit with a group, they simply sit with their parents and walk up with them when it’s time for communion. I really loved that. The children that receive First Holy Communion are recognized at the end of Mass. She looked so sweet and so nervous as she walked to the front. There were only three other children that received during the same Mass with Larkspur.
It was a truly beautiful Mass, with many of our closest friends in attendance. The closing hymn was “Sing with all the Saints in Glory” and I truly felt like we were surrounded. I’m so thankful for my precious daughter, and so thankful that I was able to share this beautiful day with her and all the saints.
Anna says
What a beautiful dress and a beautiful day! I love the story and how God provided just what you needed and loved. What a blessing to have friends like that. I was wondering if you could share about her prayer beads/ rosary? My friend has been teaching me about Anglican prayer beads and I have enjoyed them and how settled my soul feels. I love the butterflies and my daughter with Down syndrome is learning the foundations of her faith. I would love to find something like this for her so she doesn’t feel the need to steal, I mean kidnap, mine. Thank you in advance!
Heidi says
She looks like a princess in that dress and crown of roses……a true child of God! Bless her and your beautiful family….so special.
Brigitte says
Congratulations. A beautiful day Larkspur will never forget.