Chick's Night Out

I am blessed to have 6 best friends. When we first moved to our suburb (back in 2000), I was already in a Year I class of FAMILIA. I wanted to continue it, and knew my friend Jennifer was in a Year I class at St. Ignatius. I called her and asked if I could join her class, and she said, sure, no problem. I ended up taking all 4 years of FAMILIA--it was really the starting point of my adult formation for learning more about my Catholic faith. After I finished Year 4 of FAMILIA, I was introduced to Regnum Christi (also by Jennifer) and incorporated into the movement in 2003.

During this time, the girls I had FAMILIA with started to meet for dinner outside of class. As the bonds grew stronger, we got together more often, to discuss a book we were reading together, for coffee and dessert, on our birthdays, or just to talk (well...we did that regardless :-).

About 4 years ago (?), one of the girls, Joan decided to set us up on a group email site so we could send email back and forth more easily. She dubbed us, "The Catholic Chicks," and we've called ourselves that ever since. We love making references to chickens all the time.

"What's got your feathers ruffled up this time?"

"You know...I'm trying to be the mother hen, but the little chicks are driving me crazy!"

Once, Jennifer's husband answered a theology question on the group page. He started his email saying,

"Okay, here I go barging into the hen house...bravely I might add."

Of course, we told him he could barge in any time :-).

This past year, some of the Chicks left the coop. Jennifer moved to Beaumont, and Karrie moved to North Carolina (sniff, sniff). But they were both back with their families for the holidays, so last night we gathered at Gina's house. We had pasta, salad, bread, and cherry chocolate cake (my contribution). We stayed up until nearly 2AM, talking about our kids, our husbands, our blessings, our crosses. It was a good night. We have become really close, and when someone needs prayers, meals, or anything at all, we are there for each other. I truly believe God has given me a very special gift in these ladies, because I don't know what I'd do without them.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of little Michael, asleep in Julie's arms.

And I got one group shot around the table.

Left to right: Karrie, Jennifer, Julie, Joan, Gina, and Renee'.

James (Gina's husband) was supposed to take a pic for us, but he fell asleep upstairs (we could actually hear him snoring), so we decided not to wake him.

I wish we could get together more often. But with 7 roosters, and a combined total of 30 chicks amongst, us, it's quite a challenge. But last night, we we together, and it was totally worth it, since I only got 5 hours of sleep!

I have say "thank you" to my wonderful, awesome husband David, who fed the kids dinner last night, put all the kids to bed, cleaned up the kitchen, transferred a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer, AND got up with the kids this morning, fed everyone breakfast, and loaded the dishwasher again. I'm making him steak and potatoes tonight!

Love and prayers always to all the "Chicks."