Kabouter's first communion

Last Sunday we celebrated Kabouter's first communion.  A first communion is in my mind traditionally something that takes place in spring (May more specifically) for children in Grade 1.  But hey, it's autumn and Kabouter is already in Grade 3 but it happened finally.  In Leuven first communions only take place in grade 2 anyhow, so he was only delayed with half a year, which wasn't too bad. 

The preparations had been a bit chaotic and frustrating at times.  Kabouter turned out to be the only one in his class. I knew that society changed, but such a low number in a catholic school was nevertheless a little shocking to me. That made it hard for him to participate in the preparing sessions last months when he knew no other child, and he couldn't share any with his friends. 

The organization of communions isn't done by the schools any more since a few years too, which is probably good if the majority of the children do not participate any longer and it isn't a teacher's task.  Yet the organization and communication of parish volunteers wasn't very optimal and I always dropped out of the mailing loop, so I had to hunt information for months to know when we were supposed to do something.  

For a long time I feared that due to the lack of preparations and the lack of children, they would do their first communion during a more or less ordinary parish service but much to my relief last week they inserted some extra practise time anyhow and worked on a children's friendly service with active participation of the children. 

 And so last Sunday arrived and Kabouter was actually quite looking forward to it in the end. We faced the downpour outside (and drove the small distance by car which we usually never do) to be in time for a last bit of practising by the children. And slowly by 10 AM the rest of the church filled with people coming in in wet raincoats and with dripping embrella's. 

In the end, I must admit that contradictory to my fears and complaints beforehand, the parish had built a really nice children's service with the children in the middle of attention.  And much to my surprise, I felt very emotional and had to fight a little tear to see my Kabouter up front on this big day.  Haaa, a mom's heart :). 

Unfortunately it was still raining cat's and dogs when the service was over so that didn't invite at all to stay outside for a chat with everyone. But we did say hi to Kabouter's best friend, who had made on his request , the effort to get up and out on a rainy Sunday morning to attend the service for his best friend.  Very touching and sweet. 

2 best friends since daycare

And then we escaped , by car again, to the booked restaurant which we had chosen next to the Arenberg castle in Heverlee so we'd all be able to get some fresh air in a gorgeous neighbourhood and the children would be able to play outside.  So far for optimistic thinking.   
Oh well, we enjoyed a nice reception and feast meal inside and enjoyed being gathered with the entire family.   And the presents...there were so many cool presents too :). 

Kabouter with his 2 grandmothers

Kabouter posing with his godfather and godmother

Since the trains were rather impossible, my mother had already arrived the evening before and stayed overnight with us, so she wouldn't miss the church service, so in fact the entire celebrations already started on Saturday evening with another restaurant