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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Kylynn Aria
   Over the past month I have managed to cross off a number of items on my "bucket list". The biggest of those has to be seeing my Kylynn Aria make her First Communion. When I was first diagnosed and sat looking at my sweet girl, who then was only a year and a half old, it broke my heart to think about all the events in her life that I may never get to see. Her First Communion, her Confirmation, her high school and college graduations, her wedding, the birth of any babies she may have. It's a long list and I still worry about seeing many of these things, but I feel so blessed that I was there to see my baby make her First Communion. When I traveled to Medjugorje all those years ago in 2007 the only thing my Aria asked me to bring her was a pink rosary. I picked out the cutest pink rosary that I could find and brought it home to her. But my mom and I also searched all over that small village buying all the different pink rosaries that we could find because I wanted to have them to give to Kylynn on all the big occasions that she had ahead of her. When I brought those rosaries home it was hard to imagine that I would ever get to hand my Ari one. She was so small then and her First Communion seemed a lifetime away. I cannot begin to tell you what a joy it was to put that first rosary in her hands and telling her the story of how I looked all of Medjugorje for these special rosaries for her. Kylynn may not have understood the huge significance of the moment, and that's okay, she will remember it when she is older and understand. But for now, I knew what a big deal it was and that's enough. Another special thing about Kylynn's First Communion is that we had my wedding dress made over into a communion gown for her. It turned out beautifully and looked like a smaller version of my dress. Kylynn also wore my veil.
Kylynn and Me



The second item that I recently crossed off my bucket list was seeing my little Aria in her first feis. (A feis is an Irish dance competition.) Kylynn loves Irish dancing and, in my humble and perhaps a little biased opinion, she is really quite good. I thought that perhaps competing might make Ari a little nervous but it didn't seem to faze her at all. In fact, my little dancer has told me a few times how much she likes to be on stage. I am so proud of Kylynn and her dancing and I love the confidence that it has given her and all the wonderful dance friends that she has made. Kylynn's circle of support has been growing by leaps and bounds and, while that is an item that will never be fully crossed off my list, it makes my heart happy to know that she continues to gain true friends who will be there for her if I have to leave her earlier than I would like.
Kylynn Aria
Kylynn and Sydney


   These last two items that recently got crossed off of my list are, in the grand scheme of things, smaller, but still very important to me. By now you must know of my love for the singing group Celtic Thunder and the delight that they bring me. I have previously had the opportunity to meet most of the guys in the group but the two that I have wanted to meet the most, Ryan and Neil, have managed to elude me... until recently. As luck would have it, these to talented and not bad looking men teamed up to play at some smaller venues with their Acoustic By Candlelight tour. Last weekend that tour brought them through the Chicago area and I was able to see them two nights in a row!  After the show the guys took time to meet with everyone, take pictures, and sign pictures and, in my case, a shirt for my Aria. So that was one item checked off my list.
Neil, Me, & Ryan!
Neil & Ryan holding a message for Kylynn

    The last item that I recently checked off my bucket list was also at the Acoustic By Candlelight concerts. Ryan and Neil sang a mixture of their own songs and ones that were written by others. Because of the length of the concerts, the guys couldn't possibly sing all their songs but I was hoping for one song in particular of Ryan's. Ryan wrote a song named, "The Village That They Call The Moy" and it was written about the village that he grew up in, in Northern Ireland. I've never been to The Moy, my family that is from Ireland is not from the north but rather way down south in county Cork, but for some reason I adore this song by Ryan above all the others that he has written. Luck favored me again and Ryan sang "The Village That They Call The Moy" not at one concert that I went to, but at both! I was a happy girl!

    So, that is four items crossed off my list in the matter of a month. It makes me nervous to check so many things off so quickly. I think I need a longer list! I am so blessed to have gotten to see all of these wonderful events take place, and let's face it, I am extremely blessed to still be here and doing so well. I love joyful days like those I have been having and I will keep that joy with me as reinforcement for my umbrella so that I may be able to weather even the rainiest day.