Following the Movement has not always been easy for me. I was quite resistant the first three years despite my husband’s immediate affection for it. I would say that I was lukewarm and at times very resistant; I went to things, enjoyed the company of people in my community, but never had a personal relationship with it, meaning Chris

I struggled with the thought of following something besides my own “personal relationship” with Christ. I was also scared to death of where this was taking us as my husband’s love and involvement of GS was growing quickly.

About four years ago, at a gathering that you were at during your visit to Minnesota, I had a great conversation with a friend from the Movement about my resistance and fear (where he shared a very similar experience with his wife and the Movement) where I felt the presence of Christ. Christ was the one telling me not to be afraid, but within my friend’s experience. My resistance to the Movement seemed to be smaller after this. Then a week later at the Midwest Family Vacation, I recall singing the song “You” with tears streaming down my face. The lyrics of “Where are you bringing me, where do you lead, what is the promise that embraces my need, how high the mountain, how fearsome the view, how can I follow unless I call You” were so much my experience, it was amazing someone could put them into words. I came home from the vacation changed. I started to read for School of Community in a different way, because I wanted to be reading it, rather than out of obligation. I became aware that this journey and struggle over the past three years had been for my life, to live my life more fully.

Fast forward four years. Our fourth daughter, Anna Josephine, was born this past May after my husband and I thought it was a real possibility that we wouldn’t be able to have any more children. I prayed a novena to St. Anne during the Midwest Family Vacation last year and got pregnant a month later, prayers answered. When it came time to schedule a baptism, my desire to have her baptized on the Feast of St. Anne was a real possibility, timewise, and when I referenced a calendar, I was surprised to find it fall on the Sunday that ended the Midwest Family Vacation this year. I started to get excited and worked through logistical details and soon her baptism at the Vacation became a reality and culminated in a beautiful sacrament. This is something that I could have never imagined, or wanted, a few years ago. It was beautiful to share this with everyone at the vacation, truly a gift.

Every year our family looks forward to the Family Vacation. It is always beautiful, but each year in a different way. The vacation was different this year because my husband had to work for half of it, therefore I would have to take care of our four daughters by myself. I thought about the difficulties that would come from this, but my desire to be there overcame this. Years ago, I would not have imagined staying at the vacation by myself with four kids. This year, the thought of leaving when my husband left was not something I even entertained. I knew my friends would help me while I was there, but I also knew this is where I belonged. I needed to be there. My daughters needed to be there. They have the same need for belonging just as I do and I am amazed to see their joy with our friends in the Movement. Our family leaves changed, more bonded by this experience. It is a beautiful gift our family has been given, a place to belong.