In the past 2 weeks since Tomas' surgery I've gotton several lovely packages in the mail to remind me of the goodness of the world.

I read a book a few years back called The Privilege to be Catholic by Father Oscar Lukefahr. The major tenet of the book is something called the sacramental principle. In a nutshell, that everything God created is good. Can someone be turned toward evil, or something be used in an evil way? Of course. But at it's core, the essence of the created world is good. I have so often though about how life's trials and tribulations are opportunities to witness that good. People rise to the occasion and bear fruit to the seed of something wonderful planted in us all at the dawn of creation.

So when a prayer group that has followed Tomas from the beginning sent a lovely card, and when my husband's friend sent a thinking of you card, and when my husband's company started a collection that snowballed into tremendously generous gifts for us; I smiled. Not just the happy, these are wonderful things and it is so nice that people are thinking of us smile, but the swelling smile that starts at the center of my body and radiates to the very edges of my skin. That smile is because someone's soul has reached out and touched mine, and it feels good.

Then , one day last week I got a package in the mail from a 7th grader. She made Tomas a card, and wrote a lovely letter, and her spirit shined from every perfectly formed word she wrote. How amazing is it that she remembered a blog her mom had read and wanted to do something for that baby. How humbling it is to know that she lives her faith in a way I never even knew existed when I was in the 7th grade.

There are so many things that have been done for Tomas and the rest of us, meals, cards, packages of clothes, toys, gift cards and others I can't think of right now. He is 16 months old and this has gone on the entire time. I have no words adequate to thank everyone for the kindness sent this way, except to say that God knows what you have done and though it may seem insignificant to you, it means everything to me.

Thank you lovely friends, near and far.