And so it begins.

Today is Ash Wednesday. The first day of Lent, and apparently the first day of my new prescription, humility.

Picture it: Mother of two precious little girls heading to the first pew. One baby in the Ergo, one little girl genuflecting. What a cute family. What a good momma. What well-behaved little girls. For the first half...

Fast forward to a sick 2.5 year old ready for a nap (Did I mention Mass was at noon?). She can't stop crying, for what - I'm not even sure. It doesn't really matter because we make our way to the cry room. We were in the first pew. It's a long way. Then she drops my keys and won't pick them up. (Thank you, nice man, for helping me out.)

Finally. We're here in the appropriate place to cry, and so she continues. Then comes the long, slow, crowded communion line. Yep. Crying the whole way up. I eventually receive communion with one kid still chilling in the ergo (You have no idea how much that helped, Laura!) and one preschooler on my hip, wiping her nose against my sleeve.

I know all too well the familiar face of pride. It's hard being in that first pew with well-behaved kids and not think, "I'm doing a great job here. I've got this all figured out. We're so holy, so pious." I don't always have that feeling at Mass, thank God. But today I did. I walked up to that first spot with my girls, bringing my pride right up to that first pew, too.

My original plans for today's post wasn't going to be this. I already have videos and pictures taken of lenten stuff that we're doing with Joan. And then I wanted to share with you what my adult plans were for this Lent. And while I think it's a great idea to share activities and spiritual reflections with the blogging community, I believe there's a fine line between doing that genuinely to help others with ideas, and just being prideful - at least for me there is.

So after today's gospel, after today's episode, I think I'll just leave you with less than you came for. Please just pray for me and my family this lent, that our observance of it may truly remind us of our sinfulness and our need for great repentance this season.

Here's today's gospel, in case you were wondering. Yeah, it was pretty much written for me...

Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them;
for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites;
for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners,
that they may be seen by men.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites,
for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men.
Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:1-6,16-18