Ashes to ashes, dust to BUST!

Aaahhh...Ash Wednesday - the beginning of the Catholic community's Lenten season. It marks a period of selfless sacrifice (*sob* Do I REALLY have to give up my coffee? How about I give up Oreo cookies instead? You haven't had an Oreo since you were in the 5th grade! That's not selfless enough!), courageous fasting (must....ignore...smell...of...juicy...burger...), and -of course - the humbling ceremonial rite in which the ashes are placed on our eager foreheads.

Or, in NBear's case - NOT SO eager.

I don't want STAMP on forehead! No Mommy! No daddy! No stamp on forehead anymore! NO!
[That was BEFORE the ashes]

I want take off! *sobbing* No STAMP on forehead! Noooooo! *sob* I want take off!
[...and, after.]

Yup. Need I also mention that the second she was face-to-face with Father Dan and he was ready to place his blackened finger on her face, she (very politely) said "No thank you, sir!" I didn't get a chance to see his reaction, though - but the sigh the Huz let out behind me (we sandwich the kids whenever we have to line up for anything. Great strategy to prevent runaways) was enough to convince me that Father was probably NOT impressed.

Hey - at least she followed directions and didn't rub it off when the Huz told her not to. PLUS, she allowed me a rare photo-op, despite the teary evidence.

Of course, the smile didn't last very long so MBear compensated. (Who else? She looked at the ebony smear like it was the Hope Diamond in tattoo form!)

Well, at least our first-time ash-ee was all smiles!