"Ooh, heaven is a place on earth"

I'm starting to feel about this blog the way I do about the pile of New Yorkers stacked neatly, unread, in my magazine rack: that I'm so far behind, I'll never catch up. Still, this requires much less intellectual acuity, so I don't have much excuse. I will just quickly share a highlight from this morning's ride to Mass.

Me: Love you, Cody. You're the best boy on Earth!

Cody: Mom, what's Earth?

Me: Well, it's the planet where we live. It's filled with forests and oceans and roads and buildings and people. (Weak, I know, but it was not quite 7 am.)

Cody, pointing out the window: Mom, is all that Earth?

Me: Yep.

Cody: Mom, where is heaven?

Me: That's kind of a big question. But the simple answer is that it's a place we can't see, kind of up in the sky, where people we love live forever with God after they leave this earth. It's filled with angels and saints, like Mary and Joseph, and many other holy souls. They can see us even though we can't see them. It's a beautiful, peaceful place.

Once we got to church, he made straight for the creche, where he spent the entirety of Mass sitting among the shepherds, wise men, and animals. He kissed Jesus and Mary, then put his hands around Mary's neck and said a Hail Mary. (You think I'm kidding, but you couldn't make up this sweetness.)

Then he ran to the pew, got Bidi and Patches, and curled up next to the manger, staring dreamy-eyed at the Blessed Mother, upon whom I think he has a little crush. During a quiet moment (of course) he stage-whispered earnestly, "Mom? Is this heaven?"

In that moment, it was a tough one to answer.