Everything I love, I will devour.

[Pictures with People.]

1. We got to have mass one day IN the grotto which was the coolest thing ever. Our music minister asked me to sing with him. That’s us, standing in the grotto singing to Mama Mary.

2. We went as volunteers, so every day we worked two 3-5 hour shifts (it depended on how many people showed up) in the baths, helping pilgrims get undressed, get in the baths, and get redressed. These are all our girls in our uniforms on our last day of service. 

3. One of the people on our trip took his 5-year engagement (say that with a thick french accent), which means he had been to Lourdes as a volunteer 5 years in a row and made a commitment to come back every year that he was physically and financially able for the rest of his life. Wow! This was our after-party for him following the engagement ceremony. (Fun fact: he also got engaged to his girlfriend that week! He proposed in front of the grotto).

4. I got to sing for the entire rosary procession! It was an awesome moment. Anyone can go up and sing in the choir and the director, in the middle of a song, came over to our group and said, “Who reads music?” I raised my hand and slapped a piece of music in my hands and shoved a mic in my face and I was singing a solo for the 5,000+ people gathered there for the rosary!