Easter Monday-book

FOR TODAY

Happy Easter Monday!

Outside my window...
Bright, sunny, and cool!  It's a practically perfect day.  I wore a sweatshirt and shorts to walk the dog this a.m. and my knees were a little numb by the time I got home.

I am thinking of...and...I am thankful...
For the many graces experienced during this Lent, but mostly during Holy Week.  As usual, I don't think I pulled as many toothpicks thorns from the Crown of Thorns on the kitchen table for making sacrifices, but I did manage to pray more than ever before by virtue of the fact that I did the preparation for Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin, and that our family increased our daily decade of the rosary by one decade every week until we were doing the whole thing 4-5 days per week.

I don't mean to gloat about how well we did there, because, quite honestly, I don't know what we'll do tonight at prayer time.  I don't know if we have it in us to keep up with the whole rosary daily.  I also know that managing to get in all those prayers and stick with them was a total grace.

Also during this Lent, I asked God for answers, and I got emotional struggles.  I got plenty of temptations that caused heartache.  But peace comes in the strangest ways and at the oddest times.  I wish that He could be more clear in His answers and help, but He doesn't seem to work that way!
 
From the learning rooms...
We have one last day of break today for Easter!  It's a teacher-workday (once I finish my blogging), so I'll get the house back together and see if I can get prepared for a 4-day school week that is followed by a camping trip!

In the kitchen...
I think I'll be eating Primal Coconut Cake all week (or until it's gone).  Leftover ham.  And cheese for my girl who gave up cheese for Lent!

I am wearing...
In addition to the shorts, vibram 5-fingers, and sweatshirt for my walk, I'm wearing a chain (scroll down to the bottom!) given me by my sweet friend Barbara in honor of my Consecration to Mary.  It came on Holy Saturday, and it means a lot to me because I forget my good intentions so easily.  This bracelet is a constant reminder to me.  It's both a reminder for the future, and a confirmation of the graces that I received through Mary during Holy Week. I remembered to ask her repeatedly for help, and she gave it.

I am knitting...
Nada.  I'm starting to feel the strain.  I definitely have something I want to start today if I can get out to the yarn shop!

I am going...
To get some yarn, but otherwise I plan to stay home and organize/clean/plan for the week.

I am reading...
The Truth About Saint Therese.  Not very far into it yet; it sounds like an expose, but it's about getting past the sugary sweet image people have of the Little Flower to the depth of her theology.

I am hoping...
For a productive week!

I am looking forward to...
Our American Heritage Girls campout this weekend!  We're going to a park I've never been to before.  It's supposed to be beautiful, and they're having a special event on this spring weekend (purposefully vague there to prevent your stalking my beautiful girls!)

I am hearing on my ipod...
Did you know there is a podcast called "Novenas" which has tons of recordings of different novenas?  I've downloaded all the days of the Divine Mercy Novena which started on Good Friday.  It's a big help!

One of my favorite things...
Holy Week and Easter.  I will admit to not loving it when my kids were little because it's such a marathon, but really walking through the passion with Christ during those days, and "entering into the mystery" which sounds rather cliche, but pretty much describes what happens, makes Easter so much better.  It was a little stressful, but I was thrilled to be able to do a lot more singing than usual at Holy Thursday Mass and the Easter Vigil.  For me, singing really is praying twice.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

I actually remembered to get some pictures of the kids before Mass, even though there were 3 missing and these wouldn't stop goofing off, and a neighbor who was in the cul-de-sac thoughtfully came over so I could be in the picture, too.  Amazingly, they shaped up and smiled for her!


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