Easter Friday Quick Takes

1.  Pip turned his bow into a crossbow, so, instead of the traditional Easter egg hunts, we shot arrows (modified with knife points!). Lots of fun was had and I don't think we lost any arrows in the woods.  And no one got shot, which is key, right? This boy cracks me up---he's all about weapons ever since he was a toddler---and he likes to create things. Whatever will he do as an adult?

2. Meg decorated the Easter cake again with Katie in attendance as design consultant. Meg's stars have improved quite a bit, and she makes a mean buttercream! FYI, we colored the coconut with cocoa to make it brown.

3. Meg and I went on retreat with her AHG unit, and they each wrote down what makes their AHG sisters beautiful. I turned each girl's attributes into a word cloud via Wordle.net and printed them on cardstock, suitable for framing. I hope the girls love them as much I enjoyed making them! I'm sure there are lots of other uses for wordles----what do you think? You can see only a portion of each wordle in the picture because I didn't want one of the girls to see anyone's before they were given out.

4. Our stay-at-home spring break included a fun afternoon of rock climbing with friends. It's scary to watch sometimes, but it's a great workout for the kids.

5. Today is Easter Friday. We are still in the Octave of Easter so you don't have to fast or abstain today! I'm going to make a big batch of bacon to celebrate. :-)

6.  Saw this video on FB yesterday. It's a perfect illustration of why so many people in GA are miserable this week. So. Much. Pollen. from the Georgia pines! Thank God for today's rain to wash it all away!

Gotta love that pine pollen. Check out this video.
Posted by Glenn Burns on Wednesday, April 8, 2015

7. That's all I've got. No more takes for me. What do you have to say? I'm going to spend the rest of the day knitting and reading while my car is in the shop having recall work done!

(who am I kidding? I'll probably clean house.) Thanks for hosting, Kelly! Praying for your little guy to get out of the hospital today!

An Easter Gift

Happy Easter! We slept late after our Easter Vigil and 11:30 p.m. Krispy Kreme run. :-) Lunch was not a spectacular affair with 5 of the 6 kids here, and everyone helped, so it was lovely, low-key, and just enough. While waiting for the ham to cook, we played in the backyard with Pip's "crossbow" that he modified out of a regular bow. It works extremely well!


Before he returned to the Institute today, just after Katie and Brendan left, son Tom suggested I listen to this poem by former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins. It probably had exactly the effect he anticipated---it made me laugh and brought a few tears to my eyes

THE LANYARD

The other day as I was ricocheting slowly

off the blue walls of this room

bouncing from typewriter to piano

from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,

I found myself in the "L" section of the dictionary

where my eyes fell upon the word, Lanyard. 

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist

could send one more suddenly into the past.

A past where I sat at a workbench

at a camp by a deep Adirondack lake 

learning how to braid thin plastic strips into a lanyard. 

A gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyard. 

Or wear one, if that’s what you did with them. 

But that did not keep me from crossing strand over strand 

again and again until I had made a boxy, red and white lanyard for my mother. 

She gave me life and milk from her breasts, 

and I gave her a lanyard 

She nursed me in many a sick room, 

lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips, 

set cold facecloths on my forehead

then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim and I in turn presented her with a lanyard. 

"Here are thousands of meals" she said, 

"and here is clothing and a good education." 

"And here is your lanyard," I replied,

"which I made with a little help from a counselor." 

"Here is a breathing body and a beating heart, 

strong legs, bones and teeth and two clear eyes to read the world." she whispered.

"And here," I said, "is the lanyard I made at camp."

"And here," I wish to say to her now, 

"is a smaller gift. Not the archaic truth, 

that you can never repay your mother, 

but the rueful admission that when she took the two-toned lanyard from my hands,

I was as sure as a boy could be 

that this useless worthless thing I wove out of boredom 

would be enough to make us even."

-- Billy Collins

I recalled all of the little things that children do and make for their parents, especially moms---sometimes they craft them out of their own imaginations and hearts, but, more often, they are probably forced to make them during camps or classes, and then they give their gift lovingly to the one who does so much for them. It's a little thing, probably not worth much on its own, but given with the love of a child it is imbued with greater meaning and worth.

So it is with the insignificant gifts we give to the One who does so much for us. Our little sacrifices that we make as we follow St. Thérèse's Little Way, are received by by Our Lord with an even greater love than our mothers could give. According to another Teresa, St. Teresa of Avila, "It is Love alone which gives worth to all things."

The size of the gift doesn't matter, only the love with which it is given. Today, and the next 50 days, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given. Have you made a lanyard with which to repay it?

Thoughts on Holy Saturday

Recently, I had the occasion to read a beautiful quotation from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Christ came to be Father’s compassion to the world. Be kind in your actions. Do not think that you are the only one who can do efficient work, work worth showing. This makes you harsh in your judgment of others who may not have the same talents. Do your best and trust that others do their best. And be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
― Mother Teresa, In the Heart of the World: Thoughts, Stories and Prayers

This morning it hit me square in the face as I contemplate which Easter Mass to go to.  I generally try to be non-judgmental in most areas of my life, but I had not extended that courtesy to the people who put together the Mass at our local parishes. :-(

As I recall, we have gone to the Easter vigil almost every year since I entered the Catholic Church in 1996. Our 4th baby was baptized at that Mass, and we had 2 more after that, so we have always dragged 6 small, whiny, sleepy children to this longest Mass of the year! Why? Because it's the most beautiful, and we love seeing new Catholics born into the faith on this night.

But this morning, I found myself suggesting that we go to the earliest Mass of the day---because there is less opportunity for frustration at a shorter Mass. I get so tired of the deviations from the missal where there aren't supposed to be deviations. I get tired of the performance atmosphere that makes the congregation applaud anytime children (even teens) are singing. I get tired of priests not being reverent. Frankly, I get tired of of myself, of judging every Mass and decided what the priests, deacons, and musicians did well and what they didn't.

We have a priest friend, a convert like me, who is of the same mind and celebrates Mass exactly the way I would like it, but his assignment is much too far away for us to attend. He says I'll never be happy. And he's probably right, but I hold my breath and say a prayer every year when new priest assignments come out, hoping he'll be transferred to our parish or one nearby!

Reading this conversion story this morning made me realize that while it would be nice for the Mass to be as heavenly as I hope every time I attend, I don't go for that. I'm Catholic because I believe that Jesus Christ is present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist and that the priest brings Him to me despite his own personal sins or failings. We all have different spiritual gifts and I really do appreciate the special joyfulness that some priests have (even though they tend not to follow the rules as closely!), and I need to stop being so judgmental. After all, they have given their lives for the Church, and maybe those sanguine priests are better at nurturing their parishioners than some of their fellow-priests.

Maybe my time in Mass (and out of Mass) is better spent praying for our priests than griping about their failings. I'm doing my best in my vocation, and I have to trust that they are also doing their best.

I hope you have had a prayerful Lent and that you are looking forward to the joy of Easter as much as I am.

Happy Easter (Tuesday)

It was such a busy Easter weekend! It was so wonderful, though! Even though school was back in session yesterday, Meg, Pip, and I managed to play games and have fun to stretch out this glorious holiday a little longer.

Meg baked her marble lemon cake on Saturday, and then she decorated it all by herself on Sunday morning while I was at Mass.

Katie made Pavlovas for dessert, too. I wish I had a picture! Ours were filled with lemon curd and topped with blueberry syrup, and I could eat them for.ev.er.

We dyed Easter eggs on Saturday using a dozen white eggs and a dozen brown eggs from the farm. They're all beautiful and we totally forgot to put them out for dinner on Sunday!

Most of us went to the Easter Vigil on Saturday after working on a puzzle and watching Jesus of Nazareth on TV. Singing the Gloria with the bells ringing, watching the elect get baptized and confirmed, and receiving the body and blood of our risen Lord was a joyous occasion. Words can't even do it justice.

Since I have to leave early for choir warm-ups, we never get photos of everyone in their Easter finery. These pics are from the day after---after I got home at 12:30 from singing at the morning Mass. And after Pete got home to join us!

I am counting all my blessings on this gorgeous Easter Tuesday!  It was all pretty amazing.

What was your favorite part of your Easter celebration? 

PHFR - Triduum Edition

{pretty} My sweet girl with half of her Phase 2 braces. She didn't smile much the rest of the day since her teeth are sore. :-(  On the plus side, that might make fasting tomorrow just a little bit easier! {happy}

Oh my! Those sweet faces from Easter 9 (NINE!) years ago! And would you look at the two stinkers in the front row? Pippo cracks me up. {funny}

Did I tell you about getting to meet the Property Brothers, or did I just put that on FB? I went with a couple of friends, and the guys answered a few questions and then took pictures with everyone. They shoved us between them, snapped, and pulled us away, shoving an autographed card in our hands. It was a little adventure. They were funny. And tall. (I'm 5'9", y'all!) And I have no idea what I did with their autographs, because that's the kind of fan I am.

(And no, this has nothing to do with the Triduum, but I needed a funny!)

{real}

See where we are on the Lenten calendar? All the way down there on Holy Thursday! ^ It's almost Easter! I'm frittering away my time this morning, when what I really want to do is explain why our family attends all the services of the Triduum if we possibly can.

One of our traditional Palm Sundaes. ;-)

So, tonight starts a marathon of Church-going. We begin with the Mass of the Last Supper which commemorates the time when Jesus instituted the priesthood and gave us the Eucharist. It's a beautiful Mass. If you're lucky (and I don't believe we will be this year), you'll hear at least the Latin Mass parts sung, and the beautiful Gloria will be intoned for the first time since before Ash Wednesday, and the bells will be rung throughout the Gloria. That's my favorite part. The other highlight of this Mass is the footwashing, and we end in silence as the Blessed Sacrament is taken to a special Altar of Repose where we can stand in for the apostles who slept in the garden. 

Tomorrow, there is Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m. We try to go to Stations, or at least do them at home or have quiet time from noon-3:00. In the evening is the Commemoration of the Passion of Christ and Veneration of the Cross. It's kind of a grueling service (not a Mass; it's the one day of the year when the bread and wine are not turned into the body and blood of Christ) with lots of standing and kneeling during the Prayers of the Faithful. 

And finally, there is the Great Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Ever since I came into the Church 18 years ago, we have gone to the Easter vigil nearly every year. Thinking back, I can't believe we've done it so many times. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me. ;-) The Church (and the organist) pulls out all the stops on this night. The music is the most beautiful, the flowers are gorgeous, the beautiful ritual of lighting the Easter fire and sharing the Light of Christ with everyone in the church is exquisite, and so is the singing of the Exsultet. That and the singing of the Litany of Saints bring me to tears on this night. (I remember Tom's godfather holding him as a 3 month-old and dancing with him to keep him calm during the Litany.) And you know the big bonus of the Easter Vigil? Unless there are a huge number of candidates and confirmands with their families, the church is not full and there is plenty of room to spread out!

Don't get me wrong....these beautiful 3 days are never easy! The kids get tired of going back to church all the time, and they're usually hungry because we plan dinner for after Mass. So the kids are hungry and tired; the parents may be, too, but we're grownups and we want to be there; and the services are long. It's always hard. Exhausting, even. But we do it because it makes Easter so much more special when we've been immersed in the fasting of Lent followed by these very special liturgies. 

I often feel as if I've "failed" Lent because of my lack of sacrifices, but I believe that fully immersing oneself in the Triduum and the Passion during these 3 days makes up for it! By the time we sing the Alleluia (hey kids! NOW it's Easter!), I'm ready for it. I've been run through the mill and I'm ready to celebrate the Resurrection.  

Oh, and aside from being tired and sometimes grumpy, the kids often fall asleep until they're about 10. They're always very proud of themselves if they can stay awake for the whole Easter Vigil! The boys like altar serving---partly because it helps keep them awake. And finally, it has to be said, another great advantage to the Easter Vigil (and the midnight Mass at Christmas) is the lack of crowds! There's nothing like a mob scene in the parking lot and being unable to find a seat to take people right out of the spirit of the holy day. Dontcha think?

What does your family do? Have you ever been to the Triduum services?

I probably won't be back here until Monday, so I will wish you a blessed Triduum and all the joy of the resurrection.

Weekly Rambles 2

::My Weekly Rambling::

What’s the weather doing?

Showers all day today, and then a freeze warning for tomorrow a.m.! Lots of people (not me!) regretting planting their gardens last weekend. Maybe this will really, really be the last blast of winter!

What’s really on my mind and heart?

Holy Week! I want to be immersed in Holy Week and final, peaceful preparations for the Triduum. Haha! It's never like that. The modern world pays very little heed to the beautiful rhythms of the Church, and this week is one of the busiest weeks of the year.

What am I thankful for?

I am thankful for those beautiful rhythms of the Church seasons by which we attempt to shape our lives in spite of the rest of the world and its demands.

What’s going on in school?

It's a weird week (see above!). Meg had standardized tests yesterday and today, so 2 half-days. Yesterday, of course, was not a regular school day for her. Today is a regular school day for Pip, but another half-day for Meg. Sheesh! The bright spot, if you can call it that, is that Tom got a job (hooray!) and is working after school 3 days in a row and needs to be picked up at 10 p.m. (boo! But there's no traffic then!) Tomorrow, Meg & Pip have drama rehearsal for a half-day. It's just crazy, out-of-the-ordinary driving this week!

What’s cooking?

I'm looking for easy Easter candy recipes because I don't feel like filling baskets with tons of junk. Most of my kids have outgrown the desire for that, anyway. Meals are going to be pretty simple this week. As much as I would like to have symbolic meals for every night of the Triduum, it's just not possible (for me) to do that and attend all the services.

What’s on the needles?

Trying to put some hours in on my Color Affection. I got the new skeins of not-quite-matching yarn that I needed, and I'm added it. I don't see the difference now, while it's all bunched up on the needles, and I hope it will be unnoticeable when I finish and block it.

What’s special about this week?

Holy Week: Spy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Great Easter Vigil! Oh, and Meg gets braces (again) tomorrow. ;-)

What am I reading?

Five Lessons from Carmelite Saints That Will Change Your Life.  This took 10 minutes while at the doctor's office yesterday. It's more than worth your time.

The Truth About the Sky by Katherine Grubb. I read another book by her that I loved, and I just started this one last night.

The Diary of St. Faustina. It's one of those partially read books that has been on my list for years. This is the year.

(oh, hey, none of those are affiliate links today. :-) )

What am I praying about?

Several of the people that I've been praying fervently for have passed away, recently. It makes me so sad! One of them, a 24 year-old girl named Katie had a freak bicycle accident and died after a week from brain trauma (she hit a tree). She and her family are so faith-filled! Her father made sure to point out on Facebook that all of our prayers were not in vain because the family was given enormous graces with which to face the tragedy. It was a good reminder that though we don't seem to get what we pray for always, our prayers always have value.

What’s on my ipod?

Lately, the Divine Mercy chaplet, via this app, has gotten a lot of play after dropping the kids off at school.

What projects are happening at home?

Spring cleaning for Easter!

What are your plans this week? Share with us your Easter preparation, food, fun!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

We walked from Katie's apartment to and from the Cathedral last night, in the rain.  It was a stunning Mass celebrated by the Archbishop, and I was so excited to see the 30 or so new members of the Church.

This morning, the kids are sleeping in because we were up way too late.  When they get up, they have to answer a couple of Catholic doctrine questions (from the Catholic Doctrine Playing Cards, of course!) to get clues to the location of their Easter baskets.

I think we're going to eat sugar, drink coffee, eat more sugar, and then eat ham and fall asleep, resting in the knowledge that our Lord is risen indeed.

Happy Easter!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

But the pain which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation hath procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love, Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

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!


Hosted by The Simple Woman's Daybook

The Triduum

Blogging has definitely been sparser than usual around here because I've been staying away from the computer a bit more, and now we're on spring break.  It has still been a full week so far.  

Music is mostly taking up my time---I had an extra rehearsal Sunday afternoon, then another 2 hours on Tuesday, and our regular choir rehearsal last night which was exhausting.  What makes it so exhausting is that we're doing things very differently from past years with our new pastor and choir director.  Very few of the old standards and lots of new Psalm settings (which we received very late in the season) add up to a lot of extra work and worry.

Ever since my Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin, I've been wondering, "What now?" I haven't done a lot of research, but I also didn't see anything in the book about how to live my life now.  Are there certain prayers I'm supposed to say?  Besides the rosary, that is.  So, it came to me that I could offer her all my worries and fears about choir, and ask for her prayers, and let her comfort me.  It helped a lot yesterday, and last night.  I still didn't sleep through the night (for the 3rd night in a row), but when I was awake and thinking about singing tonight, my heart wasn't pounding and my stomach wasn't in knots!

I'll be glad when tonight is over.  I'm glad I don't have to sing on Friday, but there's still the long Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday to get through.  Being involved in Church music certainly gives one lots to offer up during these last few days of Lent!

I hope you are having a peaceful, prayerful Triduum.  It's a Lenten marathon, but it's so beautiful to experience these 3 days with Christ.  Even when you've had a less-than-stellar Lent, the Triduum makes it all better.

God bless!  See you in Easter!

Happy Easter!

He is Risen! Alleluia!

Quiet Time

It has been a busy week here with household stuff, repairmen, delivery men, the installation and painting of our new front door.  And of course, the usual business of educating my children and taking care of the family.

More stuff to do as we prepare for Easter and pray through the Triduum.  It's like a marathon, these last few days of Lent.  If you were a miserable failure all through Lent (like yours truly!), there is still lot and lots of praying and sacrificing you can do between now and Sunday.

That's what I'll be doing:  immersing myself in the fasting and feasting and the prayer of the Church.

Have a blessed Triduum and I'll see you on Easter Monday!

Good Friday

I grew up with a mother who was a very faithful Christian (God rest her soul).  We went to church regularly: twice on Sundays, Wednesday nights, and Vacation Bible School every summer.  Skipping church was never an option, except maybe on vacation.

Nevertheless, I grew up with absolutely No Idea what Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday were all about.  I saw them on the calendar year in and year out, but I never knew that they had any connection to Easter.  It just wasn't talked about in any way, shape, or form that I can recall.

There was no arc to the year.  Just the same routine, week after week, with the year punctuated by Christmas and Easter---which, of course, only lasted one too-brief day.

So, on this Good Friday, I am thrilled to be a part of this beautiful Catholic faith which Christ founded.  I am grateful for the institution of the priesthood and the Eucharist which He established on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper.  I love to hear the readings all through Lent which lead up to this time culminating with His resurrection at the Great Easter Vigil.  And then we get to celebrate Easter for a full 50 days before we return to Ordinary Time.  Of course, it all starts again with the other penitential season that is Advent.

I am so grateful to be a part of this Church that is part of my life every day with something different to celebrate.  Every day we may take part in the sacrifice of the Mass in which His eternal sacrifice is re-presented.  He died for all of us.  He died so that we might live.  He died for all those who love Him, for all those who despise Him, for saints and for sinners.

It is a Good Friday.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me,

Body of Christ, save me,

Blood of Christ, inebriate me,

Water from the side of Christ, wash me

O Good Jesus, hear,

Within thy wounds hide me,

Never permit me be separated from thee,

From the evil enemy defend me,

In the hour of my death,

Call me and bid me come to thee,

That with thy angels and saints I may praise thee,

forever and ever.  Amen.

(inspired by Barbara to post this, my favorite post-Communion prayer)

Day 13

Happy Easter!

We had a beautiful weekend. Saturday was quiet, as it should be, with preparations for the Easter Vigil that night.

The Vigil Mass was long but very moving. The choir members were all very excited before Mass began---we were so happy that it was almost Easter! All my boys were serving on the altar and my girls were staying awake because the Little Princess had had a nap that day. MoW was ushering.

Sunday I had to go to Mass again after staying up until 1:00 a.m., but that's okay because I'm not sure you can to Easter Mass too many times! I did have a guaranteed seat with the choir, after all.

At the Pipster's suggestion, for, like, a week and a half, we went for a walk around here:



The weather was perfect and the kids were having fun. We were turned back a couple of times because of flooding over the path. I think the drought is over; we haven't seen it like this in years.

My beautiful kids, wishing you all the joy of the Easter season!

Today is my Anniversary!

That is, the 13th anniversary of my coming into the Catholic Church! It's TMax's day, too, since he was baptized at the Easter Vigil. Oh, what a happy day that was. I'm so grateful to have found the truth I had been seeking in the Catholic Church. I didn't even know I was seeking, having been brought up in a very faithful Christian home, but the Catholic faith filled in so many gaps for me that I had just shrugged off for years.

Now, how do we celebrate without breaking our Lenten fasts???