Wordless Wednesday; Easter in the time of Corona

Happy Easter Wednesday!!

7 Quick Takes #277 ~ April Overview

1. Happy May!! How was your April? Ours was good in a busy 'just keep swimming' way.  Sorry to go quiet. How about a summary to catch you all up?
2. Easter morning was wonderful ~ the kids explored their Easter baskets, a breakfast of eggs and pastries, Mass and then some cooking and cleaning before taking Dr Daddy to the airport for his trip to London. We (the kids and I) still hosted Easter dinner for choir members and friends, including wonderful desserts from our favorite ballerina/baker.
3. My week of solo parent went reasonably well and Dad was able to FaceTime most evenings ~ and had a good week in London, getting in some sight-seeing most days.  The kids each had their moments of really missing Dad but overall did well.
4. The Weather has been keeping us guessing; more nice days than not but enough chilly mornings that coats are out and needed. It has been warm enough that trees have blossomed and my Lily of the Valley easily made their May 1st deadline.
5.  I stuck to my commitment to give-up fiction for Lent; my review of my Lenten reads are here.
6. The main excitement of the week has been preparing for Liam's 1st Holy Communion this weekend. He says the rehearsal went well, and he is excited.  Food has been ordered, family is coming, and now we just need it to not rain too much.
7. Photo dump: 

Have a wonderful weekend and please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's!

Quick Takes #257 Happy Easter and April!!

1. Hi ~ Happy April! Happy Easter!!
2. How was your Lent? Mine was good overall; I really enjoyed the Take Up and Read devotional and felt it helped me dig deep this Lent and revealed areas of ongoing items for my prayer life. I finished the two books I had planned to read and started a third.  I also managed not to 'cheat' on my commitment to not read fiction except on Sunday (and than only my sister's latest).  What did not go as well was almsgiving; we participated in different opportunities the kids school offered but I'm left feeling that aspect was a bit lacking. 
3. Having finished my sister's book Fix My Fall earlier this week I then spent a couple of days like a kid in a candy store trying to decide what to read next; reread a favorite or try something new??  I've decided to split the difference and am reading a story I've never read by a favorite author.  
4. Tridium went well with me attending with the kids Mass of the Lord's Supper, Good Friday Service and Mass Easter morning.  Mass Thursday evening was late for the kids but I loved being able to hear the Panga Linga sung again by Dr Daddy and the rest of wonderful choir he sings with as well as introducing the kids to the custom of Eucharistic Procession and Adoration. 
5. Easter morning was wonderful as the kids explored and enjoyed what the Easter Bunny left in their baskets and we attended Mass together as a family before digging in for the last minute preparation for Easter Dinner where we host the Tridium choir Dr Daddy sings with.  Dr Daddy's annual colcannon was delicious and the dessert table groaning as a friend now living in MD made the trip and brought with her her amazing butter creams.
6. April is locally off to a gray and rainy start but with enough sunshine to convince my daffodils to bloom and forsythia to blossom.  Yes there is snow in the forecast but as Mr Carson often said "We must always travel in Hope."
7. Have a wonderful weekend and please head to Kelly's for more 7QTs!

Quick Takes #229: It's Easter and Spring!

1. Sorry to go quiet ~ Lent was good but tough and spring was slow to come ~ and so winter blues caught up with me a bit.  However Lent does end and spring has sprung!!
2. We had a lovely Tridium and Easter filled with good weather, good friends, good music and lots of good food. One highlight being a friend who has moved away and is an amazing dessert maker surprised us all and came to Easter dinner and brought her amazing treats with her.
3. Spring catch-up: March was very weird weather wise and I was sad so I'm feeling a bit behind yard wise but the phlox was great, and the tulips and dogwood are currently in bloom so I'm headed to garden store today and will play catch-up this weekend.
4. In the category of late to the party but don't care: Parenthood!! For whatever reason never managed to watch first run but have now officially binge watched my first series on Netflix and Loved It!! And am now looking for suggestions for what to watch next?
5. Thanks to a good friend and Netflix my kids have discovered Voltron ~ and I'm quickly learning all about red, green and black lions.
6. Given the poor sight of both her parents it is not a surprise that this week we learned that Lisbeth needs glasses. At 9 she beats me by a year and I believe ties her father. We should have the glasses in about 2 weeks and photo documentation will of course happen.
7. Have a good weekend ~ we are hopefully assembling a loft bed ~ updates as warranted!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's.

Quick Takes #177: Easter Recap

1. Triduum went very well given the current ages of the littles; Dr Daddy successfully sang at all the services he was suppose to and I got to participate a good amount and involve the kids as well.
2. Holy Thursday; he sang at two Masses and once he got home I went to Adoration at two churches; next year I will aim for more if I again don't attend Mass.
3. Good Friday; he again sang at two services with us all attending the first where the kids did reasonably and Lisbeth pleasantly surprised me by choosing to venerate the Cross by herself. We then stayed and shared a meal with Dr Daddy and the rest of his choir mates.  I then headed home to get the littles to bed while the choir prepared for the second service. 
4. Holy Saturday was mostly spent preparing for the celebrations: dying eggs, grocery shopping and cleaning. We have for the last several years hosted any choir members who wanted to come for Easter Dinner.  I was sorry to miss the Easter Vigil but this was just one of those years where we didn't have good childcare options. According to Charlie and other choir members all went very well.
5. EASTER was lovely with the fun of baskets in the morning, going to Mass all together and celebrating with friends and family that evening!
6. Luckily the Easter Break extended into Easter Monday as the kids were up late enjoying the party and so slept in the next morning. Re-entry has been a bit rough as the weather has been lousy but yesterday included being a Mystery Reader for Lisbeth's class and today is Yellow Day at Liam's school.
7. Pictures:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

A Poem for Holy Saturday

A favorite poem by a favorite author:

Ready for Silence

Madeleine L’Engle

Then hear now the silence
He comes in the silence
in silence he enters
the womb of the bearer
in silence he goes to
the realm of the shadows
redeeming and shriving
in silence he moves from
the grave cloths, the dark tomb
in silence he rises
ascends to the glory
leaving his promise
leaving his comfort
leaving his silence

So come now, Lord Jesus
Come in your silence
breaking our noising
laughter of panic
breaking this earth’s time
breaking us breaking us
quickly Lord Jesus
make no long tarrying

When will you come
and how will you come
and will we be ready
for silence
your silence

Easter Recap

Happy Easter!!

Hope your Easter Sunday was lovely

Ours was:

 starting with baskets filled with a bit of candy, a toy and an book for all the littles,

then off to Mass with Mommy for these two (Daddy was singing at a later Mass).

 Attempts at pictures while still looking lovely in our Sunday best

 with Mommy remembering to actually get in some of the pictures;

and then the hunt was on throughout the backyard.

Finally later in the evening we again hosted members of the Triduum choir (past and present) Dr Daddy sings with for dinner.

There are unfortunately few photos as I was throughly enjoying the wonderful food and fellowship of these wonderful multi-talented singers and cooks.

A Very Blessed Day Indeed.
Allelluia!!

Quick Takes: #129

1. Happy Easter! By long tradition any member of the Triduum choir my husband sings with who wants to is invited to our house for Easter dinner ( down in the fine print of The Corporal  Acts of Mercy is feeding the weary musician I'm sure); this year we had about 20 and hopefully a good time was had by all.
2. Sending out many good thoughts and prayers to our wonderful hostess Jen as she undergoes her clots  capture procedure!!
3. 3pm is the middle of nap time around here so Good Friday services were going to be a challenge; happily I found Way of the Cross led by the Pope, grateful not only to have found this link and therefore to able to participate in some manner last Friday but also for not having to endure the isolation faced in the past by pioneers and currently by missionaries throughout the world
4. Also sending good thoughts and baby soon prayers to Hallie Lord of Moxie Wife & including the link to a review I did a couple weeks ago of a wonderful book written by her husband.
5. Currently according to Lisbeth 'a dozen' is a huge number; as in "A hundred, a thousand, a dozen". I'm resisting the urge to ask her if we should get a dozen donuts to see if her head explodes.
6. Lisbeth has been enjoying all the jelly beans around, Liam is following in his dad's footsteps and munching malted milk eggs anytime my back is turned ~ this leaves the peanut butter eggs for me.  Isn't it amazing how life works out sometimes!
7. Easter Friday ~ Eat Meat!!

Please head over to Conversion Diary for more of this week's Quick Takes

What I Wore Easter ~ Misson Failure

I had wanted to join the link-up this Easter hosted by Grace, but by long tradition we host the members of the Triduum choir and any other 'Easter Orphans'  for dinner, and between cleaning and cooking ~ picture taking did not happen as I had hoped.

Anyho: Happy Easter and Blessed Easter Season from Us:

And please (if you haven't) head to Grace's to enjoy all the Easter finery!

It's still good news!!

My sister recently reminded me of this song which was a favorite and a cornerstone in 

our family growing up.

Thankful Thursday: April 12th

1. For a wonderful Tridium and Easter services!
2. For a friend who volunteered to watch the kids so I could serve.
3. For sharing dinner with my church family.
4. For new family memories as we first colored eggs.
5. I am loved and forgiven!!

Please visit The Road Home and enjoy all there is to given thanks for.

Happy Easter!!

Roll Away The Stone – Tom Conry

They have been saying all our plans are empty.
They have been saying “Where is their God now?”

Roll away the stone, see the Glory of God.   Roll away the stone…

They have been saying no one will remember.
They have been saying Power rules the world.

Roll away the stone, see the Glory of God.  Roll away the stone…

They have been saying no one hears the singing.
They have been saying all our strength is gone.

Roll away the stone, see the Glory of God.  Roll away the stone…

They have been saying “All of us are dying.”
They have been saying “All of us are dead.”

Roll away the stone, see the Glory of God.  Roll away the stone…

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter!!

Angels, roll the rock away;
Death, yield up thy mighty prey:
See, He rises from the tomb,
Glowing with immortal bloom. ~Thomas Scott, "Easter Angels"

Happy Easter to you and yours!!

For I remember it is Easter morn,
And life and love and peace are all new born. ~Alice Freeman Palmer