It was the best Easter

We had a very lovely Easter weekend in our family.  All the kids were here for church yesterday, and it was a lovely weather day.  My favorite part though, was Saturday evening.  Thomas and his girlfriend came and stayed over Saturday evening.  We had potato pizza, which is always a hit, and then we sat around and played a game.  We all laughed so hard!  We are taking the entire crew on vacation with us this year, and the fun we had Saturday made me look forward to it even more.

After church we just hung out as our family meal will actually be this weekend.  I don't think anything could top how much fun we had this weekend, though!

It's real

I know I haven't written for a bit.  It's been really crazy in our world, but that is a different post.  Today, on the day before Easter, this is a post about church.  And it's going to be long

Catherine is currently dating a man who was raised an atheist, and still considers himself that to this day.  I don't think less of him, but I do feel a bit sad for him, as my faith has been one of the greatest comforts of my life.  It also makes me a bit sad that my grandchildren (someday, no hidden info there!) may be raised without faith, but I can continue to pray on both counts.  It's not for me to judge.  I raised my children to love and be accepting of all.  Her boyfriend is really a fabulous young man, and she could do (and has done) so much worse.

Tomorrow morning, my wonderful husband will get up really early so that he can take his mother to Mass.  The kids are all staying over here and joining us for church at our regular service.  This is the "hard" part of faith.  My mother will not go to church with us.  Our church doesn't "count" in her church.  I won't lie, it can be difficult not to take that personally.  And when we go to church with her, and we always do when at her place and often on holidays here so we aren't attending twice, we aren't allowed to fully participate.  And even partially participating can be challenging as their are no bulletins or "programs" provided.  So you either know it or you are just sitting there.

I know I sound a little bitter about this.  And that is because I am.  I tried to attend church regularly with my husband, but on more than one occasion I would leave in tears.  I understand there is church trauma out there, and I completely understand how it can hurt.  I am so, so grateful that we have found a church that makes both of us feel so incredibly welcomed and served, and we serve as well.

As we begin the season of Easter, I pray for church peace in the hearts of all.  I pray that all feel the peace and comfort that my faith brings me.  I pray that we love all, whether they are of the faith or not.  I pray for healing faith of all kinds.  I pray that the optimism and joy that we feel tomorrow lasts through the entire year.  Happy Easter.

Photo memories

The thing I've been working on most during the break has been labeling and organizing photos.  Some of them went all the way back to 2017, most were from the 2020's, especially in the last two years.  Honestly, it was a bit of an emotional experience.  Eight years ago, Thomas was in middle school.  It broke my heart a bit to see him that young.  I worked on the pictures from the last Thanksgiving G.G. was alive.  It caught my heart to see the family gatherings that we don't get to have anymore.  There were pictures of Rosie that we lost in August, 2022, and more heart-wrenching were the photos of Lincoln, and especially of Abby, both of whom passed in October.  In spite of a few teary eyes, I am so, so, so grateful for those memories!

Back to work in 12 hours

My break is over, and to be honest, I don't mind at all.  I've got lots to do this week, and I'm looking forward to getting a paycheck.  It is ending with a bang as there are severe storms coming through this evening.  Today though, was a nice way to end the day.  We had a birthday lunch for our dear friend Larry who has had some serious health issues in the last two years.  The kids joined us as well.  It was a nice way to end the break.  Yesterday, we just hung out and watched a baseball and a movie.  Andrew is on break this coming week.  While it's a bit of a shame that we didn't have the same break, I don't really mind all of the alone and quiet time I had this past week.  I'm so grateful for the week!

It's been a very nice break

This spring break has been absolutely fabulous.  It's been a terrific mix of fun, productive, and relaxing.  We have 7-1/2 weeks of school remaining, and it feels really easy after this week.  I'll probably feel differently by about 10am Monday, but I'll take it however long it lasts!

I never really got into the basketball games last week.  There were only a couple of good first round upsets, and those teams didn't make it to the second weekend.  We had dinner plans with dear friends with Saturday and I did really enjoy that.

Monday was a day that I allowed myself to just hang out and do whatever I wanted.  The "thing I wanted" this week has been organizing photos, and I've gotten soooo much done.  I'm so pleased!  Tuesday, I worked, both at school and at church, and Wednesday I had lunch plans and then made a trip to visit my grandmother.  Yesterday, Andrew had a doctor appointment, so he was home, and we ran an errand and ate lunch out, then we settled in to watch Opening Day.  Not how we wanted it to go, but there are 161 games remaining.  Today I am home along again, although I didn't sleep last night.  I don't mean I didn't sleep well, I mean I literally couldn't sleep, so I've been awake now for the 25 hours.  I don't love that this is how break is ending, but I am super grateful I don't have to work today!  I've really appreciated the alone time from this week, but I've also really appreciated some time spent with family and friends.  It's been a fabulous break!

We made it to spring break

I have all of next week off.  Woohoo! It's disappointing that Andrew and I don't have the same break, but it also gives me lots of "me" time, and that is nice as well.  I really, truly love my job, but there are days when it is a lot to manage, and managing people can be hard.

We are enjoying the basketball games, although I'm not nearly as into it this year.  The weather is overcast and dreary, but I have the whole week off!!!

The first official day of Spring

It snowed today.  Gotta love the first official day of spring!  It was really just very, very light flurries as we were doing dismissal, but it was cold and icky today.

When I leave work tomorrow, I will officially be on spring break.  I'm not quite as excited about it this year as Andrew will still have to work.  And because Catherine works in the public schools also, she will also have school as well.  I'm looking forward to quiet time though.  And I'm definitely looking forward to sleeping in.  Maybe do a puzzle?  Work on photos?  Honestly, it doesn't feel as though there will be enough time to do all the things I'd like to do.  And Andrew has a doctor appointment one day so that means I won't have the day alone that day.  Andrew and Catherine have the week after me as their break.

Last weekend we had a really nice family dinner.  My mom came down, and the kids were here.  It was fun to have six of us around the table.  I find hosting to be stressful, but I greatly appreciate that Andrew is willing to make nice meals for all of us.

Andrew has really been looking for a new dog.  I keep telling him not until June!  We will be going on vacation in early June, and although Abby was a wonderful traveling companion, we have no idea the temperament of our next pup.  And to be honest, I'm not ready for another pup.  I'm not looking for something else I need to take care of.  I still miss Abby terribly, and when Andrew pulls up a video, it brings tears to my eyes.  In fact, just sitting here typing this has brought tears to my eyes.

This is the weekend of basketball madness that I love so much.  I'm not really into it this year though.  I'm not entirely sure why.  Maybe because Dayton didn't have a great year.  Maybe because there is just so much else happening that this seems unimportant.  Maybe it is because Andrew isn't home.  I have it on, but it just isn't as exciting.  

I am grateful for the extra sunshine this time of year!