On My Mind: Easter Week
/Sunday, late afternoon...
Outside My Window
It's finally spring. Virginia is greening up nicely and we're sure glad to see it.
I am Listening to
The Ladies of Cecelia perform Be Still and Know--over and over and over again. It's really beautiful. Longtime followers will recognize the amazing vionlist as MacBeth Derham's daughter, Libby. I think you will agree that she's grown into quite the lovely young lady.
I am Wearing
A sweater and a skirt and an apron.
I am so Grateful for
~safe travels. Mike and Patrick are in Amsterdam this week.
~3 goals and a 3-2 win over China. Patrick scored all three.
~decent telephone connections
~knitting
~cotton yarn
~a daughter who knows that baking is art
~Easter with grandparents and cousins
~ a darling picture of a young soccer player wearing Patrick's National Team jersey. Paddy signed it for him and sent it back to his parents so they could put it in his Easter basket.
I'm Pondering
Knitting twelve sweaters isn't insane. It's actually part of what keeps me sane, keeps me calm and focused on the important things, and brings me present into the here and now. Pretty amazing for something as simple as wrapping some string around a couple of sticks...over and over and over again. Until there's a sweater....or twelve. ~Amanda Soule
I am Reading
I am Thinking
about what to keep and what to change from my Lenten rhythm and resolutions. Actually, there's very little I expect to change. The only book I read during Lent was the Bible. I do look forward to delving into the stack I have for myself, but, I'd like to keep the extended Bible reading time as well. And all the other disciplines? All good. It was a very fruitful Lent.
I am Creating
A sweater shrug (number 5 or 6?) and I'm starting a new project this week, too. With handpainted yarn. Karoline painted it. Much more on that later this week.
On my iPod
Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales
Towards a Real Education
Mary Beth and I mapped out her first high school year and got everything tidied up and ordered. We'll begin next week. I like to have our school years run year 'round and my goal this year was to finish before the bluebells bloomed so that we could really enjoy some extended time outside this spring. That plan is mostly on track.
I know that she wishes she were attending a one of two schools in the area. The first is all girls and way out of our price range and a long commute. The second is an impossible commute. We're both trusting that God will provide during the next four years. I'm grateful that she is who she is. Pure blessing.
Towards Rhythm and Beauty
This Easter was very different than I imagined just a week ago. I thought we were going to the Shrine downtown and then to brunch at the club. Early in the week, we decided Mike should fly to Holland to meet Patrick. So, that makes it the first holiday without everyone together. That's new. Then, Mike's dad fell for the second time in as many weeks and it was clear that we couldn't do the trek into DC. So we stayed home. I just sort of did reprise of last year. And it was fine.
But I missed them.
To Live the Liturgy...
Easter isn't time or place or even tradition. It's the awareness of the risen Christ and the intimacy of His forgiveness and His friendship.
Stephen and Nick served Mass Thursday night, SAturday at the Easter Vigil and first thing Sunday morning. This fact might not be remarkable except that before this week, they'd never, ever served. Now, they know what they're doing.
I am Hoping and Praying
for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.
for the soul of Ty Lewis and for his family and for the countless soccer families who grieve his loss.
for Sarah and her family as they grieve the tragic loss of her sister-in-law.
for Mike's dad and for his mom and for his medical care.
In the Garden
We planted sunflowers and snap peas and spring lettuces and morning glories. The tulips are fading and I need to think about color for the front beds. I'd like to get creative and I'd like to plant some perennials. In the end, I'll probably plant two flats of petunias. Just like last year.
Around the House
A few fun new Easter things.
A copy of Tangled and a very effective new de-tangler. (Guess whose basket?) Hat tip to Lori.
Chocolate-covered espresso beans.
From the Kitchen
Recipe testing some meals inspired by the farmer's market for the summer issue of Faith and Family.
~Fettuccine Gazpacho Salad
~Mixed greens with Strawberry Vinaigrette
~Zucchini bread
and some more you'll have to read about in the summer issue. By the way, I got a sneak peek at the spring cover last week. So much darlingness:-)
One of My Favorite Things
safe landings
Sarah Annie this week
She misses her daddy. And her Paddy. This has been an intense time of travel for Mike. He's rarely been home this spring. Sarah is very attached to Daddy, so his absence rocks her world. And she's a big Paddy fan. Pretty much, we're both hanging on 'til the end of May.
A Few Plans for the Week
homecomings: Mike on Monday and Patrick on Tuesday (but Paddy will only be here for few jetlagged hours.)
For the first time in eleven years, I'm going to meet a friend for lunch. And a visit to a yarn store. I'm giddy with excitement.
More bluebells, no doubt, as they begin to fade. And lots of Bluebell Blogging. I have a billion blue photos to share.
Pretty sure there will be a doctor's appointment for Mary Beth. She had a CT scan last week to address some ongoing problems related to last year's eye injury.
Make-up State Cup game from the weekend of the deluge. No idea when that will be, except it must be before Saturday, when the Round 2 game is to be played. And it's in Richmond. Can't wait to drive to Richmond on a weekday evening/afternoon.
Picture thoughts:
{{Comments are open. I have been terrible about responding to mail. Please forgive me? I do read every single note and I do pray for you. But, I don't always answer promptly. I'm hoping that having comments open on occasion will give me a chance to answer the more common questions for several people at once and will give you dear ladies an opportunity to talk with each other. They are moderated, so if you don't see yours at first, it means I'm busy knitting; it will appear shortly.}}
