Babies

Babies.  No matter what's going on in my personal life my babies (and kids) bring joy to my heart.  

Frances is growing so quickly I can hardly keep up.

My very talented friend, Lydia(from Small Town Simplicity) , made these knitted shorties for her.  They are just so cute!

Seeing her in them makes a Wednesday were Jesse's car died for good and I'm emotionally drained in every way seem much better.

“A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.”

Carl Sandburg

Frances is 9 Months Old!!

I'm not really sure how it happened but Frances is 9 months old today!  Happy 9 months to the happiest baby we've had so far.  What a delight she is to have as a daughter.

He Is Risen!

Happy and Blessed Easter!  He is Risen!  I love Easter for so many reasons.  Today I was thinking about how sad and somber Good Friday is.  I hate going into church without that red candle glowing that signifies Jesus in the Tabernacle.  It makes me feel so lost.  Perhaps it taps in to that side of me who has suffered many a "Good Friday" in my life.  In my life and I'm sure yours too the emptiness and longing is more than just a Holy Saturday.  It can be days, weeks, months, or years.  Sometimes the grieving never really ends.  But Easter Sunday gives us HOPE that no matter how dark and empty it all seems, no matter how lost, sorrowful, or pained we are, through all of it JESUS IS RISEN!  He died for us and He will come again for us and with that there will always be an end to our suffering.  So many times in my life I've asked "where were you, Jesus?" .  One of my favorite Matt Maher songs says "You Were on the Cross".  He's there, always, loving us from that tree that brought us our salvation.  He died, was buried, and rose to save us.  When everything else seems hopeless (or maybe just one or two things in our lives) we can always look to the cross and see what love really looks like.  

And now I'll overwhelm you with gross amount of Easter pictures from our house.  Remember, Easter last for 50 days!  And Divine Mercy Sunday is just a week away!  Happy Easter!

 

(Egg Hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's house)

 

"So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." 

John 20:2



Easter Vigil

Everyone is a buzz here.  The Easter Vigil is a favorite in our house.  Mass begins at 8:45pm and ends just before 1 a.m. usually.  There's a line to get into the church so Hannah, Owen, and Jackson are braving that and the seat saving so we can have a few more minutes of preparation here.  I'm so grateful that we are all healthy and in town this year. 

 

At the end of the night we usually sing Christ is Risen at the Vigil Mass.  You can literally feel the Holy Spirit pouring out on us.  It's something I hope I never forget in all my life. 

 

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Have a Holy and Blessed Easter everyone!  He is Risen Indeed!

Gratitude Sunday {SPRING}

It's hard to believe it's Palm Sunday already.  Lent flew by.  Not much time for anything around here these days.  With spring comes a few new outfits and lots of "new to them" clothing from the basement.  So grateful for open windows, LOTS of outside play, trips to the park, and long walks.

Lots of musical kids in our house.  Jackson plays guitar well and Frances enjoys dancing in her bouncer while he plays.

Kids are healthy, the semester is almost over, lots of exciting changes going on for the summer and the school year next year.  Praising God a lot around here.  Have a blessed Holy Week everyone.

When Lent Hits You Square In The Eye

It has been a winter and a Lent I'm sure I will never forget.  The hardest winter since the 1880's weather wise and the longest, most difficult winter of my life.  But just as God promises - JOY comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

For me joy doesn't mean that all of the problems went away, the past is wrapped up nicely, or the future will be without problems.  For me joy means that I trust that all things work together for good because I trust in God.(Romans 8:28)

So I failed my Facebook fast during Lent but I gained so much more.  I committed to really studying scripture and finding the good in all things even when things looked so dark it was hard to believe there was light.  A few months back at a prayer meeting they were talking about how the Blessed Mother and St. John stayed at the foot of the cross even through the dark clouds, wind, rain, etc.  It would have been terrifying and heartbreaking but they didn't leave.  I'd like to say that I did the same - that I stayed with Jesus all the time even when things were scary and dark.  I didn't.  But HE stayed with me.  

And here we are approaching Holy Week once again.  Our "crown of thorns" still has alot of thorns in it....I have yet to find my Lent books (and probably won't this year).  But the darkness has finally lifted.  The pessimist in me wants to say it's only temporary but I do feel my heart changed.  Our circumstances haven't changed.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths".  So that is my lesson from Lent this year.  Trusting in myself or others will always be a disappointment but if you trust in God you cannot go wrong.

I haven't updated in so long....I registered for my LAST semester of college this week.  I will finish in August.  22 years in the making but better late than never.

Baby Ekblad is a BOY (did I say that yet?).  He will be named Augustine David Michael and is due late September.

Have a blessed Holy Week, Triduum, and Easter.  Remember that God is good all the time...all the time God is good!