Easter Season

Happy Easter!

It has been quite sometime since my last blog entry. Initially postpartum blues keeping me from blogging, then came Easter and travelling. Thankfully I am out of my "funk" and Easter has brought about renewal and refreshment. We spent Easter weekend in Charlottesville going to the sunrise liturgy, dying eggs for the first time, and a great dinner with our first attempt at lamb. It will be a repeat performance in the future.
Later in the week, Ella and I headed down to Georgia to spend some time with friends as well as attend the Lifeteen Women's Retreat. It was Ella's first airplane ride and she did beautifully round trip. The long weekend was filled with an abundance of blessings and God showed His love through and through. Our first stop was in Athens. Ella and I had the best time visiting with the Bouceks, Harveys and Harrells. It felt like we never left home!

People watching in ATL

Boss and Ella modeling Petey Pie's

Though I attended the retreat alone this year, Ella made lots of friends for me. If I wasn't nursing her, she was in another person's arms. My friend Dan said I was the equivalent of a man in a park with a puppy. It was great to have spiritual renewal and catch up with friends. The other great thing I love about the retreat is learning from the other women, especially those whose husbands are ministers in the Catholic church. The hilarious part was the husbands who texted or left messages for the wives throughout the weekend keeping them abreast of the situations back at home. I will tell you that most of the women have an average of 4-5 kids. Good fertile Catholics, poor husbands. My husband was a champ and smart, for he knows to call in for reinforcements when needed. I was glad to hear that Jujube and Cazin were well behaved while I was away.

Covecrest Camp in Tiger, GA

Ella and Shamaymay (Darla Hickman)

Ella and her favorite Catholic singer/songwriter, Audrey Assad

Sunday we made it safely home exhausted, but happy to be reunited with the family. Lola and Auntie Nida came to watch the kids on Sunday while Mike had to leave for a trip. The house was clean, laundry folded and lots of sweet treats left on the counter. Thank you Lola and Auntie Nida! It was certainly great to come home to that! My happiness will be complete when Mike returns on Wednesday. I haven't seen him in almost a week and we all miss him dearly.

I hope this Easter Season continues to bring fulfillment and new life into your home!