Well, as my husband was so gracious to inform everyone, I had a birthday last week. I apologize for not posting my usual photo-filled entry detailing our family festivities – but my my entire day was very low-key, which is just how I like it. I relaxed. My children took care of me. I took a birthday nap. We had a little supper at El Pollo Loco before going to mass for Holy Thursday. My wonderful part-birthday/part-insurance-replacement present arrived via Fed-Ex on Friday:
And of course the first thing I did was make a nice big batch of peanut butter.
Easter weekend was completely centered around worship. Friday afternoon we participated in the Good Friday mass, a moving commemoration of our crucified Lord. Saturday morning I picked up my candidate, Malinda, and brought her to the church for her final RCIA retreat. I’ve been with her at every class, but this last step of her journey I knew she needed to take on her own. After dropping her off, I picked up my girls and we did a little last minute shopping. Going vintage always pays off, and our trip to Value Village was a success – found a dressy blouse for myself, a brand new dress shirt for Jacob, a nearly-new pair of white pumps for Geneva and a pair of brand new extra high red knee socks for whichever girl wanted them (can’t recall) – for about $13.
After that, a little Easter dinner shopping at Wal-mart, and then home to drop off the girls, then go pick up Malinda. I remembered well my experience from last year, and was eager to hear about her time of final preparation. I am so very proud of her for the perseverance she has shown throughout this year, her determination in the face of opposition, the hard choices she has made, and so thankful for the evidence of the Holy Spirit in her as I’ve watched her grow spiritually. She’s come a long, long way from her juvenile delinquent days! What a blessing and honor to sponsor this lovely young woman as she came into the church!
Easter Vigil was rich and beautiful and filled with light and music, scripture and new life, with 28 baptisms and over 50 receiving the sacraments of confirmation and holy communion. I managed to get two photos, one Saturday night, of our friends the Jezeks at the reception following the vigil:
and this one on Easter Sunday morning, Malinda with little Jr. by the baptismal font and Paschal candle, showing some of the gorgeous floral arrangements decorating the altar:
Sunday morning came bright and early for everyone who attended the 5:30 sunrise mass (especially after attending the vigil the night before!). Mother and I slept in since we were singing at 9am, and the rest of the family came joyfully bounding in the door just before we were ready to leave. I left Laurent in charge of final preparations for lunch, and mother and I left, picking up Malinda and Jr. on the way. What a glorious Easter morning – complete with trumpet fanfares, along with violin and organ, and of course the pomp of a pontifical mass including the stately Knights of Columbus processing ahead of the Bishop, and oh! the Alleluia and the Gloria ringing out again after the solemnity of the Lenten season, celebrating our risen Christ!! So much joy!!
After our exultant morning of worship, it was back to Casa del Heidmann for a festive Easter Bar-b-que. And this time there were pics! 🙂
