At Long Last Daybook

In the great outdoors...

...tulips! The sun came out in February, the crocuses came up, and then it snowed. Then the sun came out  in March, and the daffodils came up, and then it snowed. I had hope for the tulips and in April we have tulips! These are my favorite -- purple tulips just in time for the end of Lent. 

I'm thinking about...

...at long last -- at long, long last -- I feel our period of adversity, is possibly ending (knock wood), or at least easing to a point at which we can breathe. And the timing is not lost on me as we started Lent last year in this state and we end our Lent this year in a new state.

The last time I blogged I was starting a new job in retail. Life was crazy, my friends, working retail, at all hours of the day and night, and my home life suffered. The manager was scheduling me to close 3-4 days a week (that's 5 to 9:30 or 10 p.m.) and that was hard being away from my family, leaving dinner for them to eat without me, Faith needing help with homework, but me not able to receive most texts in the mall, much lest help with homework remotely (not to mention getting up at six and working that late, and being on my feet for an entire shift).

I had just decided to quit, and then second-guessed myself and decided to stay, but not as a lead sales associate, just one day every other week, in case I needed to ask for more hours. Within a week, a paralegal who works in the office across the hall from where my mom works popped her head in the door to say they were looking for an administrative assistant and to ask if my mom knew anyone "just like her." She told them my situation, they called, I interviewed last Tuesday, and I started Monday (which, considering today's news -- again, thank the Lord!). I work four days a week from 8:30 to 3, so I leave after Faith leaves and I'm home before she comes home. I get off in time to pick her up if I need to, and when our grandbaby comes, I will go down to three days a week so I can keep baby two days a week as we already planned. There are two attorneys and a paralegal, all women, all incredibly kind and very flexible. I feel so grateful to have landed in a soft place, after a very bumpy ride.

Doug has another client now -- another church doing a campaign restoration -- and he is busy every day. And so, though life is nothing like it was before last February, it's looking up incredibly. 

I am amazed at the changes we've made in a year. We went from comfortably homeschooling one child, one at home in college, one married, one doing well on his own, to being unemployed, unsure of anything, and fearing the future. I can see God's hand in what we've gone through, but, of course, will never know why until the veil is lifted. Doug started going to weekly adoration and became a daily Communicant. I responded to a request to be a regular lector at our parish. Would our lives have taken the same path had we not made the choices we did to rely on him completely? I doubt it. Only God knows. And now a grandson on the way and our two children moving in with us so we can enjoy him so much more.

I am reading....

...The World's First Love: Mary the Mother of God by Archbishop Fulton Sheen

I am creating...

...a baby blanket, what else?

In the kitchen...

...we had Balsamic Browned Butter Tortellini and Asparagus Spears for dinner. The tortellini for the crown of thorns, the vinegar for the vinegar-soaked sponge given in Our Lord's response to "I thirst," and the asparagus spears for the spear that pierced His side after death. A simple, but potentially symbolic meal.

Around the house...

...playing catch-up to get ready for Easter. Low expectations this year!

Plans for the rest of the week...

...Good Friday service, the Easter Vigil (pray for me -- I have two readings), and Easter morning Mass.

A few of my favorite things...

...Holy Week

...my view from my new desk -- no windows but a fish tank with Dori and Nemo.

Prayers sent heavenward...

...for my husband and children, to do God's will every day

...for my prayer warriors -- you know who you are and I am so grateful for you. You helped bring us through this past year and I will never forget the gift of your prayers!

...for my new job and wonderful trusting (and Catholic) employers

...for that sweet little grand baby

...for all priests and religious

...all babies whose mothers are contemplating abortion, for a change of heart

...for friends who have asked for prayers