Anyway, yes, we are now owners of a new Asus laptop. Just very basic (and pretty cost efficient) but does the job. We certainly don't need any bells and whistles around here. Here's to hoping it lasts as long as our last one!
We had a very good Holy Week and a lovely Easter Sunday. Zenith went alone to Holy Thursday as I knew Friday the boys would be missing naps during the service and then Saturday we were going to the Vigil so I didn't want to push it by being out late Thursday night and messing them up even more. I was sad not to go. It's just not the same without it and really mentally prepares you for Holy Week and Easter.
But God knows, and sometimes He asks other things of us as mothers; things like not being able to meditate through the whole rosary because you're making sure a toddler is sitting quietly or feeding a baby, or not paying attention during Mass because you're in and out with a fussy or hungry baby and teaching that same toddler how to behave properly during Mass. But those are the sacrifices God is asking of me now. It's all part of my vocation as a mother and can be beautiful when all done in the light of charity. Sure, I'd love to say prayers before, during or after Mass with no distractions. But offering those distractions and frustrations to God with resignation and love will gain more merit and graces than if I had disregarded my duties as a mother and let my children do whatever they wanted. They need to be taught how to behave so that they can learn how to properly attend Mass and grow in love of Our Lord. It's a beautiful duty, really, and a huge honor. If we as parents don't, who will? We'll be responsible someday for their utter disregard of the Faith if we haven't done what we could to foster it.
Ah, but I digress. Anyway, I was able to do what I could Holy Thursday and read through the missal and sang the chants from it. Good Friday was a bit difficult as Zenith was singing in the schola so juggling the boys was challenging, but we made it. Didn't help that I hadn't eaten much so as my blood sugar dipped, so did my patience and mood. :P
Speaking of Holy Week, here's a clip of William reading through his Easter book. We've been talking about what Holy Week means and what happened to Jesus on the cross. He looks very concerned and when I ask him how to make Jesus feel better, he smiles and blows him a kiss. It's so precious!
Easter Vigil was beautiful as always. It never ceases to amaze me when they bless the fire and light the Pascal candle. I get goosebumps thinking of the significance that the one little light represents; Our Lord is the light of the world, and as that candle leads the procession back into the Church, all being dark except that one light, I was thinking back to the night when all was quiet until at midnight, in what I imagine must have been a flash of light, Our Lord freed His Body from the tomb and rose from the dead. As we sang the Lumen Christi, I thought of Our Lord, conquering death by His Resurrection, having shed light on the whole world through His life, Word, and example. He is the Light and Life, and our only means of salvation. After the sadness we go through in the liturgy of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, remembering and meditating on the Passion and Death of Our Lord, my heart is so lifted at the Vigil by the thought that He has defeated sin, and His love and sacrifice, through the Passion, has conquered all.
William did fantastic despite it starting at 10:30pm and finishing at 1:30am. He was a good boy, and listened pretty well. Marcellus on the other hand...well, I suppose it was after his bedtime so I can't blame him. Once again, Zenith was singing for part of it so it was a little challenging but went better than I thought.
Sunday we went to Mom and Dad's with my two sisters and their families and we had a lovely day. Sun was shining and it was a beautiful Easter. And without further ado, pictures!
We'll start with St. Patrick's day...this little Irishman had green milk (almond milk with honey and green food coloring :P) and loved it! Mom and Dad cam over later and we had a lovely dinner of corned beef, sauerkraut, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and Paleo Irish Soda Bread (made by Mom).
This little leprechaun was just too sleepy to stay awake
Easter Baskets for the boys! Can you guess which is which? :P My sister Jess over at Little Family Blessings has this great tradition (I don't think she's posted this year
s yet, but you can see last year's here) where she puts the empty Easter baskets out on top of her mantle on Holy Saturday and covers them with a purple blanket. On Easter Sunday, the kids find the blanket still there but no Easter baskets under it (to symbolize the empty tomb) and they run to their Daddy to ask where they are, to which he responds with a quote from the bible: "Why do you seek the living among the dead, He is risen!" When they hear the word "risen," it's their cue to go on a hunt to find their baskets. I can't wait to implement that when William is older. I just love all the Catholic symbolism behind it! She turned something secular (with all the Easter bunny stuff) into a beautiful, Catholic tradition!
This year, however, it was just a matter of putting baskets on the table. William doesn't really "get it" yet and I don't have the mental energy (or physical) to be doing a lot of "extras" right now.
He was quite excited regardless!
Easter basket!
He was quite excited about his boots!
Easter Sunday, egg hunt!
Followed by the Resurrection Egg hunt where the kids find the eggs inside and open them in order and have to say what the symbolism inside each egg is. There are different things representing Our Lord's Passion and Resurrection and the kids all did great guessing what symbolized what!
It's time for...
Tractor rides!!
Hanging with Bumpa :)
Daddy's turn
All the cousins hanging out!
My sister Kaite and her family on Easter. Unfortunately I didn't get one of my sister Chrissy and her lovely family. :( I didn't realize they were having their family picture taken outside.
Me and the boys...I just love my little guys!
Well that about sums up our Easter. I hope you all have a lovely Easter week. It's currently rainy and cool here but I guess there would be to May flowers without April showers. :)
Just a couple more videos.
I have more videos of Marcellus but I think they're on Zenith's phone so I'll try to post them soon.
Happy Easter!
~From the Family
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