It's Not Just April Fools

 While everyone is all about pranking each other today, I'm thinking of my grandma on her birthday and it's no joke that I miss her terribly.  Growing up she was indeed my second mother and best friend, or "best buddies" as she would say.  I am not sure if I've shared these pictures on the blog before but the first one was of her holding me, the second is of us when I was in my twenties, and the other was the last time I had seen her and the only time she saw my son.  

She had left Long Island and moved to Pennsylvania with my grandpa before we made the move.  We made the move because of them.  My grandfather died first, before my son was born.  After her cancer diagnosis, my grandma moved in with my aunt in Connecticut for awhile and then spent the end of her life back on Long Island with my other aunt.  I didn't get to say goodbye.  I knew her time was coming and the phone call from my dad that she had passed was not a shock.  

In my childhood she was my rock.  She was the one I went to for advice and we always hung out together.  I wish she lived long enough to have met both of my children and they would have had a chance to know her.  She was the kind of person who would tell you exactly how she felt, even if it hurt, but she could get away with it.  She also gave the best hugs.  I miss her.  I miss her so much.  

Holy Week

 It truly feels as though we were celebrating Christmas yesterday and here we are preparing for Easter.  

My daffodils are in full bloom and it makes me happy to see.  

And so are the two trees that stand in front of my house on each end of the driveway.  I'm not sure what kind of tree it is because they were already there when we moved in but I just love the white flowers.  

My son purchased the entire Left Behind series and I decided to join him.  These books have been out for years and I did read Left Behind a long time ago.  I finished that one and almost finished with this one, Tribulation Force.  I think my son is working on book 5 so I need to catch up.  It's a fictional story but it does give a lot of Biblical information and insight on what will happen during and after the Rapture.  It's very interesting and well done.  

Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we went to Sunday School, regular service and the evening service.  Our pastor talked about what Palm Sunday was but unfortunately our church doesn't hand out palms.  That was one thing I looked forward to getting at church when I was growing up and my mother taught me how to turn them into crosses.  Fun memories.  

The house is decorated for Easter.  There are plenty of bunnies to be found around here but we do celebrate the one, true reason for the season.  Jesus!  We will be going to a special service on Thursday, then a sunrise service on Sunday and then back again for a breakfast and Resurrection service.  My kids will be playing in the orchestra.  I'm excited for it.  I just hope the rain holds off for the sunrise service.

I can't believe how quickly March has passed through.  There's only a few days left and then it's April.  How does time move so fast?  As a child I remember it feeling like it was dragging on forever but now, even my children notice how time zooms by.  

I started the day with the usual housework and it's always the same - laundry, unloading the dishwasher, straightening up the mess from the weekend and so on.  I need to plan the meals for the week; which seems to be a difficult task.  With a husband who has a diet restriction and two kids who are picky, meal planning has it's limits and it can be frustrating.  I love cooking but I do not like trying to figure out what to make.  I need to do better.  My husband always tells me I need to take time for myself, and what he means is time for me to exercise.  I've been lacking in that area lately.  Now that the weather is finally getting nicer I will start getting my butt outside for walks.  The treadmill is alright but it does get boring.  I'll usually do that while listening to the Bible app or a podcast and that helps.  

Well, friends, happy Monday and Happy Holy Week!  

Hello SPRING!

 

We did it, everyone!  We got through winter.  To see the sun shining and the birds chirping makes me happy, happy, happy.  I do love all of the holidays and events that fall brings but spring is my favorite season.  The snow has melted, my daffodils are starting to bloom, and I can feel that winter depression leave my body.  

Spring is a time where new life blossoms and I'm ready for it!

I was going to do a 5 for Friday listing 5 things about my winter but, honestly, I just want to quickly put that season behind me.

Not because it was terrible, it wasn't, but because I'm ready to embrace this new season.  Did I get through all of the things I said I was going to do this winter?  No, not all.  And that's okay.  

Even my made-for-winter Siberian Husky is excited for spring.  

She was having a blast running through the yard this morning.  

So, what is on the agenda for spring?  Today Rita's is giving away free Italian ice so when everyone is home from school and work we'll be getting one.  It's our yearly tradition.  Track season has started and yesterday was their first meet.  Both of my kids did great.  

Of course, it's time for spring cleaning and I can't wait to get all of the winter dirt, dust and germs out of this house.  I tried keeping up with it the best that I can but there's just something about a good deep cleaning in spring that just feels appropriate.  The end of the season will be a high school graduation for our boy and I'm not ready for that at all so I'm trying not to think of it too much right now.  

Oh, spring, I'm just so happy you're here!  

St. Patrick's Day Traditions

 Growing up my mother always made corned beef and cabbage every year for St. Patrick's Day.  It was a tradition that I enjoyed.  Unfortunately for me, my husband does not like corned beef and cabbage and I'm sure my kids wouldn't eat it so that's a dish I haven't had in many years.  My husband introduced me to an Irish dish called 'bangers and mash' which is sausage and mashed potatoes.  Instead of mashed potatoes I will just use diced up potatoes and mix it in with the sausage.  This year I found a recipe for cheesy kielbasa and potatoes on Pinterest.  Not quite Irish, but a similar concept.  Did you know in Ireland they do not eat corned beef and cabbage?  That is an American meal.  In Ireland they eat stew for St. Patrick's Day.  Others here in America will opt out of corned beef and cabbage and make a Sheppard's pie (which I also love but my kids do not).  I do not have pictures of the meal because, well, I'm not a good blogger in that way.  

When the kids were little the leprechaun would sneak into the house early in the morning and mess everything up but he would leave behind a bowl of Lucky Charms, some Skittles and gold chocolate coins.  This year, even though the kids have outgrown all of those silly traditions I still set out some gold chocolate coins and Skittles.  They know it's me but I still blame it on the leprechaun.  

I do decorate the house for the occasion.  Why not?

Yesterday was a busy day.  I had my usual school van run in the morning and then picked my daughter up for school to take her to the orthodontist.  After a few years of braces she finally got them removed and has now moved onto retainers.  She insisted on stopping at McDonalds for a Shamrock Shake so I did oblige and got her one before returning back to school.  I was home just in time to leave for my afternoon van run.  Then to the grocery store and then home to make dinner.  The recipe lied when it said it would be done in a half hour.  Potatoes take much longer to cook.  My husband had to leave for the school board meeting and I spent the rest of the evening with the kids.  Oh, it was only fair that I took my son out to McD's so he could get a Shamrock Shake too.  We are not McDonald's people but they asked to get this celebratory shake.  I didn't get one.  I regret some of my more recent choices of junk food and grew mad at myself last time I stepped on the scale.  So, I'm trying to do better.  

This will be my last post in winter.  Hurray!  We are two days away from spring.  This weather has been back and forth crazy.  Last week we were enjoying sunshine and 80 degrees.  Today it's cloudy and 30's.  My daffodils are trying to wake up but I know they are probably now regretting that decision.  

It's time to put away the St. Patrick's Day decor and bring out all of the Easter stuff.  I cannot wait for you spring!!