Holy Week

We took a break from school for the whole week.  It was wonderful!  It gave us time to relax and just enjoy each other.  We worked around the house to prepare for company, and we readied the chicken coop. 

Holy Thursday:  Feast of the Last Supper – Mass at 7pm.  Dash served and did such a nice job. 

Upon returning home, we learned that our good friend, Ryan Mayer, had died at about 4pm that day.  He’d been battling a second round of brain cancer since November.  While we knew his health had been failing, we had hoped and prayed for a miracle.

Eric and I stayed up to wait for my mom’s arrival … she was bringing the laying hens.  Dash and Angelina wanted to stay up, too, but we convinced them to go to sleep until my mom arrived.  We’d wake them up.  Grandma Golden Acres didn’t get to the farm until 11:15pm; Dash got up and while Angelina got up, too, she quickly realized she’d be better off staying in bed!  Smart girl.  Eric, Dash and my mom transferred the chickens to their new home.  They came back to the house and we all went to bed!

Good Friday:  Church service at 3pm.  Dash was able to serve again today.  I was in the cry room for quite some time with Louis.  Dash got a bloody nose right after Veneration of the Cross… I was just about to leave for the cry room when I saw him turn around and head to the back of the church.  Fr. motioned toward Eric or I to follow him out.  Thankfully the flow stopped quickly and he could return to his duties after distribution of the Eucharist. 

My SIL, Laura, and her two children arrived just before supper.  The kids were ready to play and burn off some energy.

Tonight we learned that Ryan’s funeral would be on Monday.  My mom offered to stay and watch the oldest four kids on Monday.  Ryan’s widow, Lori, asked Eric to read at the prayer service/wake on Sunday evening.

Holy Saturday: 
After breakfast, Eric took all the kids out to see the rabbits and chickens.  All were dressed in rubber boots … sorry no pics, but it was cute!

My brother Pat and his wife Anna arrived at 2pm.  The weather was wonderfully warm and mild, so the kids went outside and convinced Pat & Anna to join them in seeing the animals once again.

Egg-dying was lead by Pat & Anna … 19 eggs were colored and I believe the kids would have done at 5 times that many if the eggs had been available!

My dad and brothers Doug and Eric planned to arrive LATE – around 11pm.  Does this seem like a pattern with my family??  Always trying to make the days longer, it seems!

To pass the time, the rest of us who stayed up played Catan.  Pat, Anna and my mom hadn’t played before, but the game was enjoyed by all.  Anna, first time player, claimed bragging rights by winning.

The guys arrived and we all visited during the last minutes of game playing.  Then, it was off to bed by midnight for all.

Some year, Eric and I would like to attend the Easter Vigil again.  It’s been a number of years since we’ve gone to the Vigil.  Maybe next year.