Update on Easter week and Divine Mercy Sunday

It's been over a week since I posted anything and for good reasons. We've been crazy busy with school work, celebrating Easter week, bed shopping, doctor visits, the Divine Mercy novena, a women's conference, a visit from Aunt Susan, and a First Communion Mass. What a busy week. Overall, a very blessed week, with a few worst moments of all time thrown in there.

Since Aunt Susan was coming for a visit, we crammed nearly a whole week's worth of school work into two days, but it was worth it so that the kids could spend more time with their aunt. We celebrated Easter week by attending Mass nearly everyday. (The only Mass celebrated on Mondays around here is at noon and about a 30 minute drive away. We were so wiped out from the weekend excitement that it became apparent that Mass was not an option that late in the day.)

While Aunt Susan was in town she watched the kids quite a bit for me. What a blessing that was! I was able to get the oil changed in the van, go grocery shopping ALONE, and shop for a new bed with dear hubby! We found an incredible deal on our bed because we were willing to take the floor model that had only been there about 5 months. It was TemperPedic and we saved over $1,000! All we had to do was wash the cover! Well worth the savings. Aunt Susan also watched the kids while I had my O.B. appointment. The ultrasound is set for Wednesday and the kids are so excited to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. Of course, they are all hoping for a boy, but mostly for a healthy baby.

Saturday, I attended a Women's Conference with some 500 other women. It was refreshing to here some really holy priests and lay women speak. I was encouraged and challenged at the same time. It was a very long day, but well worth it.

I was able to finish the Divine Mercy novena again this year and feel so grace filled and at peace now that it is over. On Divine Mercy Sunday, I was not able to go to a Divine Mercy service because my Faith Formation class made their First Holy Communion that afternoon. What a privilege to know that I had some small part in helping to form their understanding of our Lord in the Eucharist! The kids were very well behaved and did a great job with all the Mass readings and songs.

Unrelated to the First Communion kids, I had some really bad moments when I exchanged words with our priest and the pastoral associate about some liturgical "enhancements" (as they called them) for the Mass. Enough about that, though. But prayer on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks.