March 23, 2008
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Happy Easter, my friends!
I hope you've all had an uplifting Easter, and have had a chance to really reflect on and rejoice in the Resurrection.As always, especially since my return to the Catholic faith, Lent and Holy Week have been very meaningful to me. And this year's observations have been doubly special for me, because my husband has joined me at Mass. He's been going to church with me faithfully since the beginning of Advent, and seems to be growing in his appreciation for the Catholic way of worship.
We went together to Holy Thursday Mass, and I told him he really got a dose of Roman Catholicism at its finest, with the priest washing the feet of some of the men in the church, and incense (I LOVE incense--- just smelling it makes me feel a sense of joy!), and even a hymn in Latin!
Then the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion and Veneration of the Cross was very solemn, touching service...I was in tears by the time we left the church in silence, with the tabernacle doors open to signify Christ's absence in death.
Doyle wasn't able to go to Easter mass today, because he woke up with a sick migraine, but I knew he was with me in spirit as we rejoiced in the Resurrection.
It's been a fun weekend as well as a spiritually meaningful one. Yesterday afternoon, we drove over to my dear friend ozarksfarmgirl's place in Ozark County, Missouri, for a fish fry with her family and some close neighbors in their adorably rustic "party barn" on their farm. It's always so much fun, and such an encouragement to my spirit, to be with Janet and her family, and to be able to enjoy the antics of her CUTE grandchildren.
Then today, Doyle's mom Ruby and my son Jamie joined us at our house after church for a traditional Easter dinner. I tried my hand at a new recipe that I've always wanted to try - homemade strawberry shortcake, with the cake the crumbly sweet biscuits that I think is the traditional kind of shortcake...like big biscuits with a little sugar added, and made with real butter instead of shortening. They were a hit!
Now I've got a big pot of bean and ham soup on the stove, and Mississippi cornbread baking in the oven...wish y'all could all come over for supper!
What's new with y'all, my friends?
Comments (5)
Celia, Mema is out of the hospital. Thank you for your prayers~
That is the ONLY way to make strawberry shortcake! Sounds like your shortcake recipe is very much like--or identical to--the scones I make so often to accompany a morning or afternoon cup of tea.
I'm not Catholic, but I've never visited a Catholic church without feeling that same awareness of the Holy Almighty. It always brings me to tears, too--tears of joy and thanksgiving and simply the awed knowledge that I AM in the presence of God.
I wish I'd been with you at Janet's farm! I would LOVE to visit her and her family; I already feel as though I've always known them. What a great place to visit on Easter Sunday!
I sure hope Doyle's headache is better by now. I've had a bit of one, too, but I think it was just too much excitement! Your shortcake sounds so yummy....and I, too, was thinking of scones as I read your description of them....which I just ADORE with tea and marmalade....oh, my! I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your driving all the way over here to be with us and to bring your touch of the South with you. We all just plain loved having you and look forward to the next time we can get together. HOpe you have a good week in every way. Love you!
I'd love to come over for soup and cornbread:) And to just sit and visit with you! So happy you had a nice Easter and I hope Doyle's headache didn't last long. I get those sick headaches once in a while, so I understand. Love you lots, Gerrie
Okay, listen... in the new world that awaits us, I expect to get caught up on all this good cooking that I'm missing because of stupid geography. And I've got to agree, sweet biscuit shortcake is the best, with fresh strawberries in a bowl with milk over it -- that's the PA Dutch way to do it.
I'm so glad for you that your particular expression of faith is so meaningful. That's the way it's supposed to work. Sadly, too often our styles of worship are just not involving enough.