Usually it is Israel’s job to carve the butter lamb. But as he was in school, the girls inherited the job.Easter basket to be blessed. Bread, butter, lamb, sausage, sweets, wine, eggs, cheese, and salt. See the blessing on my Instagram. Preparing this basket each Holy Week is a special tradition. The kids and I take this quite seriously.Easter Morning
We had such a special Holy Week and Easter. The traditions and extra liturgies in the Maronite Rite are so lifegiving and deep and awe-inspiring. The wonder of Easter and the mystery of the Hidden One just sort of soaks into your very marrow. This is our second Easter in the Maronite Church and we are so grateful to be there.
We had friends come to stay, who delighted the children and me. Our feasts are truly abundant in the presence of so much love and laughter.We made all the foods. All of them. And then shared them on Bright Monday with more friends. There were fires and drinks and clove cigarettes and games of frisbee and an unexpected snow, which was a good excuse to have the wood cook stove going, while we read Camus and Rilke, sharing tears and laughter both.I was blessed to do some hiking in glorious Arizona with my son and some friendsIt’s not every day you get to sit in a lava flow.Humphrey’s Peak
On October 15, my dear friend Father Patrick came to my house, sat at my bedside, heard my Confession. He anointed me with the old Latin Rite. I received Communion. I was gravely ill.
Six months to the day of receiving Extreme Unction, on April 15, I stood at 12,400 feet. It was my highest climb to date. God is good. You cannot exaggerate his goodness, no matter how hard you try.
Kaiser Hot SpringsMusical Instrument MuseumByzantine Cathedral, PhoenixLight all the candles. Pray all the prayers.St. Sharbel, ora pro nobis First class relic of St. John the Baptist Just ran into Amanda Vernon and Father Matt Fase on the side of a mountain, because why not? God likes to do strange and unexpected things to delight us.Spotted some Missionaries of Charity and we are super fansIn case you blinked, the daffodils are reminding us it is spring
“in time of daffodils (who know the goal of living is to grow) forgetting why, remember how.
in time of lilacs who proclaim the aim of waking is to dream, remember so (forgetting seem)
in time of roses (who amaze our now and here with paradise) forgetting if, remember yes
in time of all sweet things beyond whatever mind may comprehend, remember seek (forgetting find)
and in a mystery to be (when time from time shall set us free) forgetting me, remember me.”
reconciling things 