Bright Monday night, Bright Tuesday and Bright Wednesday

Bright Monday at night we went

to a fun Prix Fixe dinner and 

then went to the organic health food store where

we stock up on our favourite 'were sick juice' and other things.

***

Bright Tuesday was a busy day,

cleaning, laundry, putting things away.

We had a 'Walton's date' at night.

When I watch wholesome shows like this one,

my heart is lighter and untroubled.

It's like truth shining forth proclaiming itself in all goodness.

***

Holy Wednesday Mr. Husband was home.

I still have a cold/cough and at times not much voice,

so I ended up taking not 1 but 2 naps and having a lot of rest.

We had wonderful festive leftovers (from takeout the day before) for dinner.

We find the portions that restaurants here give us are quite large;

we figured out that what we had was enough for 5 meals, so the price becomes

quite reasonable for such a treat.

We watched about 20 minutes of another Walton's episode too!

***

I found myself yesterday pondering the following question...

 What if the time you are in right now is one of the happiest you will know in your life,

but you think it is just a normal or good day of your normal life? 

Or perhaps today or this time is the happiest you will know before Heaven,

though perhaps you knew happier in the past.

What would you do differently? Would you see it for the wonder it is? Will your heart

fill with thanksgiving for the day, the moment at hand?

***

I also find myself remember Elizabeth Goudge's writings on how you 

can have a peaceful inward fortress even in the most dire, even the most dirty,

circumstances.... Happiness or peace is not dependent on outward circumstances...

***

Today is the earlier hours of Bright Thursday.

I find myself listening to this again and again:

This glorious song came out the last Pascha I knew

before learning and meeting the man who would become my Husband. 

That Pascha was really special.

I remember being so excited to be dressed in Paschal white,

doing my hair, make up, I had a real sense of meeting Christ in Pascha,

that we were going to the wedding itself, after meeting the Bridegroom

on Friday night in His tomb.

I had some stupid thoughts that I remember going to confession for that Holy Friday night,

I think it prepared me for the blessing of the real sense of going to meet Christ,

of going to the Eternal Pascha, the joyous wedding that will not end. 

A friend later said that she thought I looked like a Bride that Pascha.

By the next Pascha, I was with my almost-finance Mr. Husband...

we got engaged that Pascha afternoon, a beautiful sunny Pascha... 

and went to the Greek Monastery the next day, Bright Monday.

and got our wedding crowns... it was so wonderful, so beautiful, so joyful.

We were excited as young kids, jubilant and joyous,

as if we were flung into a the most beautiful meadow and all was full of rejoicing....

***

I know now that some Paschas are harder,

like last year, when we were 24 hours into grieving for Mr Husband's 

suddenly departed adult godson.

***

This Pascha had a lot of joy, but also felt marred with a certain sense of

irrevocable sadness at times.

That some of the early happiness at Paschas may not happen again...

at the same time, I sense that perhaps the sadness is that which still needs

to be healed within me, but that it takes time.

***

This is another of my favourite Pascha songs....
I am so thankful for such beauty and truth in our lives!

***

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! 

Bright Monday ~ A Funeral in Christ's Brightness

Mr. Husband's Godson's funeral today 

on Bright Monday

was a very beautiful Paschal service.

I think we all felt a measure of healing

and of how wonderful it is to sing 

Christ is Risen!

so many times during the funeral.

It was like having a Pascha service (without the liturgy)

all over again and it was beautiful.

*

I am sure that the loss will take more time

to sink in as it were

and I can't tell you how much

each comment, email and text from my

family and friends - including many who

are in my 'blog friend family'.

*

Thank you from my heart.

*

Please continue to keep us all in your prayers,

they are needed.

Bright Monday Meal and Walk on a Beautiful Sunny Evening

Mr. Husband and I went to a nice

restaurant in our small town for 

Bright Monday dinner.

*

Bright Monday Mr. Husband had off from work 

and we rested, did housing paperwork things...

I did a grocery run to get Paschal things for later

(including a junior's cheesecake, ice cream and 

a pizza crust and toppings for a later dinner).

We enjoyed our butter!

On our honeymoon a waiter commented to us:

everything is better with butter

and this has become part of our family,

as we build traditions, tell stories and remember. 

We enjoyed this restaurant many times,

though they are slowly changing things in ways

we are not as happy with...

but still, many festive meals there and

it will not be a place we go to as much

once we move in a month's time.

So it was a meal we savoured.

Mr. Husband got the salad with goat cheese,

tomato, endive, plump golden raisins and a 

sweet vinaigrette. 

I had the Polenta with Red Pepper Coulis,

Fresh Basil and Three Cheese Sauce;

warm, savory and delightful! 

Chicken with wilted greens, potato and natural jus.

Key Lime Pie for dessert.

Lots of good memories in this place.

As we were engaged two years ago on Pascha,

we were also celebrating this anniversary. 

 We walked home a different way and 

enjoyed seeing the beauty of the small town we are leaving.

I will really miss all the beauty.

Where we are moving to is good,

but not the same.

I really appreciated Mr. Husband saying that

even though we are gaining more than losing

in this move, there is always loss with change.

Just acknowledging this was helpful for me.

We hope to close in just under 2 weeks time.

I know it will help to see the condo we are moving to,

as it will revitalize my excitement and joy

in moving to our new home.

I am glad we have time to enjoy the Bright Week 

and have a little more special before this

place is packed up for the move.

God is so merciful to us.

The paschal coffee table! 

Gorgeous linen cloth from a dear friend for Christmas,

who once we move I will be in walking distance to!

Coasters from a dear Ottawa friend.

Eggs I got last year from here.

Pear candles and tray are wedding gifts...

I am getting done slowly with this wonderful book

on Elder Saint Porphyrios.

It is so deeply life-giving.....

As far as I ever got on Mr. Husband's sock.

I need different needles; these size one are too

short and I want longer.

Any suggestions?

I got three GK Chesterton books for Mr. Husband

for Pascha.

The high light is his book,

the everlasting man.

Christ is Risen! Joyous Pascha!

Christ is Risen!
The world rejoices!
Christ is Risen!
Death is not our captor!
Christ is Risen!
Nothing, no NOTHING, can separate us from Christ's love!
Christ is Risen!
In Holy Pascha we are never alone but all together!
Christ is Risen!
We have the hope of Christ's mercy and a heavenly home!
Christ is Risen!
We have His words of promise of the land where no sorrow is!
Christ is Risen!
All evil is defeated!
Christ is Risen!
Our hearts rejoice!

We had a beautiful first Pascha as a married couple!

Mr. Husband's basket has the Doritos :)
Dutch cheese, the Pascha bread and cheese,
A red and white Rushnyk
from my Ukrainian family for our Pascha basket.  

Wonderfully died eggs!

Our hope of eternal life with Christ!
Oh, how wonderful heaven is!
Pascha is a day outside of days!
Heaven comes to join us on this most
Holy Day!

Our true and sure hope
is in Christ and
His Resurrection!

Blessed St. George's Day today!
Bright and Holy Monday!

We had a beautiful Pascha day!
Mr. Husband and I wore traditional
white embroidered shirts
for Pascha day at Agape vespers...
The shirts were a beautiful wedding gift to us
from one of my dear friends from my
parish in Ottawa.

Wooden Pascha Ukrainian Pansky eggs.
*
I put the Pascha Rushnyk on the
table with white table cloth for Pascha.

This egg is real and a gift from
the Matriarch of my Ottawa Parish a few
Paschas ago;
it is one of my beloved treasures,
esp. as it is from this family.
I made the Pascha icon a few Pascha's ago
and it was blessed by my Ottawa spiritual father.

Icons of Christ's Resurrection
and the icon of Bright Friday
and Paschal festal clear lampadas for the feast!

 

The tall candles in the candle holders were
a thoughtful Christmas gift
from a new and dear church friend here in NJ!
I knew right away I would save them for Pascha.
We were given the bread and cheese Pascha from
a caring parishioner here in NJ.

It was such a joy to make a simple
Pascha meal and table for
Mr. Husband and I last night!
*
We stayed in a hotel suite from Holy Wednesday-Pascha
so we did not have to make long car trips daily.
I made it to Pascha by God's mercy.
*
I am tired,
have either allergies or a cold
and am thankful that it is Bright Monday and
that Mr. Husband and I can rest in the joyous light of
Christ's Pascha!
*
Of course I missed my Ottawa Parish ~
but I was able to pray for many in the Parish on
Pascha and that was a real blessing.
And I am thankful for a joyous Pascha with Mr. Husband!
Our first as a married couple!
A year ago Pascha we were engaged to be married
and now we are here,
almost 7 months as newlyweds!
*
Christ is Risen!
Truly He is Risen!!!