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! 

Two blankets, a sock, scarf, hat for this year's Bright Week Yarn Along

Making progress on the baby square blanket.

This blanket lives in this wonderful 

drawstring bag that Wanda makes!

 

Did a little work on my baby hat but

will need some guidance...

finished the little doll blanket

that was a practice run for me late last Spring...

My sock for Mr. Husband.

I forgot how/to join in the round and did a few 

rows all on one needle, as you can see above.

But I am feeling more like I can do this,

in time... but most likely I will just 

frog and have my instructor begin it for me again

and walk me through it all...

I don't think I can do this until after I move as I will have

to devote some real time and concentration

so that I don't forget what I am doing! :)

Excited to keep trying though! :)

The Lovie blanket is over half way now!

Am on the decrease! 

Ravelry here. 

Books I read before bed...

Orthodox Study Bible,

the Bible and Fathers for Orthodox 

which has the readings for the day,

and I just last night finished my very beloved

With Elder Porphyrios: A spiritual child remembers

which was such a life-giving book

that I am sure to revisit and that

I can't say enough about:

one of my top reads for this year, without doubt.

Written with such sensitivity and 

with a way that brings us in and gives us great hope

for ourselves in Christ.

*

We've been having a beautiful Bright Week!

Perhaps this week is known in the 

West as Easter Week or Eastertide...

here's our Bright Monday table:

Easter (we use word Pascha, which is where

the term Paschal season comes from)...  

Christ is Risen!!!

Truly He is Risen!

*

Our table is spread!

The Feasting has begun!

*

What has your week been like?

What are you reading and making?

Do yarn along with us!

Bright Wednesday

Another way I decorated for the
Bright Season
is using this lovely table runner that
Mr. Husband's Grandmother made.
So lovely and festive! 

I put out the icon of
St. Nicholas, Raphael and Irene
on display as well as
they are commemorated on Bright Tuesday.
See here for a wonderful story of how
a young teenage boy was saved by them
after being severely injured on a motorbike accident.
My small icon of them is from the
Greek monastery Mr. Husband and I love in
Quebec. 

So glad for this beautiful embroidery from
Mr. Husband's Grandmother;
having things passed down to us is such a special thing.

We got this lovely Pascha card!

Mr. Husband stayed home today ~
there was a flash flood warning for this part of NJ earlier this AM;
sadly Mr. Husband woke up with a sinus cold
and we are drinking lots of water, teas and I made
chicken soup for lunch.

 

It was the easiest soup I've made
as I had been given the chicken broth by a
caring friend from church,
had the rice made already
and the chicken I cut up from the nice
meal Mr. Husband and I had at restaurant on
Bright Monday.
*
I am still really tired and am trying to rest up.
A dear friend sent me an email about when she had mono
and that it took time to get better
and reminded me to keep pacing myself and rest.
*
Pascha was such a wonderful time.
I miss it already!
Yet it is still bright week and that is so wonderful!
This blog has had so many wonderful
posts for Bright Week.
*
I am loving that we get to sing
Christ is Risen
for our prayers this week!

Bright Week ~ Bright Baby Blanket and Everyday Saints

Christ is Risen!
Mr. Husband and I are loving Bright Week
after our Easter (Pascha) Day!
*
During Holy Week and Pascha 
I've been working on this
cute baby blanket ~ for a girl this time.

I am calling it my
Easter Baby Blanket
as it was started during Holy Week.
*
Mr. Husband got me this book for my Pascha present!
Everyday Saints and Other Stories 

 

It won a prodigious literary award in Russia.
Many of my friends have read it and LOVE it!
It is very readable, humorous and gives such light and
hope to one as one reads...
I can understand why so many of my friends said
they could not put it down
and were sad when they were finished reading it.
It's a wonderful Easter gift!
*
Mr. Husband and I are reading it out loud to each other,
bit by bit.
I am also reading it separately as I love it that much!
*
What are you creating and reading?
Yarn along with us!