{our time in PEI}: the wedding reception...

It was such a lovely, simple reception,

with what I would call warm home elegance.

A beautiful cake.

A thoughtful cake for those GF.

Beautiful flowers.

It was such a lovely time.

And so wonderful to see my dear friend on her 

wedding day as the Bride.

It was all just so fitting 

and to see her family surround her with love,

her community and their love of Christ

and to be near so many who loved Christ,

culture, reading, classics, the Inklings, and all of these

things together.

I was so very glad that I was there for that 

very special day.

Birthday Party for a Dear Friend

After vespers we went to a Greek restaurant

downtown.

I and my birthday-friend both had moussaka.

We split a bottle of red wine made on

Mt. Athos,

bottled in Thessaloniki.

It was a really lovely meal.

I had my place ready and waiting for everyone

(this is actual a feat as my friends

come and help me with my dinner parties

and then we dine together :) ).

The yellow cake with chocolate frosting

was a bit lope-sided as one of the cakes

baked unevenly.

But it tasted great!

Used real butter to make the frosting.

We also had a chai herbal tea

and licorice spice.

Little cookies on my tea tray.

*

A wooden flute, violin and guitar were played.

*

We sang a rousing Happy Birthday with

instruments accompanying it.

It was so lovely to create beauty for my friend.

We can make beauty out of ashes

with God's help

and I was so glad to have this opportunity.

Holiday Monday

Victoria Day.

I had a nice visit with a friend and her boys.

Tomorrow is another day.

Trying to figure out what I may want to apply for

job wise on a part-time basis.

I find having lots of options a bit overwhelming

to choose from.

*

Noah had surgery today;

sounds like it went well but Noah has a lot of pain.

*

Each day is a new day from God

and we must not despair in it

but seek God and be glad;

may God help us navigate our way...

Thoughts and Prayers

I feel incredibly blessed by God

and my blog community.

We must never take anything we have been given lightly.

This is something I am seeing more and more of,

the need for vigilance in all things -

may we all be vigilant in all things,

including our wonderful community.

I have been thinking about a friend I love deeply

who is really struggling right now...

How to be a friend long distance

(I have friends coast-to-coast)

and still be a support.

Of course the biggest support is prayer

and this I must do.

If you could say a prayer today for my friend,

I would treasure this for her.

***

When you have friends far away

what do you do to show your love and support?

***

Thank God we have friends in the Saints,

as Frederica Mathewes-Green writes

about in her book on the Canon to Saint Andrew ...

we are not alone,

God, the Mother of God (our Lord Jesus Christ) and the Saints are with us.

***

I am gearing up for my second final exam

(each of my classes are 6 weeks)

which will be this coming Monday.

I have a lot of work to do yet,

but am feeling hopeful about it.

***

May God give us more deeply in our hearts

the Hope from and in Christ's Resurrection!

Christ is Risen!

Tribute

I wanted to note that I have a most lovely Mom who is indeed the Best Mom for Me. She has been there where I was a child and now that I am adult. When I am happy and when I am in tears; we have learned a lot, both Mom and I. I can honestly say she is one of my closest friends and while still being my Mom, she is also a friend. Mom-friend :)

Also, I have a friend who I talk to every week, usually and I just wanted to say that she and I also have walked through many things together via many phone calls.

I am blessed to have her in my life!

I could go on, but I should de-clutter my home, or something.

Yea vacation!

well. i vacationed all while staying in my city and apartment.

but my friend came (my Cat Cleo's first owner) and she and i had a wonderful time. We browsed through fun bookshops, fancy home stores with all one could dream of for a kitchen, went to IKEA, had high tea, and wonderful meals and times at church and with close friends. we walked by the Parliament buildings and talked.

i love the ordinary days, with sunshine, my church, and everything being normal.

my friend took me shopping, put up my curtains and i put up my lampada that another dear friend of mine had given me for Christmas.

it was so special for me to show her my life, many of the people i love here, my church, those who comprise of my family here, the places i go to and the apartment i live in.

my apartment is almost done! it has taken nearly ten months but i am really getting there! this is the first place i have lived in as a working adult (instead of being a undergraduate and then graduate student).

i am so thankful to God for the many things He has blessed me with!