On The Mend

If there's one thing I've learned after attending two funerals in two days,  there's no quick way to mend a broken heart.

Yesterday, in my uncle's case, there was no spouse left to mourn – only his daughter and her family, plus the friends and relatives. Today, it was a dear friend's father, who leaves a wife of just shy of 60 years, 3 daughters and their families.

Whether you were close to the person who died or just really close to a family member, you feel the pain. You feel like your heart is breaking just a bit, too, and leaking out some tears.

Yesterday I cried hearing some beautiful songs, nice tributes to my Uncle Allan and a slide show that included photos of my Aunt Betty, who I miss dearly and loved to pieces! Today, I couldn't hold back the tears as I read messages "to grandpa" from my friend Luann's kids and their cousins. I know these kids. I know their heartbreak. So incredibly sad to read about their joy of having a short lifetime with Grandpa and their sorrow at never getting another day with him again.

After the service, when I saw my friend's father-in-law, who I am quite close to, I gave him a big hug and said, "Love you, Dad!" I call him that since, well, sometimes friends are family. I said, "Please stay around for awhile." Then he looked around in the church and I clarified, "Not here, but around for many, many years. I can't lose you yet!"

Uff da.

I guess the risk of loving people is that they may break your heart some day. But God has put so many special people in my life, how could I not take that risk and love them?

The good thing is that I can share with others that He does provide some healing powers. We can't completely mend our broken hearts, but the pain does lessen enough we eventually can smile more than cry at the memories.

My prayers and hugs go out to all who are suffering from a broken heart right now. Hang in there.

His Last Chores

The animals are fed, he's baled the hay, the chores are complete, it's the end of the day. My Uncle Allan finished his chores and hung up his pitchfork on April 11 at the age of 87.

It was strange irony that the night before, I posted a picture – for National Siblings Day – of my 7 siblings and me from my baptism day, when Uncle Allan and Aunt Betty became godparents to 5 of us. In the photo above, I am sitting on Uncle Allan's lap, my twin Raylene is on Aunt Betty's lap and the other godchildren seated in front of the pretty curtains are (from left) RoAnn, Ron and Rachel.

Our Aunt Betty (my dad's sister) died 18 years ago, just after Carter's first birthday.

Farming was their life. They milked cows, raised is, chickens and beef cattle, plus planted and other crops. It was always an adventure to visit their "century" farm in east-central Minnesota (Harris). We especially liked visiting after they adopted one of our dog's puppies!

My mom and all 8 of us kids made it to the funeral today. I got to see some cousins on my dad's side of the family that I haven't seen in quite awhile. It's unfortunate to only see relatives at funerals. Thankfully, there's at least one family wedding this summer that should bring many of us together on a happier note.

In the meantime, hug your parents, family and other loved ones. Treasure each day you have with them.

And each day you are able to do those chores.

He is Risen!

Happy Easter! Rejoice – even in the weeds because that means there is life!

You also know that is the only thing I am capable of growing. Though hubby planted some grass seeds today so we'll see if I can manage that! 

It was an absolutely gorgeous Easter Sunday!! Sunny and temps in the mid-60s. A wonderful church service to start the day, followed by the Easter basket hunt. I really didn't make Carter or Tony work for it, that's for sure.

And Carter almost obliged for a photo for the scrapbook. Humor me, boy!

Had to finish up a few projects this afternoon before heading to the in-laws for the yummy Easter dinner because I am going straight to Minnesota from here. Well, Hudson. I am staying with my sister and brother-in-law so I don't have to do 8 or 9 hours of driving in one day going to our Uncle Allan's funeral tomorrow. What a glorious Easter for my godfather – free of pain and sickness and spending the day with Jesus.

I feel blessed to have had a day with my Easter (and every day) blessings!

Hope you found many reasons to say "Alleluia" today. Happy Easter!

April Showers and Stuff

The rain shortened campfires on Blue Jay Drive two evenings in a row. Last night, Carter and Company came indoors earlier than planned. Tonight, the grownups were enjoying this fine Vikings fire (I can see Purple and Gold, can't you?) across the street when it started showering again.

That's OK. I had to collaborate with the Easter Bunny for a bit anyway.

Didn't time today after running around all day at core-strength-tabata class, then book club, then Assumption softball brat fry, then walk with my furry boyfriend Buddy and his mommy Cindy, then bonding with Mr. Deck Chair.

I didn't hang out with him too long, though. It was mostly cloudy today ... with a chance of humidity. Actually, really humid, which was weird for April. I ended up sitting in the recliner and finishing Finding Audrey and will not choose that for my book club. Need to find something different for June. (And for my friend Audrey – it was an OK book but missing depth and complete plot line, in my humble opinion.)

This evening, hubby and I took Carter out to eat at Jennings downtown. They have quite the selection of burgers there. Carter had a Pizza Burger where 2 mini pizzas served as the "bun" with a burger between them. Yum. I had the Pineapple Express Burger, which had a strange combination of a burger topped with maple bourbon soy glaze and sriracha, peanut butter, grilled pineapple, cilantro on top on a toasted pretzel bun to create some unique yumminess. Weird, yes. But tasty, yes!

Got home and enjoyed some time around the fire and realized that I didn't "work" all day. Yay. Finally, a day of rest. Tomorrow is supposed to be mid-60s and sunny and no April showers.

So I might just get some things done outside... or make sure Mr. Deck Chair has a happy Easter, too.

Lower My Egg-spectations

I had so many things on my To Do List today, I started taking shortcuts. Case in point, coloring Easter eggs. I managed to find a way to color the eggs without having to boil them!

Major time saver. Brown is the new pink, right?

There were a lot of things to try to squeeze into a day "off." And I did not do them all. Got some freelance work done. Went to 1 p.m. church. Very good Good Friday service. Then went to the office. Got home after 6 p.m. like it was a normal work day.

Finally got to see College Boy at that point. Yup, it takes awhile to get home to the actual house when you spend time with friends en route and sleep elsewhere! He's got some 6 or 10 friends over for a campfire tonight so I took my 30 seconds and ran with it.

I'm honestly OK. I have learned to lower my egg-spectations at Easter time and, well, anytime. Just be happy for small moments with loved ones because they are better than no moments.

I wouldn't have had much time for Carter today anyway. Tomorrow, though, there may be a kidnapping.

Since Carter was going to be busy with friends, hubby and I went out for a fish fry and ran into quite a few people we knew. Ended up having dinner with two other couples we know so that was unexpected fun.

See, when you lower your egg-spectations, surprises can happen!

Like me just finding out I do have kickboxing class at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. I figured we wouldn't because of Easter weekend, but I was wrong. So I better hit the hay. I am using the time I saved egg dying and eggs-changing it for sleep.

Eggs-cellent plan, eh?

Three-Day Booking

My three-day weekend starts NOW. By typing that, does it make it true?

I am not into alternate facts. I do have 3 days officially away from the office. But I can't turn off my Hell Week just yet. So while the doors are closed to the public tomorrow for Good Friday, I'll still have to sneak in and finish a project.

Other than that, though, I really do want to finish the book I am reading (Finding Audrey), then enjoy book club on Saturday to discuss another book (The Nightingale), then start next month's selection (The Nest).

We'll see how far I get in reality.

I have other priorities. Carter will be home tonight yet to start a 4-day Easter break weekend. So I might have to kidnap him for some time at some point. Then there's the rumor it will be 70 degrees on Saturday so Mr. Deck Chair, in turn, may be kidnapping me.

That's only if the prediction of 90% chance of rain turns out to be an alternate fact.

Hey, I love some good fiction. Don't you?

Scrambled Eggs

This just in... Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs really ARE the cure for what ails you. Or we can pretend.

I laughed right out loud at this cartoon. Not because I have PMS or like chocolate bunnies, but because I have STRESS and I love chocolate (and peanut butter) Easter eggs.

It's one of those weeks where I have been chained to my desk most of the time. Early hours. Late hours. And stress eating in between. Today when I caught a break, I made an emergency run over to the IGA store nearby to get some Reese's eggs.

It had to be done.

And yes, for my sanity, it was an emergency.

Don't know if the peanut butter eggs cured everything, but they sure tasted good. It felt like a deserved treat. And I'll only beat myself up about my lack of self-control for another 10 minutes before I am sound asleep and we do it all over again tomorrow.

Meanwhile, with my head scrambled with all that time at work, Easter really did sneak up on me. So I am going to have to buy some more eggs (to share, of course) and other treats for the baskets. I typically buy enough for leftovers... a.k.a. My Belly.

People say they love Christmas candy and Valentine chocolate, but my favorite holiday food involves unlimited peanut butter eggs, jelly beans (not the black ones) and one, ultra-sweet Cadbury egg.

Thanks, Easter Bunny!

And now for my favorite bunny funny every year...

M-m-m... was just thinking Reese's bunnies are probably pretty tasty, too. What??