It's the Weekly Recap!

* Easter Sunday was a lovely, relaxing day. After church and lunch with my parents (which you already read about), I came home and took a long-desired nap. When I woke up, this was my view:

Apparently Easter is exhausting for Kaegan and Braeya, too!

* Monday evening, I added my brand new purchase to the kitchen! I ordered these labels from The Vinyl Wall on Etsy and they arrived over the weekend. The labels can be written on with chalk, which I loved, since I had to rewrite each one at least three times before I liked it. I appreciated that they arrived less than a week after I ordered them, the seller wrote me a personal note, and she sent me two free labels beyond what I ordered!
* Tuesday was the rough day at work....and we already covered that, so no need to rehash it here. But I so appreciated that in the middle of storm central (which best describes our week!) - we had a couple of decent hours and I was able to get an invigorating run in - outside!! That helped me work out some of the frustration.

* You've heard of the old hymn There Shall Be Showers of Blessing? That was my Wednesday. God orchestrated the most beautiful celebration of encouragement for me that started the minute I got to work and continued throughout the entire day. I could cry just thinking about what He lined up - so completely unexpectedly. But I won't cry, because that's what I did all day Tuesday!

* Thursday I discovered my Easter dress from two years ago really really doesn't fit anymore. I wore it to work, but I had to borrow a shrug from last year's dress to hide the fact that it's about three sizes too big. But doggone it I paid full price for that dress and I'm wearing it whether or not it fits! Pathetic, no?

*Friday morning I set the alarm for 4 am so I could "watch" the wedding live. I already had plans to really watch it later, but I wanted to say I'd gotten up for it, so I did. Unfortunately it was nearly 6:30 before I stayed awake for more than 2 minutes at a time. Probably because I got this:
Friday evening was the IWU Baccalaureate service. Since both Rachel and Jonathan graduated this year, I wanted to go so I'd be able to see them in their caps and gowns. (Graduation is a ticket-required event, so I couldn't go.) I actually worked as an usher for Baccalaureate. Loved the service!

And Friday (full of highlights, isn't it?) was also the day my latest Picaboo album arrived! I did a scrapbook all about the journey of my book...from writing it...to the publishing process...to book signings and feedback. I accidentally ordered this one hardcover, but I really love the way it looks!
* Saturday afternoon I went to the open house for Jonathan and his brother, Austin, who also graduated this year. Austin's girlfriend is...well, she's hilarious. I love her. And she was in rare form that day. I told her I was going to take a picture of us (we both had headaches and were sprawled out on the floor trying to get them to go away) and she snuggled right up - and made me take and retake the picture until she declared her neck did not look like a giraffe. To be honest, I'm not sure this was an approved non-giraffe-neck photo, but I like it, so I'm using it.
When I got home from the open house, Robyn (from my office) came over for Pancakes with THE Princess: Royal Wedding Edition. We watched TLC's encore of the wedding, wore tiaras, and ate pancakes.



Books I am Reading: Still plugging away at Sparkling Gems from the Greek. Did a little more reading (late into the night one night) on The Preacher's Bride. And I re-read one more chapter in In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day - which continues, even the second time around, to get me right in the gut. Hoping for more time to read this next week!

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: I think I would have to say it was the day that God overwhelmed me with blessings to follow the day my student had overwhelmed me with hurtful words. That was just such an affirmation of how He cares and loves. But when I couple that with other ways He's speaking tenderly to me right now...wow.


Update on Last Week's Goals: The house is now Easter-free (unless I find the one elusive decoration I always manage to miss each holiday during the un-decorate fest). The dining room has been de-cobwebbed, and the buffet has been treated with orange-oil, the living room is reassembled, and sadly the ten minutes of nice weather we had came smack in the middle of Baccalaureate, so the yard did not get the touch-up I wanted to give it. It did get a semi-decent mowing on Saturday, which saves me from buying a goat.

Goals for the Coming Week: This week I'm turning my attention away from chores. I really want to finish reading Jody's book and get back to The Hole in Our Gospel, because I think I need to be wrapped up in its message right now. I also have two writing deadlines fast-approaching and I want to get those things knocked out. I think slowing down is in order, so this is my week to slow.