Monday, April 25, 2011

another first at Villa Maria..

our first Easter
starting Saturday night. Joe & I went to Easter Vigil Mass.. kind of like an anniversary for me. I wore my gold cross ear-rings that Joe gave me this time 20yrs ago & my Miraculous medal.. sadly, the Vigil Mass at St. Thomas's was not the spiritually uplifting Mass that it usually is.. there were no candles to be lit as 'the light of Christ has come into our world' , nor was communion taken in both bread & wine. Just the bread.. which is perfect of course, but if the Easter Vigial is THE most important Mass of the year..would you not think that it should all be special. our current Priest has a smile that doesn't go up into his eyes.. and he will not shake hands with the people as they leave the church. [I was spoiled when I went through the year of Emmaus journey 20years ago with a loving Priest] I pray to God that our parish gets a new priest soon.. but, *sigh* I must remember that this is not between the priest and myself.. it is between God & I..
early Sunday morning I took myself off to a neighbouring parish.. hoping to get some spiritual upliftment.. and I did.. in the reading of Colossians, there was a big message for me.. I am going to sit with this for some time in Lectio Divina..

Sunday lunch was a family affair.. smaller than usual.. but special all the same. a mix of generations.. a traditional lunch of roast organic lamb, roast vegies, cauliflower in white sauce & for dessert, an apple crumble of my own 'design'.. using walnuts & oats.

plus the obligatory easter fare: fairtrade organic chocolate.

after lunch we went for an autumn walk.. with Harry doing some foraging of his own.. dandelion flowers and autumn leaves. he took his treasures home in a brown paper bag.

and to finish our LONG weekend holiday off.. the ANZAC March in Springwood.

always first to the Legacy Ladies.. to buy Anzac biscuits. yum. even on this low carbohydrate eating plan, I allowed myself one or two today - for tradition sake.

doesn't matter how many times I go, those brave men sitting in the jeeps.. getting older each year.. bring tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat.

16 comments:

amelia said...

It looks as if you about the most perfect day! Especially with your little grandson, did you have the others too? I'm guessing it would have been even more perfect if your son had been there too but at least you know he's happy.

mxtodis123 said...

My goodness, holding onto earrings for 20 years. They're gorgeous. Sorry to hear that you were disappointed in the mass, but I am certainly envious of that meal you had. Gosh, I don't know how it is in Australia, but here, lamb is priced sky high. Just can't afford it anymore.
Mary

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Yes, you MUST have an Anzac biscuit from the wonderfully-named Legacy Ladies. We can never remember enough.

foxysue said...

Hi Robyn,

I'm glad you found a spiritual uplift in the neighbouring parish, like you say people can disappoint but as the scriptures say "love never fails".

BTW your crumble sounds delicious how do you make it with oats?

The bunny was eating a small variety of geranium, I do have herb Robert in my garden they are classed as weeds as they spread rapidly although very pretty.

Hope the rest of Easter was good for you, enjoy your week.

Sue x

Anonymous said...

An uplifting Easter post Robyn (priest aside...it takes all types). Love your ear-rings and their history. Our Easter weather here in S.A. has been glorious though I hear the east coast not so much. I imagine the Autumn colours to be stunning where you are. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead dear friend.

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

It sounds like you had a lovely Easter weekend.

Anonymous said...

Pity about the Vigil service, ours was beautiful and obviously very special for me. I absolutely agree that it is between you and God, but I know what you mean, the priest plays an important role in the Parish community and in people's spiritual lives and it's nice if you have a good one.
C
XX

rebecca said...

tell me please about your sculpture under the glass globe...
she speaks to me so!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful day !! Surrounded by family and a wonderful march and I have to look at those biscuits !!
I'm so sorry to hear that mass was such a disappointment.
I had to sing in a Catholic church in Belgium once with the choir and I was sitting right behind the priest. He talked so fast, as if he was in his proffesional mode. I couldn't hear what he was saying. I was so disappointed and felt sad for the people who had to attend his services each week.
Have a great day !!

Kim Campbell said...

((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))) lad you stopped by!

Sheila said...

Sorry I have not been around much, but you are never far from my thoughts..
big hugs
xx

gma said...

Every photograph here shows your first Easter at Villa Maria as memorable. My love to you dearest Robyn.

Tinker said...

Glad that at least your Easter family gathering was a happy one, Robyn. Your little grandson looks adorable! xox

Leanne said...

popping in too late to say happy easter, but the wheel has turned and we are now celebrating our beltane here in the Northern Hemisphere. I'll send you blessings for that instead. i spent the day in Glastoinbury, it was magical! (lots of photos on my blog ifd you are interested!)

I can remember celebrating Anzac day when living in Oz as a small child!

Leanne x

Imogen said...

It's funny, my mum used to bake Anzac biscuits when I was a kid, using the recipe her mother had been sent by her sister-in-law who was a "ten pound Pom". I didn't know until quite recently that they weren't generally known in the UK - such a pity as they're a truly scrummy biscuit with a nice bit of history attached.

Your Easter sounds good, apart from the slightly uncomfortable feeling of being ill-at-ease at church. Quaker Meeting can be like that sometimes; so strongly do personalities influence atmosphere. But I'm glad you had a lovely traditional lunch with the family...

rebecca said...

i love you completely...

"She seemed to come suddenly upon happiness as if she had surprised a butterfly in the Winter woods"
(edith wharton)