Happy Easter and 7 months old!!

Happy Easter from the Ngs!

We had a great day yesterday. We began our day by going to Mass (7:30 am, and the church was still packed!), thanking Jesus for His sacrifice and His great love. Abby was all gussied up in her Easter dress, and she was smiling at everyone! After church, we went out to breakfast and took a stroll around Home Depot. On our way home, we stopped by Linda's house (Melissa's mom) to say Happy Easter, and then we spent the rest of the day (literally, from 2:00 pm on) at Bart and Melissa's house having the most delicious Easter dinner. It was a wonderful day, and we were blessed to spend it with family!

Don't you love my Easter dress?!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty... :-)

Just chillin' in my Bumbo, waiting for my Easter peaches!
(I love me some peaches!!)

The Easter bunny was very good to Abigail. Pictured below are just some of the treats she received!

One of our Easter bunnies (a.k.a. - Grandma D and Grandpa Al) sent Abby a pretty little sundress and these beautiful ceramic figurines, based on illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith that she created for the cover of Good Housekeeping. The figurines are beautiful, and we're already trying to figure out how to display them in Abby's room!

This is the figurine for Easter, entitled "Springtime."

Another Easter bunny (a.k.a. - Grandma Jadwiga) sent Abby this beautiful sundress and a pile of Easter eggs.

And what was in those Easter eggs? Why, some of Abby's favorite foods, including peaches, pears, and applesauce!

Okay, to be perfectly honest, this Easter basket was for me. I gave up sweets for Lent, and Bart and Melissa were kind enough to deliver this big chocolate bunny on Saturday so I would have something to nibble on at midnight. Well, we're waiting to break into the bunny, but I do have to admit that several of the Peeps that were included in the basket didn't make it much past 12:15 am... :-P

Yesterday was also Abigail's 7 month birthday! I really can't believe how much she has grown in the last 7 months. We had her in her carrier on the way to church yesterday, and her feet are almost hanging off. I remember when we brought her home from the hospital; she looked so tiny and she needed two head supports! (If she didn't have that big Ng head, she might have needed three!!) Now, she really is becoming my little girl. Her smiles, hugs, and laughter remind me how much God loves me, that He would entrust the care of His little angel to me. I am truly blessed!!

M.O.M.S. - Meeting #2

Last night was my second M.O.M.S. meeting. (For info about my first M.O.M.S. meeting, please click here.) Last night's topic was stress. It was truly a blessing to discuss our troubles and worries, and the insights and comments of this wonderful group of women has helped me realize that God is ever-present, even in my stress. After all, the things that I worry about the most (Carey, Abigail, my family and friends, my job, my house, my health) are all blessings given to me by a loving God. And while some amount of worry shows that we care for the gifts that God gave us and want to tend those gifts, it's important that we not allow worry to consume us and rule our lives.

One of the poems that we used for reflection last night was entitled "Slow Me Down, Lord." The poem was long, but there were a few stanzas that spoke to me.

Slow me down, Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my harried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
...
Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift.
That there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak,
And know that it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord,
And inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values,
That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

The true blessing of M.O.M.S. is that it is a small slice of time every week when God tells me to "Slow down!" It is two hours per week that is just for me. It is time to spend with other mothers, thanking God for our blessings, sharing our trials and victories, and supporting and praying for each other. I feel blessed to have found this group of wonderful women!

M.O.M.S.

Last night, I attended the first meeting of M.O.M.S. - Ministry of Mothers Sharing. This group is offered through the church that Carey and I attend. I was excited to have the opportunity to meet other mothers in my community and to share my faith with other moms.

We are a small group (five people), but it was very welcoming. While there is a journal that is used to guide meetings, Lyn (our facilitator) has said that we will see where God leads us in our meetings, rather than trying to plow through questions like we're taking an exam.

One of our first meditations was entitled "The Cracked Pot." I thought this was an interesting story that confirms the fact that we, as humans, don't always know what God has planned for us. But, instead of feeling inadequate and flawed, we should realize that God has reasons for everything and to trust in His judgment and wisdom.

The Cracked Pot

A water Bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on either end of a pole which he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect. The Perfect Pot always delivered a full portion of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the master's house, while the Cracked Pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the Bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to the master's house. Of course, the Perfect Pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor Cracked Pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water Bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the Bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for the past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the Pot said.

The water Bearer felt sorry for the old Cracked Pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old Cracked Pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half of its load, and so again, the Pot apologized to the Bearer for its failure.

The Bearer said to the Pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own flaws. We are all Cracked Pots. But if we will allow it, our flaws are used to grace life's table. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty.


So, over the next week, until our next meeting, I will be examining my own "cracks" and working to see how God is using my imperfections to create things of beauty and grace in my life and my world.