everyday Ann

Vacay

June 22, 2017

Has it really been two months since I last posted, yikes! I apologize for my absence it was an unintended vacay.

The last two months in summary, we finished out our homeschooling year (yay and yippee especially from the teacher), we are enjoying checking items off our summer bucket list and starting to prep for the arrival of the newest Everts in just 11 weeks!

We just returned from a short little family vacation and now I feel like I need a vacation to catch up on sleep. Not sure if it’s third trimester fatigue or that we packed a lot into our three days away. No matter how long or short it seems like the prep, planning and packing before hand is tiring enough leaving you feeling exhausted before the trip has even started.

It was such a blessed time to have as a family, I only wish it could have been longer. Memories made and time to just focus on the kids before the family dynamic changes again.

He is Risen!!

April 17, 2017

He is Risen indeed!! Wishing you all a blessed Easter week filled with joy and hope found in the Risen Lord. We are enjoying our Easter Monday by resting and relaxing after what seemed like a marathon making it through the Triduum with a 15 month old and preparations for Easter day.

Here are a few pictures from our celebrations.

Easter Faves

April 13, 2017

I contemplated waiting to share these Easter recipes until I had a few less than quality pictures to go along with the sweet treats. Decided to share them now in case you are still scrambling to figure out a menu!

Both of these recipes are family favorites. The pecan rolls is a recipe of my grandma’s and one I loved growing up and still do. For some reason I am still struggling to perfect it to taste just like mom’s. Perhaps it’s because I am scrambling to make them at 5:30am so we can eat them before leaving for Easter Mass.

The chocolate dessert is one my mom has made every Easter since I can remember, makes me miss home over the holiday.

Pecan Rolls
3 packages buttermilk biscuits (make sure to buy the regular size, otherwise they won’t turn out)
Pecans
Sugar
Cinnamon
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Butter
1/3 cup Cream

Grease bundt pan and spread pecans on the bottom. Layer biscuits in pan. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon between each layer.
Mix brown sugar, butter and cream in saucepan. Bring to a light boil. Pour over pan.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Chocolate Pudding Torte
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 1/2 sticks Butter
2/3 cup Chopped Pecans
8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 large Jello Instant Chocolate Pudding
3 cups Milk
12 oz. Cool Whip

Combine flour, melted butter and pecans. Press mixture into 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and half of cool whip until smooth. Spread over cooled crust.
Combine pudding mix with 3 cups milk and beat until thick. Pour over cream cheese layer.
Spread remaining cool whip on top and refrigerate.
Garnish with chopped pecans.

Final Days

April 11, 2017

The final days of Lent are upon us and again I am left to wonder what happened to these forty days. Lent is a time I usually look forward to. I see it as a time for change in my life. Pruning out the bad habits and growing in virtue.

Most years I get overly ambitious and set out to do a long laundry list of things. This year I decided to keep it more simple. Still all good intention aside I feel like no progress was made and wish for a little more time to prepare for Easter.

Last Friday I packed up the kiddos and took them to Stations of the Cross. Before Stations began the priest told a little story and related it to how his Lent did not go as planned. Here we are in the final days, he reminded us that if our Lent was anything like his to not be discouraged we still have time. Make the most of today. Seemed exactly what I needed to hear.

We were the three ring circus in a quiet church mostly filled with retired people. Grace took off her shoes and socks and threw them over the pew and continued to do so with everything in the diaper bag exclaiming, “uh-oh!” Diaper bag emptied she threw a fit finding that her snacks weren’t in there. Every few sentences the boys were tapping me on the shoulder asking me where we were in the book.

The 45 minutes felt more like a workout than a time of prayer and reflection on our Lord’s passion. At the end a man walked up to me and thanked me for making the effort of bringing the kids. While it would have been easy to leave the church feeling frustrated, somehow I left feeling renewed.

My Lent may have not gone according to my plans, but every day I am given multiple opportunities to grow in virtue. To make sacrifices. To die to myself and give completely to those God has placed in my life. To grow in patience. To let go of my will. To love completely even when exhaustion has set in. To do all of this with a joyful heart.

Saying Good Bye

April 4, 2017

We just returned from a long weekend away, I feel exhausted mentally and physically, drained and kind of in a daze as I sit here tonight. I wish I could say it was spring break or for a fun vacation, but our trip was back to my home town to bury my grandfather. Papa as we called him.

I can’t say that I didn’t know it was coming. My grandfather had suffered from Parkinson’s for years. When we saw him over Christmas I could tell his health was further declining and in the back of my mind had a feeling he would probably only be with us a few more months.

He was 90 and lived a full life. Those words are suppose to bring consolation, yet saying good bye doesn’t seem any easier. I was blessed to have had him in my life for so many years, still my heart hurts.

As my children are full of questions now about death, dying and the afterlife my own mind wrestles with the idea. I believe in eternal life and profess it as a part of my faith, yet why does it seem so hard to face. Why does my mind want to escape the thought of having to say good bye to those I love.

I knew his days were drawing to an end and I wished that distance didn’t keep me away so I could see him one more time. Just hours before he passed my dad called me and asked if I wanted to talk to him and say good bye. I am so grateful that I had those moments. Although he couldn’t respond he could still hear me. I talked to him, prayed with him and the boys and I sang to him.

When we hung up the phone, Kolbe put his head in his hands and said I don’t want him to die yet. A grandfather they only knew 2 short years, but loved nonetheless. All I could say was me either buddy, me either.

Why is it so hard to say good bye when we have the promise of the resurrection and new life. Is it because we are the ones left to grieve, we are the ones feeling the loss, we are the ones who say good bye.

I struggled to find the words as the end of the conversation neared. I couldn’t say it. The words wouldn’t formulate. It all seems too final. My dad in his own grief spoke the words for me, until we meet again.

So until we meet again Papa, I will pray that your soul is resting with our Lord. That you are at peace and sharing in eternal happiness. Until we meet again, please pray for me.

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