everyday Ann

living the ordinary seeing the extraordinary

Happy Easter!!

He is Risen, Alleluia!!

Squeezing in my Easter post on the last day of the Octave of Easter, just in time and we are still celebrating!! The anticipation of joy was palpable in the children on Holy Saturday as they counted down the hours and “one more sleep” until Easter. They were more than willing to help me with all of the food preparation and last bits of cleaning.

It was a race who would be the first one awake Easter morning to say the “A word” Alleluia!! They came to the conclusion that of course it would be Mom awake first, making Grandma’s pecan rolls and “trying” to get them right this year! (Well, in the haste of food preparation I managed to again botch the recipe forgetting the pecans which are quintessential to pecan rolls! Thankfully, Aaron saved the dread and rescued the long awaited rolls back to their original state.)

Easter morning was cloudy and rainy, but that did not diminish the joy bursting from our four walls. Kolbe ran around on the driveway yelling, He is Risen, Alleluia!! And all four of the kiddos stood on the front porch ringing bells and singing in solidarity with what our Bishop had asked, for all of the churches and families to join in ringing bells at noon on Easter.

The search for the risen Jesus followed Mass, with hunts for their baskets and eggs. They even got a surprise zoom visit with my parents and some of their cousins. At the end of the day, Kolbe said, “Although this Easter was so different with no family gatherings and Mom forgetting the purple table cloth, somehow this was still the happiest Easter ever!” (On day two of Easter, I did remember the purple table cloth!)

No truer words could have been spoken. Thankful for the faith of a child to reveal such profound wisdom. For we are an Easter people and despite quarantine, hardships and setbacks nothing can take that joy from us if we allow it to penetrate our hearts!! Let us keep on rejoicing!!

We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song! St. John Paul II

Holy Week and Easter at Home

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Now a good three weeks into quarantine, we are adjusting to a new normal as much as possible. We are just days away from Easter, and what a Lent the past few weeks have been. While streaming Mass has become the new normal, celebrating the Holy Triduum without all of the smells and bells will be new territory.

Just this morning my oldest kiddos were talking about how it won’t even really be Easter and how they are going to miss the blare of trumpets Easter morning as we all joyfully proclaim Alleluia. I too am left missing being present at the liturgies during what is my favorite time of year, to enter into the Passion and fully celebrate the joy, hope and promise of Easter. I came up with a list of ideas on how to celebrate Holy Week at home and am sharing it over at CatholicMom today.

After coming up with this list I am looking forward to these moments this week of truly living as domestic Church. Entering into these sacred mysteries with my family with no where to go, time to just reflect and meditate on the beauty and truths.

Although we won’t be with family on Easter I am still making a feast, even more than I normally do. I also decided to make our place settings a little more fancy, since we will be home all day. It will be Magnolia Table egg bake, my Grandma’s pecan rolls and kid-friendly mimosas in the morning followed by all the recipes from my Mom’s Easter dinner.

Of course we will still do the Jesus search and egg hunt! I told the children that more than ever, we will rejoice in the Resurrection this year. We are an Easter people. I joked with them that I might open my front door Sunday morning and shout out, “He is Risen!!”

While We Isolate

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I pray you are all doing well, maintaining hope and able to keep your eyes fixed on Christ. When I first heard of the extent of the social-distancing, school cancelled for at least 3 weeks and then Mass being suspended I was filled with fear. My mind clouded as if there was just grayness around me and anxiety began to overwhelm me. How would I survive all of this? How long will this last?

With no where to go, I began to fill my day with prayer. From morning prayer, the daily scripture readings, Divine Mercy Chaplet, praise and worship music playing in the background, the rosary to evening prayer. Connecting my heart with Christ every moment of the day, I found my strength and peace building.

Focusing on my children and family and the task at hand rather on the endless headlines that are paralyzing, I was able to find peace and hope. At most I will read one news story a day on COVID-19 in order to not let it consume my thoughts. Not every day is perfect and we are still adjusting to this new style of life, 7 people in 1500 square feet 24/7. But through it I am finding grace. I came across this quote in a daily reflection, incredibly pertinent for these times.

As our confidence in God increases, our fear decreases.

This week I enjoyed being on Relevant Radio’s Morning Air talking about finding the balance of hope and worry. Listen in…http://relevantradio-od.streamguys1.com/morningair/MA20200326b.mp3 

In an attempt to curb the feeling of isolation I decided to join Instagram, a little behind when it comes to social media. At least I am making some small progress in regards to technology, finally said good-bye to my pull out keyboard phone last month. I started the account with the goal of bringing some joy, inspiration and hope to your day. Follow me @cassie_everts.

I also was blessed to have done an interview last week with Kelly Breaux from Red Bird Ministries. We discussed the book, Nursery of Heaven, miscarriage, grief and hope. I am truly inspired by her faith and I know her book, to be released in just a few weeks, will bring healing to so many. Listen in…https://www.redbird.love/podcast/nursery-of-heaven

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Psalm 46

Finding Perspective Amid Times of Trial

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I went to the grocery store Friday morning to buy my usual week’s worth of groceries for our family of seven, shocked and surprised to find the parking lot packed and only a handful of grocery carts available. Wow, I thought to myself people are really panicking. I could not believe how empty the shelves were and the number of crates in the aisles, because of the inability to keep up with the amount of merchandise being sold at such a rapid rate. Almost every cart filled with toilet paper and bottled water. The sight was something I have never seen. I could almost sense the tension and uneasiness as I went about buying my normal groceries.

Sometimes mom life leaves me in a tunnel from the happenings of the rest of the world, so I hadn’t been following COVID-19 that closely in the weeks past. Perhaps a headline or two and maybe I have been negligent in doing so. After being notified that my children’s school would be closed for 3 weeks starting Monday and the awakening from my grocery shopping experience I started reading more about the pandemic and have found myself glancing at the headlines several times throughout the day.

By nature I am one to panic and get anxious easily, but I hadn’t felt panic up to this point. Truth be told I was more anxious about five kids all stuck in our small house for the next three weeks and me somehow still remaining joyful and sane at the end of it all. Letting reality sink in a bit I began to wonder should I be worrying more, have more concern, taking more action, am I doing enough for my family. Should we leave our house, is it okay to go to Mass, should I avoid all public contact. Do I have an emergency supply, how much or how little do I need. When will this all end?

With no medicine to cure COVID-19 I still did an inventory of our over the counter medicines, making sure I have Ibuprofen for every age group, cough medicine, saline spray and cough drops. Not to mention stocking up on Vitamin D, C and elderberry hoping to boost our immune systems while we wait this out. In an effort to be proactive, while not hoarding I decided to set aside a box of non-perishable food items including juice and drinks with electrolytes that could last us a couple of weeks, in the case we need to completely self-quarantine.

Running behind getting to Mass yesterday I couldn’t believe how empty the parking lot was. I had to do a double take at the time to make sure our clocks weren’t off. Our Bishop gave a dispensation for the next few weeks lifting the requirement to attend Sunday Mass, but I wasn’t expecting so many empty pews. Even my two year old asked while sitting in the pew, “where is everyone?”

Again it left me wondering should I be panicking more, am I worried enough for my children? They say only the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions will be the ones to fall extremely ill. Still I can’t help but worry for my 5 month old, her still developing body or my 4 year old who was a preemie and has been more susceptible to falling ill to RSV and pneumonia. Even more so it is my Christian duty to have concern for those who are more susceptible to the virus. Am I praying enough and are there ways I could somehow assist others in need during these times.

My mind races to worst case scenario, would we really get to that point. How long is all of this going to last? Will we ever be able to go back to normal? How is this going to affect my family, my community, the world over? Will I even survive sanity the next 3 weeks, which will be cabin fever times ten. My mind and heart left wrestling over so many questions. The unknown, the uncertainty of the very real near future. Am I thinking about it too little or too much? Should it be consuming my thoughts more than it is or am I letting it too much? How much of life is put on hold, while still continue living. And how does that all look.

We boast in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because he love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:2-5

Sitting in the pew hearing these words from the Second Reading at Mass yesterday, seemed like a clear answer to the anxiety and questions I am grappling with. Hope. Hope that does not disappoint. Hope that comes from our affliction and endurance. Hope that is not fading or fleeting with the times, but set firm in our hearts. Unshakable, because it has been promised to us. No matter what may befall us, we are promised hope.

Even further I could not ignore the Holy Spirit speaking to this moment in history through the words of the Gospel, Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman. As grocery stores can’t keep up with the demand of bottled water, every shopping cart filled with it and signs of rationing and limiting how much water you can buy.

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water. John 4:13-15

During trials, sufferings and crosses, amidst defining moments in history, Christ is our eternal water. The water that will forever quench our thirst. When our foundation is shaken and everything is changing faster than we can comprehend, Christ will be our firm hold, he will sustain us.

Lord, you are truly the Savior of the world; give me living water,that I may never thirst again. Cf. John 4:42, 15

I still don’t have the answers to how much, how little, to be anxious or to remain calm. The when, who and where of how COVID-19 will play out. During this Lenten season this moment is our dessert experience. Being called out away from the normal function of society; called to slow down, reflect, reexamine our state in life and to pray. To offer each moment to him, every inconvenience, discomfort, fear and struggle. To walk through this time of trial with our eyes fixed on Christ, because he alone is our hope and our constant.

A Time to be Made New

I think Aaron wins husband of the year award or at least of the weekend! While I was away at a conference with Briella he held down the fort with the four other kiddos. Everyone was healthy and in good spirits when I left Friday afternoon. Then Saturday night happened when a stomach bug hit the house and Aaron was left cleaning up puke for over two hours. Sheets, blankets, carpet, curtains, toilets…you get the idea.

I wasn’t able to listen to the speakers much at the conference as I was attending as a vendor with my book, Nursery of Heaven. But I did hear the most beautiful song performed, Little Girl by His Own. I listened to it too many times to count on my 5 hour drive back home last night.

I am one who waits until the very last stroke of midnight before Ash Wednesday to figure out what I am going to do for Lent and this year is no different. While I still don’t have my Lenten plan figured out, this song spoke so clearly to my heart. He is calling my name and wants to make me new.

On the most difficult days, when I am less than perfect as a wife and mother. When I feel I have failed, He is asking me to get up again. Calling my name, asking me to begin again. Lent is a season for God to make all things new, in our hearts, our prayer life, our family, etc. To make all things new in us. To transform and make anew those areas of our life that are hidden, in darkness or broken, so when Easter comes we are truly able to rise with Him. To get up and rise with our King.

One thing the children are looking forward to again this Lent is the sacrifice jar, which we have done the last couple of years and it has become a favorite…especially because they know it means jelly beans at Easter!

Would love to hear some of your Lenten resolutions. Aaron said he could come up with plenty of ideas for me! Have a blessed Ash Wednesday as we begin this journey.