IT'S FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY'S COMING!

 

Yes, today is April 10 and Good Friday in this year of 2020.  It is a time that all of us will remember when we spent numerous days SAFE AT HOME.  People all over the world will not be gathering for Good Friday services today or Easter Sunday services on April 12.  But that won't stop us from celebrating Easter.  We are thankful for empty churches that are spreading the Good News through the internet to scattered congregations. 

Alan and I are spending another quiet day at home.  We aren't minding it as most of our days are much like this.  We have gotten groceries twice in the last month, thanks to parking lot deliveries by Weyburn and Estevan Co-op stores.  Clare brought the first delivery out from Weyburn.  I phoned in the order and it was brought out to the parking lot and put right in Clare's pickup.  Last Monday morning I emailed a grocery order to the Estevan Co-op. We drove to the city in the afternoon and staff members brought our order right out to our pickup, such a great service for us seniors!  We were most excited to have grapefruit again, along with frozen fruit to put on our morning porridge. We are appreciating many things that we have taken for granted.

My cousin Arlene Erickson had her 82nd birthday on April 5.  On Tuesday I baked a batch of soft ginger cookies that she likes.  I packed a box for her and mailed them to her at a senior's home in Lethbridge, Alberta.  I was sorry that I hadn't gotten them in the mail earlier so she would have them for her birthday on Sunday.  But I was amazed when I talked to her on Thursday and the parcel had arrived in two days while the cookies were still fresh!!  Kudos to Canada Post!

I am so thankful that on February 26, we were able to celebrate Lindsay's 16th birthday with her, Shauna and Carter at Eddie Webster's in Estevan.  We met them for lunch at noon and also celebrated her passing her driver's test that morning with no points off!  Congratulations to the newest driver in our family!

On March 9 we drove to Milestone to celebrate two more birthdays.  Ashley was 12 on March 2 and Eric was 17 on March 8. We made it on an overnight visit and little did we know that it would be our last visit until this COVID disease is under control. 

Eric played hockey at home in Milestone this past winter.  Here are a hockey picture and a Norsk flag project from school shop work.

Our quilting group has met every Tuesday since the beginning of January and had plans to go until the end of March.  But that was changed so the quilts are still on the pews and our "workroom", Trinity Auditorium was left "as is" with our last workday on March 17.  Here's a picture of all the crocheted and knitted baby afghans that were donated to our group by Flora. She has given us over a hundred of these. Her daughter and granddaughter came with her to deliver them. Most of them will go to the Ronald MacDonald House in Saskatoon.

Kirk celebrated his 48th birthday on March 23.  He and Shauna had their 20th anniversary on April 8 with pictures of then and now!

Happy 48th Birthday, Kirk

 

I had a message from Shauna today with a picture of Jamie's latest project, a special Easter bunny cake, her first attempt at decorating.  Great job, Jamie! 

We had two visitors this afternoon who didn't know about the Stay at Home restrictions!  Here's a picture.  They have been around the yard several times so maybe they think this is home!

The boys who played hockey had their seasons shortened this year too.  Last week Dawson got an award from the team in Assiniboia that he played with.  Here's a picture of his team and awards.

Congratulations, Dawson - Rookie of the Year!  

In closing, I want to add some comments from a blogger in Norway, Daytona from "Outside Oslo".  She has written two cookbooks but today in this season of quarantine, she baked banana bread for her family "from a boxed mix". She says"I'm not holding myself to any standard of perfection, I'm simply trying to do my best and to try to make this season of quarantine full of warmth and of love."  Those are good goals for all of us.  Norwegians have a special word that doesn't really translate to English - hygge. Cozy is as close as we can get it in English but you can't buy hygge. It's a lifestyle, an approach to life.

 May your family be safe, healthy and know that they are loved in these trying times.  The author says "When they look back on this time in their lives, I want their memories to be laced with love."

I plan to do an Easter blog also and will update with family pictures.  Easter season begins on Sunday so then I can put up our Easter decorations.  I had removed all the pictures from the wall behind our kitchen table for Lent.  But then I decided to put up some inspirational plaques for these days of Lent.

I will update on the rest of our family on the next blog.

With love to all my readers,  Elaine and Alan