And on the third day...

Happy Easter a few weeks ago - the hope and miracle of it all be with you every day...

Though we missed Aunt Julie's splendid Easter in Fox River Grove with my Mom, and Jason's parents made yet another hike down here along with my Dad and Aunt Kathy, we stuck around home and had a really nice, relatively mellow and peaceful Easter - Juan Carlos came, too which is always a great treat.

The kids did egg hunts in Shorewood and in the backyard.  Stelly's got it down now with the help of big bro Graham.

Easter morning - I made a blueberry coffee cake and Jason made a stunning and delicioso frittata

Ingredients for our Easter salad with spinach and arugula

This is not the cutest picture for vegetarians or wannabe vegetarians like me but it tasted fantastic

The week following Easter, Graham was on spring break…I always get a bit panicked with both kiddos home all day all week but it really was nice with Graham home.  My heart sings with the time I have with them and to see them play and laugh together so much is bliss.  I miss him during the day!

We didn't venture too far - made visits to Schlitz Audubon and the zoo, Graham just about has his word lists from school mastered and the finale was going to Eau Claire for the weekend and visiting the Seguin (my m-i-l's cousin) farm.

My-o-my was it sooo interesting and unique and so cool learning about all of it.  I think I even enjoyed it more than the kids!  The farm has 2,200 cows including 150 calves (Larry thought maybe 60 barn cats)! We saw a calf with the same birthday as Graham and one that had just been born the day before we were there.  We got to see the cows being fed and milked and we learned that the cows eat 7500 pounds of feed and the farm delivers around 48,000 pounds of milk per day!  Quite incredible.  It was an honor and thrill to visit and tour such an inspiring, successful family farm.

On Sunday, we went to a walk in Madison to benefit Parkinson's research - 'Optimism Walks' - just about my Mom's entire family and best friends were there!  What a heartwarming turnout and a neat event.  Graham and our sweet cousin Kaylin were NOT excited about the costumes and the hubbub 'MOM - THE ICE CREAM IS COMING, THE ICE CREAM IS COMING!!!!' [in tears]  but it was awesome and an honor to be a part of it in support of mi Mama!

Giving and faith and a bit off subject...

I am constantly awed by non-profits that serve the poor, hungry, sick and all those in need.  Yesterday we received a magazine from 'Food for the Poor' out of Florida.  Containing profiles of the people reached and those working to help them, it is entirely inspiring and just plain beautiful.

To read about and imagine the immense need endured - the pain, the violence, living conditions, ah, I mean, man!  Basic needs (that I take for granted) so far from being met - so out of reach.  To not be able to give your kids enough to eat?  To not feel safe in your own 'home' = even a shack, tarps, boards and not knowing how or when you will be able to get a drink of clean water?  Let alone washing self, dishes, clothes?  It's unthinkable, isn't it?!?!?  People, all ages, experience it - it's a reality for too many people.

It's so overwhelming - thinking of all of the people suffering in our world.  Yet, in this magazine and the literature from World Vision - countless testimonials from those in need - they pray and thank God for what they do have and remain faithful - they're grateful and hopeful.  Who am I?  Gas prices?  Computer too slow?  Stubbed my toe?  Got cut off in traffic?  Wait in a long line?  And as one of the workers/servers involved stated as a great reminder to me - makes you appreciate what you have - to not take it for granted - and of course, to not make a mountain out of the molehill of little daily injustices and selfish, petty thoughts.

We sponsor two kids in Bolivia and Uganda through World Vision and periodically humbly give to some of the awesome local charities as well as some national ones.  I feel good about it though our gifts may be small - I believe they need funding of all sizes - but there's a call and I feel an obligation to act.  Some day I want to do a mission trip…or become more involved personally with a charity in addition to giving financially where I feel a bit on the perimeter of the true need.

To those who serve, as a citizen of the world, thank you for being involved and selflessly helping others - next door, down the street, in your city, state, country, another country.  I stand in awe and adoration of your good deeds, sacrifice and selflessness.  God bless you and all of us on our own paths.