Prisms

We can't even begin to try to understand the timing of so many things that have been happening over this past year but for whatever reason that only God knows, things are the way they are.  

With February about to end and March upon us...I keep thinking about how last March went...an emergency trip home to find Dad in a weakened state, returning back to Ohio only to be called back home by an emergency call again less than two weeks later where I remained for the next six weeks when life as my family knew it changed forever.

An image that keeps coming to mind since last spring for me, personally, has been a prism and the idea of how broken we all truly are.  

It's tough, we hurt, and we don't want the jagged edges that feel like they are piercing our hearts at times.  Things don't seem fair, they seem impossible, and frankly, at times, they just flat out stink.  

Yet the light still gets in and the broken rough edges mold together to form a unique object that is, in the end, truly beautiful.  I feel like these circumstances that others have shared with me of worry, anxiety, fear, deep grief, and others that have been described, and the unique situations we are all facing in our own lives, are helping us to allow God to fill in the gaps...to let the light in and make something beautiful from something we might not ordinarily or willingly have chosen for ourselves. 

 I'm not sure if any of this makes sense but I hope it brings comfort.  I have also been resting in the comfort that He will provide us with the grace to do what He asks of us.  He didn't promise a smooth obstacle-free road map to the next destination or stop in our respective journeys but He did promise He would show us the way and sustain us.  

He's truly lighting the way...it might only seem like tiny flickers of light but He'll get you through and I pray for the light beams to penetrate through what might seem foggy right now amidst so many unknowns.  Being on the outside looking in, it's really beautiful seeing God reflected in others as I watch them grow in their trust...kind of like the small rainbows we see in prisms!    ❤️

See the geometric prism hanging in the right corner?  It was a Christmas gift from a dear friend.  I'm thankful for faith friends who helps us on our journeys!

Charlotte's 4th Birthday - Let's Freeze Time! (Frozen) ~ (March 2020)

 A year ago, Charlotte was really into Frozen.  

Even now, 365 days later, she is still loving on Elsa and Anna and one of her Elsa dolls is often found not far from where she is.  

Therefore, we went with a "Let's Freeze Time!" theme for her fourth birthday party.  For the first time, we had it outside our home and my parents missed it.  My dad had been very ill in the days leading up to Charlotte's birthday party and was unable to make the trip out to Ohio with Mom.  It was so bizarre to gather with some of my family but to not have my parents there.  We didn't know it at the time but when we, and Charlotte's closest friends, all gathered that first Saturday of March, which was her actual birthday, this would be the last social gathering we would engage in for a long time.  The Tuesday after that, the world began shutting down with the arrival of coronavirus.  Shortly after that, Charlotte and I went home to be with my parents as my Dad's health started to rapidly decline before we lost him in April.  

Anyhow, back to Charlotte's birthday party, I mentioned this was the first time that we did not host a gathering at our home.  Instead, we went to one of Charlotte's favorite places.  We booked a party at the local family activity center which I highly recommend!  The children were able to play and run around getting out the wriggles and burning energy.  The parents and adults were able to mingle and socialize.  The two hours flew by in the blink of an eye...no matter how much we tried to freeze time!

The Dollar Store had these cute Frozen-themed favor bags that I snatched up for the children.  White chocolate balls to represent Olaf, a pack of Elsa tissues, and some coloring worksheets of Anna were included as favors.

                                                                 Blue jello ice cubes

         Crackers with cheese "snowflakes" on them              The orange plate contained "Olaf pieces".       

                                        Greeting her cousins at one of her favorite places!

One of the activities involved making ice snowflakes that appeared on the blue construction paper!

    Mrs. Lily read from an interactive book that also served as Charlotte's 4th Birthday Book.  

After the party ended at All4Kids, we headed to mass.  We didn't know it but it would wind up being the last in-person mass we would attend since churches began shutting down as of the next weekend.  After mass, we drove across the river and had supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  

                          Charlotte was surprised by this large hat and singing in her honor!

                                                                     Then she got shy.

                       She got over her shyness when we went to our favorite ice cream shoppe for dessert!

Once we got home that night, she dove into her Frozen nightgown and began opening her presents.

                                                        I think it's safe to say she had a great day!