Weekending.

I'm amazed a few of the photos are actually in focus because it seems like the last three days were a blur! Beth, Betty and I enjoyed an early walk in the park on Friday (including that awesome bird sighting - a heron, I think) and then they left just after 9am.

I proceeded to church for our first small group discussion about Anne Lamott's latest, Hallelujah Anyway. We laughed a lot, and agreed that while Lamott might not be "suitable" for everyone (her language and her politics are most definitely "blue"), she's certainly got a wonderful way with words and her message is right on target for us.

Then errands, a bit of housekeeping and an hour on the porch to finish To the Bright Edge of the World. Wow. wonderful. and quite unlike me, I immediately went to Goodreads to make a few notes:

absolutely beautiful. Both the writing and the story blew me away. I've never been shy about reading the last few pages before I finish the book (you know, so I could be prepared for the ending), but this time I just wanted to read and experience it as it unfolded. I cried through much of the last 100 pages and I'm not going to say anything more about the book. Except that I'm traveling to Alaska with my mom and siblings this summer on a sort of spiritual journey...and I think we all need to read this book before we go. It might be my next book club pick too.

 I had planned to share the post about Summer Bingo on Saturday, but I was into books and reading - and what to read next - so I wrote that Friday evening instead. and then I went to bed!

Saturday morning I was up early ... good thing because that bingo post wasn't quite right and I was able to fix it before too many of y'all saw it. I'm delighted with the feedback so far! We're now up to over 90 categories; I'd love to have an even hundred if y'all can come up with a few more.

The highlight of Saturday was the afternoon/evening when I got to babysit (Katie & Rob attended a wedding). Having both boys through supper and bedtime is a workout (seriously, I was a little sore yesterday :-) but what fun! and what a sense of accomplishment once they're both asleep.

I spent the night and enjoyed a morning walk with Katie and the boys before I left. Her neighborhood is hilly - even more so than mine (good thing she's young and in shape - she pushed both boys in the stroller!)

Yesterday afternoon was the Spring Women's Luncheon at church. The program was about Seeing Jesus in Art. The presenter shared beautiful images, including paintings, sarcophagi, mosaics and sculptures along with wonderful information about how Jesus has been portrayed through the centuries. In closing, she said that Jesus has not been traditionally depicted as a woman. So she had no images to share, but instead, these words:

See [the face of Jesus] for what it is just possible that it will become: the face of Jesus as the face of our own secret and innermost destiny: The face of Jesus as our face." ~Frederick Buechner, The Faces of Jesus.

We loved it!

Then I finally had time to take Holly for a walk. She barely made it half a mile before she was done; I had to carry her home (thankfully she only weighs eight pounds).

We ended the day with a little knitting. and another early bedtime. It's nice to start Monday with a good night's rest ... and rain. I've got things to do inside today and the rain makes me not want to be outside. It's also nice that Marc had two dry weekend days for golf - that always makes him much happier about going to work Monday morning.

Hope your week is off to a good start, too. Happy Monday (and happy May!)