Have A Little Faith in We

We are starting this Life Lately post exactly where we left the last one, with Miss Lola Grace.  In early April, it was my sister Katy’s birthday and I got the chance to be babysitter while she had a night out to celebrate.

This little face is so fun – as long as your holding her – and we enjoyed a night of hanging in, listening to Quinlan lose it at the neighbors (which according to Lo is hilarious), and order some take out once she hit the hay. It was nice to spend some one on one time with her, I swear she is so much bigger than even just these pictures a few weeks back. Thanks Katy for letting me play with Lola!!

That same weekend my parents helped me move the furniture I acquired from my grandparents’ house  to the Bessette abode. There is something  special about having the same things that my grandparents used to make their house a home now in mine. As I go about my days continuing to work on the progress of my life, I wonder what the future looks like. Yet, I have come to understand there is nothing I can do to influence it, besides continuing to work a little more towards my goals each and every day. To see these pieces of their life spread throughout the setting of mine, I am comforted by the reminder of their example.  They had a life rooted in Catholicism, a marriage that survived the ages, and the privilege of being given 7 kiddos to parent. This life they built was filled with blessings, but also the result of hard working people who got up each day and tried their best. I am hopeful that not only has some of their furniture come to be a part of my life, but also some of their wisdom will fill my home too.

The weather has really started to turn here in the Northern Virginia area and we are almost completely committed to spring season…. including some extra beautiful sunsets that were the motivation to get out and enjoy great date night.

The beauty and freshness of this time of year has also breathed a lot of energy into Danny. We both always feel a little leery to assume we have turned a corner in his health…. but there is no denying that Danny has found a bright spot in the journey back to life! And luckily it is including cooking, time in our yard, time with friends at a summer movie fantasy league (so fun…. this one I hope to give a whole guest post about), and a chance to be greeters for Honor Flight (something we have been trying to do for 2 years, but always held back for fear of having to cancel due to illness). We are reminded regularly that Danny will need every bit of a year to heal…. but for now I am soaking up the fun of actually being out living our life, not just talking about some day. It has been amazing to realize how much of life we are missing out on, and I am not sure I even knew it.

Also over these past few weeks we celebrated Easter! My cousin and her sweet little family came up to visit and we enjoyed family dinners…. a pedicure gal’s date… and just hanging out at my parents’ house. It seems so simple – but soaking up the time of drinking coffee together gathered around the kitchen table in the morning, or wine in the evening as we all plop down in the living room, has a way of making my heart so full. As a kid I wondered what the future would hold for all of us. Would we just keep expanding with each new marriages and births? Would we remain close and still desire the late night gab sessions? What started out as having to whisper so my parents would not hear us in my cousin’s childhood bedroom (and sneaking candy…..), now includes several of us talking together into the wee hours of the night. Life continues to change…. people move, have babies, get jobs – that will pull us in different directions, but for now I am very happy to see us all remain close and always able to pick up right where we left off!

 On Easter Sunday Danny and I went to 5PM mass. It was a bit of an odd time to go for this particular holiday, but do to the Bessette side family obligations, Dan’s pharmacy pick up schedule, and being a little worn out from all the Flaherty fun – we opted to just go Sunday afternoon. The mass was not crowded at all, so we got seats very easily, and we were able to sit with my parents, Ganmommy, Bridget and Sawyer. What a beautiful way to start the new Church Year – sitting with some of my biggest pillars of strength. This Lent had been incredibly transforming for me and that Easter mass felt like the perfect celebration to honor my journey.

The following weekend, Katy, Lola, and I traveled to UVA for Bridget’s sorority event. A brunch exclusively for moms – Katy and I lucked out that my mom was away for work so we got to attend! Pledging just this spring, Greek Life is a new experience for Brig and we loved being able to support her!

Plus you can’t beat Charlottesville as the perfect setting for sister time! We enjoyed a lovely brunch, grabbed some coffee, toured the architecture school, walked around downtown, got to see her sorority house, and had an awesome dinner (with the highlight being the high chair that allowed Lola to be in the booth with us and she loved it)! So we may have over eaten a bit, regardless as Bridget’s first semester will come to an end shortly, it was really nice to hang out in the middle of her life for an afternoon.

That’s about it for Life Lately….. this week I am at my company’s annual conference (hence the silence this last week as I got ready) out west…. but I still have some great posts planned and hope to enjoy hotel downtime by catching up with you guys here!

Thanks so much for reading and remember to make it a great day!

Jackie