Catching up

Today started with delight and ended with pleasure. I saw my first saguaro blossom of the season this morning, a brilliant white star on a green giant. Then I cleaned the pool and adjusted the chemicals: The boys and I had our first swim of the season this afternoon. Both moments were glorious and wonderful.

Yesterday was a wretched day that started with a colonoscopy. Need I say more? I was not expecting the post-procedural pain but I got over it. Now I have to wait for the results.

Monday was a great day back at school ... and preparing for the colonoscopy. I won't say anything more about that.

Sunday was a quiet day of doing laundry and enjoying being back in our own space.

Saturday was our last day of vacation. We had a great trip to the zoo and an uneventful plane ride home.

Vacation highlights: The boys and I had wonderful "play dates" with all our friends. It was so good to be back in familiar territory, seeing familiar landmarks, walking my old neighborhood. And of course, being back in church was beyond wonderful.

The day after Rock made his first confession, HardPlace served at the altar, for the Divine Liturgy of Great and Glorious Pascha. It was heart-stopping to see my little one behind the iconostasis, where his dad stood so proudly, so humbly.

We came back to Arizona with a renewed appreciation of our church. We've started doing Compline at bedtime again; the boys eagerly participate, bickering over who gets to read which section. It makes me so very happy.

Finally, I derive a perverse pleasure in how HardPlace chose to complete one of his homework assignments. His assignment on Monday was to list the hierarchy of the church. He started with Patriarch Gregory III, then named Archbishop Cyril Bustros of the Eparchy of Newton. I told him that his teacher might not recognize those names and maybe he should list the Pope and the Bishop of Tucson. But that's not OUR church. Cyril is MY Bishop. Mom grins. Hugely. You're right, babe. You're right.