Wow! It's been a busy week. Passover started last Monday evening. It's the biggest Jewish holiday - and there is not one, but two, family gatherings and huge dinner preparations. Two nights in a row. And lasting till 11 or 12. And it's still so new to me that I get exhausted with working out all the details. And yet, I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, and I made svichkova for dinner - and everyone loves it - it went well with the potato kugel.

And then Easter. It's tricky. My dear Paul cheerfully comes to mass with me all the rest of the time. But asking him to go to church on Good Friday just doesn't seem quite right. And the most wonderful celebration of the whole year for me, Easter, is something we are still working out. So this is what we did this year....

First of all, all through Lent, we did not have meat on Fridays. And there were times when Paul remembered and I did not! And then, on the Thursday before Easter, we went to a service with a church we go to sometimes - a small, vibrant Episcopal congregation with people we like and a woman priest we very much like. It was beautiful. There was a sit-down feast - middle Eastern food - with 10-12 seated at each round table and served by one designated person at the table. The grace before the meal was the Jewish one we have at home! The Passover story of the Exodus was told. After dinner, there was foot washing - each person had their feet washed, and then, in turn, washed the feet of the next person.

I remembered the times I washed the feet of my dear Mama. And how holy that was.

And then there was a communion service. And an amazing sermon from the visiting bishop, who kept us entranced.

Good Friday was not good. I've been struggling with the old demon depression and think my meds need adjusting. And Friday was a bad day.

Easter morning I set off on my own to go to a sunrise service about 10 minutes from here. But as I came to the little Methodist church a mile up the road from home, I saw a bunch of cars pulling in there. So I pulled in too and asked someone if they were having a sunrise service. A lovely lady said yes, and introduced herself, and so I stayed and we sat together when we went inside. And it was just one of those perfect "God-moments" - I wasn't meant to go to that other service.

I had been meaning to check out this little church - there is something special about a local, neighborhood church - and they were so welcoming. After the service, I was introduced to several people - two divinity students from Duke (my age), and some interesting women.

What a lovely start to Easter.

Then Paul and Nataw (his daughter) and I went to a noon service outside, followed by a potluck lunch - with the same Episcopal church we'd been with on Thursday night. And that was lovely too.

Oh, and Ian and Valeda (Paul's oldest son and girlfriend) brought dinner over last night - and flowers and a card for me for Easter! They are so dear.

Did I say it snowed Friday night? After a week of 80 plus weather! Weird.