Holy Week

The first destination in our journey was San Jose, to spend Holy Week with Fr. Samer Youssef and his beautiful family: Khouiyeh Julianna, Dimitry, Damian, and Dominic. We enjoyed a very blessed week, arriving in time for Holy Unction and staying through Holy Monday. Both their family and the whole Church of the Redeemer community were so very hospitable and we felt very much at home.
While the kids slept in the house, Vicky and I insisted on sleeping in the trailer so we could get accustomed to our new home. On Pascha itself, Fr. Samer fired up the grill and we enjoyed a great filet mignon dinner with all the trimmings, and some of Julianna's delicious Pascha Bread and Cheese. All throughout the week, besides being fed on the spiritual food of the services, we were fed well at the hands of Julianna and Fr. Samer's mother (also named Victoria!), from whom we enjoyed all of our Arabic fasting favorites.
On Bright Monday, we bid farewell to the Youssef's, but only for a brief time: we cajoled them into joining us at Yosemite next week. (Fr. Samer and Fam.: We thank you SO MUCH for all your hospitality, and we miss you all bery, bery, BERY much. Can't wait to see you next week!)