Friday, May 15, 2026
Let’s link up with Andrea and Erika for Friday Favorites…
It was a hard week around here. Mother’s Day was hard and I woke up Monday wondering when these “Hallmark holidays” will get easier. Not only is my mom gone, but we don’t have a big extended family locally to do things like this with. I did cook chicken alfredo for my kids who were able to come over after work for dinner so that was nice. Tom and Eddie Otis went to visit Tom’s mom and EO’s grandmother and they got home in time to see the kids, too.
Monday, we comforted our friend who had to say goodbye to her sweet dog. Heather made her a photo plaque at Walgreen’s that turned out beautifully and I brought comfort foods – farmer’s market Amish sourdough, jam, chocolate chip cookies, and a quiche. We sat and talked and all three of us cried for her loss.
Then, Monday night I started seeing photos and videos on social media of my hometown church on fire. Hometown friends were sending me notices, too. This is the most special place in my hometown besides the house I grew up in and it was brutal to see. By end of the day on Tuesday, it was determined that the fire was started by an electric golf cart plugged in next to the church. The sanctuary was destroyed. My parents are weeping, I know.
This is the fall view of the church:
The steeple still stands but behind it is the sanctuary:
Look at this cool photo captured by a friend of mine that lives there:
Do you see it?
My ex-boyfriend is the deputy mayor (I’m not flexing; it’s true) and he says that the city will help them rebuild. They have insurance and a fund to help has been started, as well.
The beautiful thing is how the community came together. No lives were lost. There is a coffee shop across the street that fed the first responders and kept their restrooms open.
Next to the church is a bridal store (that used to be a funeral home) and I found these photos hauntingly beautiful; a call was made for trucks to transport the dresses out to save them and the community showed up. They are now being stored in a nearby church basement, and they saved them all – including dresses for brides getting married very soon.
I posted about my church on Instagram and so many former students reached out. One even said that she would like to donate. Awwww! I was very active in my church youth group and those were my best friends. I also brought other friends to join the group. We had amazing leaders and did so many cool things. My parents were super active and they became even more active in their retirement. My Dad was a trustee and treasurer and was there several days a week. My mom led the women’s tea fundraiser and the Jesus Clothes closet and was there all the time, too.
My Dad was so proud of the organ, and it was going to be the highlight of his three daughters’ weddings, he always said. Their funerals were there and the church fed our people. Anyway, it’s one of those special places that you think will always be there.
I went looking at my photos of the sanctuary.
My Dad walking me down the aisle:
The kiss:
The formal posed photo:
Even though I started my favorites with a solemn tone, I got to cook for my kids, my friend who lost her dog, and I saw the beauty of people coming together this week.
Jack gave me this cool horse serving platter for Mother’s Day. He even went to a shop that I like to shop for me.
Mason got me this book:
So fun!
I started and finished this book this week and I liked it. I enjoyed the 70s setting. Has anyone read it?
I picked up these library holds. I have “book anxiety” if I don’t have books waiting for me.
These are some recommendations I have gotten from either IG or other bloggers.
But I started Mad Mabel! It is a story that sucks you in. I am really enjoying it so far.
With all the sadness and melancholy I have been feeling this week, I found solace in nature with Eddie Otis. Look how beautiful!
We have had some gorgeous weather this week!
If you read Fashion Files on Tuesday, I talked about gauze. Old Navy now has more gauze in the store. I had to kill some time waiting for another store to open and walked in and saw new merch:
I have this shirt in yellow that you see in white and brown. I ordered two dresses that didn’t work from Nordstrom Rack which is right next door to this Old Navy, so I returned those in person.
I am sorry if I haven’t commented on your Fashion Files link up yet – or your comments, for that matter. It’s been hard to be on the computer for too long this week.
Eddie Otis got a pedicure and they gave him a handsome bandana.
I talked about this in Hodgepodge, but I watched the movie and it’s so well done. I recommend it for this weekend if you haven’t watched it yet.
I got a new hand soap this week and really love this scent!
And it was a favorite to get to go to a patio for lunch this week!
My companion was Mason!
We split the fish sandwich and the beet salad and I was too excited to remember to take photos of the food!
Happy Friday to you and thank you for your sweet comments on my church on Wednesday.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Oh goodness your week did start out rough. I’m glad you found some positive patches here and there. That is terrible about the church but so nice that the community came together. As our school counselor tells our 6th graders- you can’t always control what goes on around you but you can decide on your reaction to it. The church is so pretty! That steeple! Your Mother’s Day gifts are so thoughtful. I’m glad you were able to see the boys and spend time with them. We’ve had the beautiful weather, too, but we’re in for heat and rain. It was wonderful while it lasted. Have a great weekend!
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I feel terrible about your church but what beauty in those pics you shared. Oh the wedding dresses. That is community just showing up for sure! Your wedding photos in the church are just stunning too. Hope you have a wonderful weekend Amy
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What a tough week. Your hometown church was really beautiful, I am so happy they can rebuild. It’s amazing how people come together when needed. All those brides with upcoming weddings must have been in quite the panic!
The boys got you such thoughtful gifts for Mother’s Day! Hopefully in time you will find a way to mark the day that is meaningful and special for you.
xo,
Kellyann
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You have had a very rough week but still managed to find the good! Your home town coming together was inspiring. What a beautiful church! I’m thankful they will rebuild. It is still cold here and I am over it. Bring on the heat! Have a great weekend! I have been waiting for Mad Mable to come out. Will start that this weekend. Love the Eddie Otis photos!
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I am so sorry about your church; so many of those pictures are devastating, but I also loved seeing the community come together. I know that’s hard to see…I’ve had instances in which I was glued to the computer or TV about an event taking place, so I get how it would feel hard to be present in the blog world for too long this week. I love that you and a friend went to comfort another friend in the loss of her dog. Even though it was a tough week emotionally, I’m glad you were able to get out and see the beauty around you, and that you found solace being out in nature. Thank goodness for EO and his love of walking and companionship! I think you would feel a lot differently about retirement if not for your little buddy. I hope you continue to get out a bit as you feel and enjoy moments of goodness around you this weekend, my friend. Much love and big, big hugs. xoxo
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Wow – what a post! I’m sorry the loss of your church, but how beautiful it is to witness the community pulling together. And you are blessed to have children near enough to visit for a meal. It’s so important to have a feeling of “roots,” however we grow them, through family, churches, anchoring neighbors, and sometimes just time and our connection to our home and land. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you and you are so right. Wise words.
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That lunch on the patio looks lovely! We don’t have much extended family or make a big deal of out Mother’s day in our house… I think that’s just the reality of having 3 adult sons. We had dinner together but that was it; no gifts or cards or anything and I’m okay with that. Especially this year as we had literally just gotten home from vacation and I knew better than to think any of them would have planned ahead.
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It was so nice! My legs got hot in the sun!
Yeah, you are right. I need to plan my own things and just extend to any friends that are also without family.
I really don’t want the gifts, either. I just want time.
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So sorry Mother’s Day was hard. It’s bound to be, sending love and hugs and so sorry about your friend and the loss of her dog. That is awful news about your hometown church. How wonderful that the community came together, amazing photos! Remarkably Bright Creatures made it on to my favourites too!
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what an amazing thing to see – witnessing your hometown community coming together to rebuild this treasure in your town. The wedding dress parade brought me to tears – people just want to help, right? And they had a chance to do something that was meaningful too. Years ago when the marina we go out of at DHL caught on fire it was so heartwarming to see the community show up. They rebuilt within a year! Amazing what can get done when people get together. I “get” it about Mother’s Day. Thank you for reading my post – I know the holiday hits high AND low for many. Glad you shared how thoughtful your boys were with their gifts!!
Losing a pet is SO hard – glad your friend had friends who could mourn with her – I hope that brought her comfort, to know you cared. Hoping the weekend is a good one for you!! I started Mad Mabel on the drive to SC but haven’t gotten too far into it yet. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it though!
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I’m so glad to hear they will rebuild and I love the thoughtfulness of the community, saving the dresses and feeding the workers too. Everyone is talking about Mad Mabel but I haven’t read it yet. My pile of books is huge at the moment. My mom is settling in…it’s a process for all of us. Everything feels like a lot. My younger sister is a bit intense (maybe not the right word, but it captures the feeling) about every little thing, which I think is her way of coping with my mom moving out of her house. She has a vacation planned later this month which will be good for her.
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Sending you love during this hard season. That church has played such a central role in your life, sure the fire hit you hard. So happy to hear the town will rebuild, and I like serendipity of the bridal store being right next store. Mother’s Day was difficult for me too.. Try to remind myself that grieving is the price you pay for love, but it still sucks. HA. Have a wonderful weekend, need to check out Remarkably Bright Creatures (not gonna mention the octopus part to my husband).
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I’m so sorry about the church, and also just a rough week in general. Mother’s Day can be hard, whether you’re missing your own mother or wishing your kids were with you. Back to the church – I think that kind of community and support is so rare in today’s world. What a blessing it must be for your family. I really enjoyed Mad Mabel, and haven’t read any of your other titles yet. Hope you have a good weekend.
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When I saw the photos on your Instagram about your church… That made me so sad. What beautiful memories you have from there. We are in Maui for two weeks so my life is actually super super great right now lol and on the way over, I watched the movie Remarkably bright creatures it was so good! I also downloaded the first season of Schitts Creek. I know I know… I’m always late to a good party lol it is so funny. I literally laughed all the way across the Pacific Ocean. I think my husband was getting annoyed with me because I was laughing out loud so much. Have a great weekend! Aloha!!!
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Hi Amy!
I’m so sorry about your church. That’s really a weird feeling when something so personal is gone. I hope you have a great weekend!
Missy
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Your photos are amazing – the fall colors with the church is so striking. Be sure to keep us posted on its rebuilding! So many memories there. ): You have had a WEEK. Time to put your fee tup with those books!
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I am so sorry about the loss of your home church. The sanctuary was beautiful and held so many memories for you and, I’m sure, for many others, too. It’s comforting to see the community come together to support the church and bridal shop. The gifts you received from your boys were so thoughtful – they seem to know their mama well! Wishing you a great weekend ahead!
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What a week Amy. Holidays can be hard and one of my closest friends here and I talked a lot about these Mother’s Day/Father’s Day holidays and how they seem to be the hardest. I can’t believe the cause of the church fire. I am thankful no one was hurt and to see the wedding dresses were saved. Those pictures really show the community coming together. I hope you can be there at the re-opening ceremony of the church! Glad you got some outside time and hope you enjoy the weekend!
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Oh, Amy! Your church looks just like the church I was married in. It was torn down a couple of years later and replaced with a very modern one. I hope they are able to rebuild quickly. Was the organ destroyed? I had tears running down my cheeks as I remembered the big fire of the Fort Wayne St. Mary’s church back in the 80s as well as the photos of the wedding dresses being saved. What a wonderful community you lived in!
Mother’s Day is hard when your mom is gone. Mine never wanted anything other than a card and going out to breakfast. I am glad your boys both know you so well.
Old Navy is getting you good this summer, isn’t it? Gauze is still hot and heavy there and everywhere else. You didn’t mention if you bought anything. I like that blue and white pattern.
Those nature photos are beautiful. EO is so good off the leash. Jack would be in the water, digging up dirt, and eating anything that didn’t try to eat him first!
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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So glad the community got together to help salvage the dresses and work together. Mother’s day here was very simple as my husband always has this international carwash conference to go to every year on Mother’s day weekend: such bad planning on their part! But my mom was here (can’t believe they moved in almost a month ago) and it was a good day albeit very simple. I did have a great 24 hours leading to Sunday.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
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I’m so sorry you had such a hard week. I loved the look back at memories from the church and your wedding photos. So beautiful…the church and the fact the community rallied to help. (Your non flex comment made me LOL) love the thoughtful gifts from your boys!
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