Easter

Last Easter I was terribly sick. So I feel like this was Fiona's first Easter, even though it really wasn't. We definitely downplay the secular elements of Easter, i.e. none of my kids think there is such a thing as the Easter Bunny. But once a year it's fun to have a little "treasure hunt" that results in deviled eggs for lunch. The kids and I got together with some friends to dye eggs on the Friday before. Yeah, I'm a traditionalist and I just can't stand to use those little plastic eggs. Besides, then how would you get those deviled eggs that we were talking about? I think we all had a good time watching Fiona try to find some of the eggs that I left out in the easy spots. Then I started to get a little worried as I couldn't remember exactly where all the other eggs had been hidden or exactly how many there had been. Pregnant brain!!! Fortunately, they found them all so we didn't have to bring in the egg sniffing hounds.

As always, we had a wonderful time worshiping with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We recognize that every Sunday- even every day- is a day to remember the sacrifice that Christ Jesus made. We are thankful for that sacrifice each day and praise God for his grace and mercy. Still, we like to make a special point to focus on that at Easter. I do apologize for not having a picture of the entire family on Easter- by the time I realized there was no place to put my camera it was too late to drag out the tripod. Maybe next year!

Easter in Real Life

When I woke up yesterday I was excited to be spending the day celebrating our risen Savior. First a sunrise service at church, lunch with friends and then a relaxing afternoon and evening for Ev's last day off for two weeks. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way. After showering and dressing, it became clear that I would be spending the day in bed, sick with the same virus the boys had last week. I'm not going to lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I missed the boys hunting for their Resurrection Eggs that I had hidden the night before. I barely got to see Fiona in her pretty Easter dress on her first Easter. Everett took all three kids to church (Super Dad), and I was left home alone, feeling miserable. I turned on some praise music and started to reflect on Christ's suffering instead of my own: Sure, I was feeling pretty rotten, but not compared to what Christ went through. In fact, though we are told that we will suffer for our faith, I've never come close to experiencing what many Christians around the world suffer each day. I was feeling lonely, but what do I know of loneliness? My Lord knew true loneliness as he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." That spiritual separation from His father, with whom he is one, is unlike anything I will ever experience.

I was still sick, but it did give me a chance to reflect deeply on some things that might have been missed otherwise in the bustle of activity. I also experienced blessing through an unusual avenue- Facebook. My pointer finger was still functional, so I was able to check FB from my phone. I was so encouraged by other brothers and sisters in Christ posting praises to God. I admit, I'm still a little sad there isn't a nice family picture for Fiona's first Easter. In fact, these are the only pictures form the whole day. By the afternoon, I was feeling a little better so I snapped these from my spot in bed.



Somehow, the boys' Easter shirts managed to make it through the whole day without any stains and still looked nice enough for a precious picture. Fiona had long since been changed into a pajama shirt, but I made her Daddy put on her Easter bow. (which he purposefully accidentally neglected to do for church)



Maybe next year these pictures will help remember to be more focused on what Easter is all about.


But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:1-5

Praise the Lord, He is risen!!

An Easter Birthday

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:1-6


I hope everyone had a joyful Easter sunday! It was a blessing to spend the day together for the first time in several years. In the midst of our busy schedule, we had a consolidated holiday: Easter and Braden's birthday! I can't believe he's 3 already! In many ways, he still seems so babyish, but I can't deny that he's becoming more and more little boy.

Braden's sssselection thisssss year: A Sssssssnake Cake

It'ssssss ssssupremely ssssssatisfactory!

Bunnies and Eggs

Well, minus the bunnies. I asked Trev this morning, "What in the world do bunnies and eggs have to do with Easter?" "Nothing," was his answer. I think he already knew, but undoubtedly his mind was recently refreshed by these Resurrection Eggs. The boys received these eggs in Sunday School last sunday. They come with a booklet: As the child opens each egg, there is a scripture and short explanation to read. We've done these at least once a day since sunday.


Inside each egg is a small item, which is a symbol of some part of the Easter story.

So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. John 19:16b-18