Easter weekend 2017

Rejoice!  We celebrate the empty tomb!  He has risen!!

What a glorious Easter weekend we had!

Good Friday, since J was off, we went Downtown to work on a project for the Noodle--she had to visit a historic sight and do a presentation about it.  It was blustery but the sun was out.

After a yummy pizza dinner it was time to decorate eggs.  We had gotten a different type of kit this year (hello last minute...oops!) and it had the gold foil paint included.

It seemed pretty cool, but perhaps because the eggs weren't completely dried when they painted it on, the stuff rubbed off pretty easily.

Saturday was low key and we just did some chores, cooking, etc. to get ready to host Easter on Sunday.

On Easter morning, the Easter Bunny always leaves a BUNCH of jelly beans hidden (or not) that the girls love to collect.  That was the first order of business.

After they had counted up their jelly beans they got their baskets.  All pretty standard fare, but this year the Easter Bunny went a little lighter on the candy--ha!

After a beautiful and moving church service, we took a walk around the block in our typical fashion.  Since we hadn't gotten any pictures before, we took a few after.  There was minimal grumbling ;)

We were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous day.  Bright sun, blue sky and warm temperatures.  Throughout the day, the wind would pick up, switch direction and then die down again.

Then it was time to head back home and get ready for Grandma, Grandpa, Lollie and Papa to come over for Easter Brunch.

Ham, cheesy potatoes, egg/broccoli/asparagus casserole, kuggelhoff coffeecake, fresh pineapple and mimosa, because of course!  Delish.  Lala brought these adorable bunny cakes that we use to always get at Easter growing up.  They were as delicious now as they were 30 years ago.

After all that eating, it was time to go out and hunt eggs!  We did it super classy this year with plastic bags and plastic eggs #targetforthewin

After all the festivities were over, the kitchen was cleaned up, the girlies had gone to bed, J and I decided to chill and enjoy the last few minutes of daylight.  Isn't it wonderful to have the longer days?  Even better was not having any bugs to deal with while we were sitting outside!!

 It was a great Easter weekend, but more importantly than being with family and all the hoopla that went with it, is the understanding that we serve a King who defeated death and is ALIVE!  He defeated death and rose 3 days later...all for me and for you too.  That's the real reason to celebrate!

Happy Easter!

Easter Preparation

How do you prepare for Easter?  New clothes?  Spring hat?  Full cart at the grocery?  Dying eggs? All good and fun, but the most important preparation begins in our hearts.  It is easy to get caught up in the Easter bunny craze and somehow neglect to focus on the real reason for Easter.

The fact that on Friday, Jesus, who had died an absolutely horrible death, was dead and put into a tomb, but that three days later, that tomb was empty.  Our Lord rose from the dead.  Just like he said he would do.  Amazing.  Mind blowing.  Life changing!!

We've been trying to be a bit more intentional about Easter this year.  If J and I don't focus on it, how will the girls ever grasp the true  meaning?  Certainly not by just hoping that they absorb it at Sunday school (although don't get me wrong, this is also a huge component!).  But it is so easy to just go along with the flow and get swept up in the candy, eggs, bunnies and baskets of it all, that all of a sudden, Christ and his sacrifice, becomes just a passing thought or comment.

Hopefully, by little discussions and meaningful (fun!) activities, they will start to understand and fully grasp the full sacrifice Jesus made for each and every one of us by taking on our sins and dying for us.  We don't do anything earth shattering--making resurrection cookies, eating hot cross buns (and "breakfast ice-cream" ha ha!) for breakfast on Good Friday, a prayer walk around the neighborhood (mainly adults, puddle splashing/tree climbing for the kiddos), watching a cute movie for family movie night, spending some quite time reflecting on Jesus' sacrifices.  But it opens the door for conversation and discussion about what Easter really is about.

Don't get me wrong--we've still got our new clothes, dyed eggs and enough chocolate and jelly bean eggs to give anyone a sugar rush!  But most importantly, we've got the promise of  new, eternal life that only he can give.  What can top that?

Good Friday

***Make sure you "pause" the music on the blog.

Good Friday

"Father, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take away this cup from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." --Mark 14:36

Such a simple thing to pray, and yet so deep and full of meaning. This prayer is obviously the true act of bending to the Lord's will, even when it goes against your own personal wishes and plans. I am humbled and so very thankful that Jesus was willing to forgo his own desires so that God's plan could be fulfilled.

Blessings to you all as we enter into this holy weekend.