He Is RISEN!!

Happy Easter to all of you! I considered not posting this picture because it's been on my Easter blog for two years in a row, but it really DOES sum up this entire day in history.



This year, I thought I'd add a video of one of my favorite Easter memories from the past few years. Each year, in our previous church, our Youth Group would perform this "stick ministry" to the song, "Arise My Love" by Newsong. Even though this video is not our youth group, it gives me goosebumps each time I watch it and consider the words. Enjoy!

Monday Thinking....

Do you notice other cars? How about dirty ones? I don't really watch cars. I've decided that men and boys are "wired" to know makes and models without much thought. Even my 8 year old can tell me makes and models that I haven't a clue about! I often hear one of them say, "That's a SWEET car!" Now, I do KNOW a Lexus or a BMW or Mercedes when I see one. It could be because I live in a town that is FULL of them. But, most of the time, I really pay little or no attention. Saturday, though, I noticed cars.

Mine (a Honda Odyssey) needed a wash in the worst way. It was dusted with pollen that is so prevalent in our area at this time of year. It was nearing the point where someone might have written "WASH ME" on a window or two. I forgot to ask for the car wash with my last fill-up, so I thought I'd wait until the next time I gassed up. With my tank almost full, I started thinking of all the places I needed to go. I admit that I was thinking about "just taking another one to church on Sunday" so no one would see my dusty car.

Contemplating this in the Target parking lot on Saturday, I looked around at all the Lexus's, BMWs, and Mercedes' that bordered my car. And many of them were also DIRTY. Then I thought, "You know, dirt is dirt. It simply doesn't 'look good' on any car--regardless of price." And I doubt any of my kids would have deemed any of the dirty ones "sweet cars".

And then I thought...everything (and everyone) gets "dirty" sometimes. Whether its tangible property, or with our own lives, everything gets smudged. Usually, though, it's nothing a good wash won't fix. We just have to take the TIME to do it.

Yesterday was Easter. Many of us were in church learning about the ultimate "washing of our souls". And while I sat inside enjoying another Sunday worship, my car, freshly washed, sat in the parking lot. Dare I say, we were BOTH satisfied!?! OR SWEET!?!?!

Happy Monday!!

An "Oldie but Goodie"...

I published this last year on Easter, but think it really says everything I need or want to:

My Weekend Window

It's time for MY Weekend Window....

Friday I got my hair done. It feels so good to have it in a style that I like again AND can work with!!!!

Friday night we went to my Dad and Stepmother's to color eggs. It was fun to see my nieces and nephew. They had a great time egg coloring...I am always amazed at how fast it goes.

Saturday I got my nails done. Again, something that made me feel better and pampered a bit. Mom and I went shopping at the Outlet Mall. It was packed...I finally got the boys Easter stuff. I found an Easter outfit as did Mom. We had a nice time just talking and walking around the mall.

DS 4 wasn't through with his egg coloring "traditions" so we did it at OUR house on Saturday night. He had a great time mixing colors and planning what to do with his dozen eggs.

We woke up Sunday and he hunted for eggs. DSs 3 and 4 and I pretty much entertained each other until church time.

Sunday was busy for the older guys and dh. They were at church for FOUR services starting with Sunrise. I know this simply can wear you out. They rested yesterday afternoon then we all went mini-golfing and out to eat last night. Golfing was fun (but expensive). Dh noted after we ate that it cost us less to eat than to play mini-golf. I think we had a nice time though.

Somebody at church said, "You guys don't do anything for Easter???" I guess one of the boys told her that. I just didn't know how to explain what it's like being in ministry...and especially Holy Week. Dh was explaining it to the boys last night. He said that 2/3 of the Pastors in America take time off after Easter because it is draining. So "doing" something that requires more energy and preparation on that most busy day isn't the best idea for the clergy family. And besides....we DO something...we DO the most important thing....we go to church and celebrate the resurrection. After that, it's all gravy....know what I mean?

So, now after a great weekend....I am back to the daily grind....work. See you soon!

This says it all....

It's Easter and There's Not an Egg in this Town!

I went out today and shopped for Easter. I know it's a bit late. It just crept up on me this year. With the boys getting older...and knowing that they really don't DO candy....I didn't plan ahead. Truth is, I thought maybe it would come and go and I wouldn't have to do the egg, candy, basket thing. Now before you think I am the worst Easter Bunny ever, know that I always get them a small gift....it was just going to be sans the other Eastery stuff this year.

The only reason I even considered doing "anything" more than my little gift is this:

In a conversation this week with DS 4, I realized that HE seems to think we have some traditions that I wasn't fulfilling. He said, "We ALWAYS hunt eggs at Grandma C's!" Now, we may have hunted eggs there twice in his lifetime....so I guess when it has been done 2/7 years, it "could" be considered tradtion. And we weren't planning to go there this year.

In a subsequent conversation, he proceeded to tell me something else that we "always" do and I thought, "OK time to get your Easter hat on and prepare a nice memory for that boy."

So, last night, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's to color eggs and fill his memory basket. He was happy with that. He had a great time visiting and playing with his cousins and helping create some beautiful eggs over there.

Today, I went shopping with my Mom. I decided I wasn't going to do much candy because they rarely eat what I get. But I decided that I would fill plastic eggs and let DSs 3 and 4 hunt for them in the morning (since everyone else will be at Sunrise Service). There was only one slight problem...there wasn't a plastic egg to be found within twenty miles of my house!!!!!!!!

One year, dh found so many plastic eggs at the "after-Easter" sales that he bought 3500 for the church's egg hunt the next year!! This year, NO ONE will be landing that kind of deal. There simply were no eggs. We searched all the "regular" stores for them. I finally decided they don't "need" eggs anyway and left. I couldn't believe it though. It's Easter. Could it really be that they didn't buy enough eggs for last minute shoppers like me? There wasn't even Easter GRASS (which I don't like anyway). I was actually quite amazed.

In a last minute effort, I stopped at CVS by my house (less than a mile) and low and behold there were five packs of plastic eggs on the shelf. I almost tackled a lady in front of me who was also reaching for egg bags. Luckily she took two and I took two...and we left one for some other poor soul who needed them last minute. I praised the lady at the counter of CVS for making one more child smile on Easter morning and left with my prize.

Now, I just have one slight problem....I didn't buy anything small enough to go in them!! I wonder if he'd mind hunting for empty eggs?????? Seriously, I'm going to raid the coin jar and call it done.

I know the eggs and the bunnies and the baskets are NOT what Easter is all about....but I was taken back to my childhood a bit this week as DS 4 shared his expectations and memories. I loved getting them as a child as does he. I loved the WHOLE event...from the baskets...to the eggs....to bunnies...to PEEPS....to dressing up and especially going to church.

Tonight, he reminded me that it's a total package for him too when he said, "it will be fun going to church tomorrow to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead."

Thank goodness we didn't skip this opportunity to make memories and enjoy this wonderful holiday together!! And thank goodness we found those eggs!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen ThingsSUSAN remembers about EASTER With Easter coming around the corner, I thought it'd be fun sharing some of my memories of this holiday from my early childhood until now. 1. Chewing the ear off the chocolate bunny 2. Peeps 3. Picking out a dress 4. Attending my first Sunrise Service in a Sundress and FREEZING!! 5. Easter baskets at Grandma and Grandpa's 6. Hunting for eggs in the house and finding the last one a little (ahem) late 7. Bonnets 8. Singing "Here Comes Peter Cottontail..." 9. Bringing extra chairs into church for all the seasonal attendees 10. Being excited that at least they were in church twice a year! 11. Picking out Easter outfits for the boys when they were younger 12. Mom sewing matching outfits for DS 1 and 2 when they were 1 and 2 13. Finding easter grass around the house long after the holiday is over!! Of course, I know that Resurrection is the MOST important thing about Easter!!!!!

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