Risen Indeed

I know I am SO BEHIND, but I still feel compelled to write about Easter. My Lenten preparations this year involved not only giving something up, but committing to do as well—I worked on being diligent about Bible study and journaling, and I also spent March and April reading One Thousand Gifts and N.T. Wright’s book on the resurrection, Surprised by Hope. Both books were incredible. Surprised by Hope in particular brought home what the resurrection really means, that God is in the business of restoring the world, us included, something that brings meaning to everything we do. I love that, I want to embrace that in my every day, the idea that what I do matters.

I know that in the wrong spirit Lent becomes legalistic, but it shouldn’t be. Lent this year was about putting myself in a place where, on Sunday morning, I had tears streaming down my face singing, “Christ is risen from the dead, we are one with him again!” and wanted to shout that “He is risen indeed!” Wright talks about celebrating Easter at least as long as we prepared for it, and even today, three weeks later, I feel like raising my hands in gratitude that I get to be a part of the new creation Jesus ushered in at his resurrection!

I missed spending Easter with Jason, but it was—and always is—really special to spend it with my family. Prep for Easter also includes egg decorating, of course, and we had a lot of fun dying eggs with the boys. Mom wisely moved things outside, since Mason was blue from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers within about two minutes…and had also cracked open at least one egg and was eating it, dye and all.

At least he knew where to put the yolk when he was done with it???

We got a fabulous Easter surprise when Casey and Kim randomly joined us for dinner at Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night--they'd driven down from Potlatch to spend Easter with us! What a treat to get to spend time with them! Made everything extra fun. It was the first time more than one boy was into the egg hunt, and then during the grown-kids hunt, Kim came away with the golden egg! I was hampered in my hunt by Kade-boy, not a bad deal. :)
What a glorious celebration!