Easter Weekend

We celebrated this Easter weekend well, with a good mix of quiet and slow here at home followed with a big day surrounded by lots of family Easter Sunday.  It was a heavy and fulfilling Holy Week here last week, and the gray skies, cold temperatures, and windy conditions on seemed to give us the pass to hunker in on Saturday and do what we do best - home.  

I'm not sure I would have been as grateful for our day at home on Saturday if it wasn't for our Maundy Thursday night.  It was Beau's idea to attend our church's college-led service after Erica texted him and let him know she was leading worship.  Thursday nights are usually a little wound around here as we close out the week, and I wasn't sure how the kids would do at the "intimate communion service."  But as we walked through the doors of our home church and were greeted by so many of the sweet college kids we've gotten to know this year, we knew we were in the right place to quiet our hearts for the weekend ahead.  

It was one of the most beautiful services I think I've ever attended and the holy spirit was felt in such big and small ways in the room that night.  Five brave college kids told stories from their lives that connected with different scriptures from Jesus' last night with his disciples.  In between their stories of brokenness and redemption, we watched a performance set to different songs that brought us to tears.  God and Satan's fight for the hearts of humanity, a fight that ultimately led to the cross, was brought to life in ways even our seven and four year old could identify with.  Their eyes were glued to the front for the performance, they asked questions that brought smiles to the faces of people around us, and at one point, the dad sitting directly ahead of us reached over and patted Mila's head because she had worked her way into the space between him and his son.  We took communion, sang Reckless Love in a way I've never sung it before, and Cruz fell asleep in Beau's arms.  And at the end of the service, the five college students who shared their story carried the cross of Jesus up to the front of the sanctuary themselves, a significant reminder of the weight we weren't asked to carry.  After a week of feeling broken and redeemed myself, I felt the holy spirit alive in me in a way I hope I never forget.  And as we all filed out in silence following the service, Mila ran ahead and right into the arms of Winnie, her sweet teacher from Kenya who has been a bright light in our girl's life this year.  

My heart was tuned to the cross, ready to celebrate the joy of a Jesus who saves.  

The rest of our weekend went as follows.  We gathered around the table for pancakes and sausage Saturday morning, decided to revisit traditional PAAS egg dye after last year's failed attempt at shaving cream dye, and skipped the outdoor egg hunts for a little fun right in our living room.    

Since our Easter Sunday morning tends to be a little rushed trying to all get out the door on time, I decided to surprise the kids with their baskets a day early, too.  I might do this every year!  We read books, played our new Peek a Bunny Boo Game (I recommend this for all ages!), and even got in a little afternoon nap.  

Easter Sunday was a cold one this year, but the kids looked like Spring in their new outfits.  We woke up cheery and excited to see family, and I had time to curl both Mila and my hair.  That alone is a Sunday miracle!  

They "cooperated" with lots of pictures.  And the ones where I catch them in the moment are always my favorite.  Their bond makes my heart skip a beat.    

We had church in Allison with my family, a traditional ham dinner at Grandma's to follow, a big ole egg hunt in the basement this year, and little donuts and goodie bags to follow us out the door.  We ended our day with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Ray in Hampton with air hockey and chex mix.  It was a big day, full of joy and celebration.  Another Easter in the books, a spring to celebrate the hope and new life we have in Jesus.