10. New Easter dresses for the girls and me. ("Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor. 5:17)
9. Easter dinner on my grandma's pake yellow flowered china, given to her and my grandpa as a wedding gift from the Baptist church that I grew up in
8. Playing "hotter/colder" with our children as they search for their hidden Easter baskets on Sunday morning
7. Extended family gathered around the table in prayer before the meal...and the break into laughter that always follows within minutes
6. At church, the cross and altar surrounded by a colorful, living sea of hyacinths, daffodils, tulips and lilies
5. Catching the eye of my husband, seated onstage during the service, looking magnificently handsome in his Easter vestments--and exchanging smiles of love and resurrection joy
4. The 4-hour Easter Vigil service on Saturday night at our church! Especially:
3. Jumping to my feet along with my children to shout "The Lord is risen, indeed--ALLELUIA!" while we wildly ring bells , stomp our feet, scream and whistle our praises to our risen Lord and Savior!
2. My children running and dancing in the aisles, holding hands and celebrating joyfully with their friends, young and old
1. The spirit of praise and joy that overwhelms my soul! At Easter, I truly:
Put on the garments of praise
for the spirit of heaviness.
Let the oil of gladness flow down
from Your throne...
for the spirit of heaviness.
Let the oil of gladness flow down
from Your throne...
Easter Monday Bonus: A friend telling me, "I had no idea a liturgical service could be so alive!"
I love the family picture!
ReplyDeleteEaster is such a wonderful holiday. New life and new beginnings!
Great picture!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing it!
What a happy gang!
I'd love to see some Vigil pics if you've got them :-)
ReplyDeletefrom Jen in Seattle
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I loved playing hotter/colder with the kids as they searched for their baskets. They won't indulge their mom any more, they think they are too old (22, 19, 15)?
ReplyDeleteMy favorties are here.
Wonderful things to be thankful for. And I like the family pic, too. That's a great necklace you're wearing!
ReplyDeleteJen in Seattle--
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that the "church photographer" sends some my way! It's not the kind of event you take pictures during, as you know, but he can get away with it. Towards the end, I suppose I could have, but by then, they've closed the nursery and I had my two littlest to keep happy and out of the way of the dancers in the aisles!
Amy--
Thank you! Papa R and I found the necklace at Epcot, believe it or not. I thought it was so unusual, and he really urged me to buy it. The earrings match too!
By the way, Everyone--that is not Blondechick's Easter dress--she wore her new dress to the Vigil on Sat. night. I'm wearing a new skirt and jewelry. Couldn't find--in the very short time I spent shopping--a dress I liked. It was hard enough finding something for Blondechick14!
Jeanne
Great list! I loved playing "hotter, colder" when I was little. I had forgotten all about it! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely picture of your family!
great list and a great picture
ReplyDeleteWow! This post really took me back. I remember each member of our family carefully gathering every bell in the house on Easter Eve before church. Nobody wanted to be without something to use when it came time to make a joyful noise. We were always in awe of the family that had a BIG cowbell. Now, THAT was quite a noise!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful picture. I also had no idea the Easter Sunday service could be so expressive!
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