Quite a Perfect Evening

My 3 year old, Henry, climbed to the top of the fort this evening and leaned out over the slide, as far as his tiny tiptoes would let him. 

I smiled at him and bent back down to the garden where I was weeding...

"Moooommmm!!!  It's Jesus!!!", he yells.

I stand up and when I turn to him I see him standing there, all stretched out, pointing at the glorious sunset.

Big grin on his face, he says "See?  See?"  Yes, baby, I see.  Oh, how you make me see.

The big three all stop their game of tag when they hear him yell.  They smile at Henry, look to the sunset, and take off again.

Peter, in the swing on the grass, starts fussing so I pick him up and call the big three over to start planting.

Sweet baby breath in my face-Dear Lord please let this be what Heaven smells like!

The children chatter as they clear space, poke holes in soft earth, and drop in the seeds.  They are so excited to watch these little wonders grow.

Mama, who should we give our lemonade money to this year?

We head inside, a stampede of dirty feet.

Bits of grass and dirt make a trail from the door to the stairs...

Laughter from upstairs...

Exhausted boys falling into bed, breathing soft and steady...

Smiling girl, burrowing into her covers before a goodnight kiss...

Dishes piled high in the sink will stay dirty tonight.  It's Sunday, and they'll keep until the morning.

Dog, sleeping by my feet...

A call from my husband; I miss that man so much it hurts...

Sweet babe, asleep on my chest...

Five children, healthy and safe...

How this broken woman can be so blessed I will never understand, but I will be thankful, each and every day.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace.

Broken

I haven't had much time to write lately.  We had a baby-we've been busy :)

Writing things out has never been my strong suit.  I'm not a particularly good writer.  But writing helps me to solidify things in my head and in my heart that would otherwise flit out before much time passes.  I need repetition to make me remember.

As I said, we had a baby.  !!!  Life has been crazy, and delightful, and so stressful it makes me cry, but oh, has there been life  :)

The last few months have been a whirlwind, and I've forgotten about everything else.  But this week is different.  This week is important-the most important.

We don't have Easter baskets out, or eggs colored, or candy bought.  Those things will get done.  Right now, though, the kids and I are planning the construction of a Lego tomb.  Lego Jesus will be assembled, and a giant Lego rock is in the works.

This year I'm trying to focus on teaching my children what this season is really about.  I have never put much effort into that, and it's about time that that changes.

We are so excited about Easter.  And of course the kids can't wait to see what they'll find from the Easter Bunny, but we're trying to take the laser-like focus off of the baskets.  Off of the candy.

Today is Maundy Thursday.  Holy Thursday. 

Before a couple of years ago, I never gave it a second thought.  All is focused on the joyful Easter celebration.  Bright eggs, fluffy bunnies, and more candy than I care to think about.

I love Easter.  I always have.  But I never truly understood what Easter was all about until recently.

Today my kids and I had a conversation before school.  Our pastor posted a devotion and I read it to the kids, not sure what they would think.

We've always taught them that Easter is a celebration of the risen Christ.  We've always taught them that Good Friday is when we remember Jesus' crucifixion.  But I don't think that I had ever before taken the time to talk to them about the day before the cross.  It's full impact hadn't really settled in me.

The day of preparation.  Jesus washes his disciples feet.  He prays.  He breaks the bread.  He pours the wine.  He speaks of betrayal and death.  But he also gives them a command.  He commands them to love one another; to love with humility.  Love one another by serving one another, and never forget his sacrifice.

This man-for while he is fully divine he is also fully human-knows that he will soon die.  He knows that his body will break and his blood will flow.  He knows this, and he carries on, with love in his heart.

Jesus laid down his life for us in the most humiliating way possible.  God put on flesh and died on a tree.  He was broken-for us.

I love Easter.  I love celebrating my risen King.  But I have learned that it is just as important to remember.  To remember a humble carpenter, nailed to a tree, bleeding and dying to save the people he loves.

Talking with my children this morning, I was a little worried about being too heavy or dark right before school.  But I feel a need, much more urgently than I used to, to make sure that they know, from a young age, what we are really celebrating.  Because of his sacrifice, we get to celebrate.  We couldn't celebrate without the sacrifice.  We don't have to be sad, because God wins.  God always wins.  Jesus rose, and we are saved.

But it is so important to remember.  A broken man, bleeding on a cross.  God with us, dying for us-for everyone, all because he loves us.

Please take some time today to remember and reflect.  Give thanks, and prepare for the most amazing celebration.  The very roots of our faith.

Happy Easter