Easter

We had a wonderful Easter weekend - hope yours was the same. We met for a Good Friday service with our church family Friday evening. Then Saturday morning we met at our pastor's house for a family Easter party. Originally the party was supposed to be at an elder's house, but that family has been hit broadside by a stomach bug, causing the need for a change in location. And I really have to tip my hat to the pastor's family - not only did they have to host unexpectedly, but the weather conspired against us as well. It was cold (about 38) and raining, so we all - including about 30 children - were all indoors.

They decorated Easter eggs.

And we listened to the Easter story, highlighted by the use of Resurrection Eggs. If you've never seen these, there are 12 plastic eggs, each with a little item inside to trigger the next part of the story, starting with a donkey, a cup, going on to a whip, crown of thorns, and ending with an empty egg, symbolizing the empty tomb. The kids love it.

And of course we woke up to a cold Easter morning. We had breakfast at church, and then worship service. This was followed by a big lunch at home and Kelly and I trying our best not to fall asleep all afternoon. Next time I have insomnia, I'm turning on the Golf channel. Evidently the one purpose of televising this game to insure naps across America. ;)

Is it just us...

Or would you really want to buy a vehicle from a place with a name like this?

Boggus Ford

Not one, not two, and not twelve either...

But 4 dancing princesses...

WFMW: shopping list

If you have a store that you go to regularly and that you usually get basically the same items from each time, try typing up a shopping list in Word or Excel or some such program. I do this for Sam's Club. Type in the item (if you are very organized you can group like items together or group them as they are arranged in the store. Unfortunately, Sam's plays musical aisles so much, the latter is not an option for me). Then print it out when it is time to go to that store. Then either write a check mark beside each item needed, or the number needed. And you are out the door.

This helps me remember what I should be getting, and saves time writing out a shopping list. It is also convenient for my husband if he, wonderful man that he is, does the Sam's shopping for me! Works for me!

Light Show

We had quite the light show in San Antonio Friday night. There was a very impressive storm that rolled in from the west. Since we live on the western edge of town, it was quite awe-inspiring to be able to watch the storm for about an hour as it approached us. Kelly took several pictures trying out different features on our camera, and this is the best one.

The best window to watch it from was Lauryn's, so the whole family sat in front of her window. At each lightening bolt (which averaged about every 1.5 seconds) Lauryn would say, "Ooooooo! Bynna, you like that? Kowa, you like that? Mama, Kowa liked that!" Quite a night!

Free shipping!

Tip of the day: Abeka is offering free shipping on any online order over $50 during the month of April.

The Church at Rest

After going to church for the first time in four weeks, I have been at home, crashed on the couch, resting and still trying to get over this congestion and sore throat that just seem to hang on and on and on... But I did make it to church, which was so nice. There's just something about coming together as an assembly of believers with no other purpose but just to worship that cannot be duplicated any other way, no matter how many Bible studies you do or Christian songs you listen to. (And just forget listening to those preachers on the TV. I won't even go there.)

And on top of that, we sang one of my current favorite hymns today. Even though my husband is the song leader, I usually do not know ahead of time what we'll be singing, nor do I try to influence his choices, but I love it when we sing this one - even when congestion makes alto pitched too high for me. I'll post a couple of the stanzas:

The Church's One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

I love those two lines - the thought of a Victorious Church at Rest. And I don't picture a rest in the sense of being exhausted, strung out on the couch (sounds way too familiar lately...). But more in the sense of how Moses used the phrase in Genesis, when God rested on the seventh day of creation. He's God; He's not tired. But He's done. His task is completed. And one day, the Bride will no longer be awaiting the Bridegroom's coming, standing as a witness to a doubtful, hating world who jeers at us, proclaiming through measures both bold and subtle, "He's not coming! Why are you wasting your time?" At the consummation, we'll not only see Him face to face, but will be free from all the toil and tribulation, doubt and sorrow, weakness and sin.

We'll see the completion of all our work. And then we'll realize that it is nothing compared to the work He has completed, and chosen to use us as a small part of the completion.

And we'll have peace.