Thankful Monday.

I am continuing to work my way to documenting 1000 gifts and sharing some of them with you on Mondays.

253.  12 baptisms.  We had the joy of celebrating baptism with 12 kids and adults at our church on Palm Sunday.  I get to teach the baptism class, and hear their stories, and it brings me great joy when I see them taking this step in their faith.  My favorite part of all the testimonies was when one little guy (pictured below) said he is "tight with God" and that "every time he prays his relationship with God gets bigger and bigger".  Music to this Children's Ministries Director's ears.

255. Laughing 'til you cry.  That's what my mom and sisters do when we get together.  When my sister Kim visited last weekend there was much laughing and several times it turned to the inevitable tears.  Cracks me up.  I'd post a picture, but it's not pretty.

265.  Hearing from God.  He has been talking to me, encouraging me, in the midst of some discouragement.  I am always amazed when He uses a Bible Study curriculum or book written for many and says something directly to my individual heart.  Isn't God cool?

269.  It's a GIRL!!! (no, I'm not pregnant--yikes!).  My sister Kerry (who you may remember lost her sweet Sadie a year ago) just found out that the child she is carrying is a little girl!  We are ecstatic that it's a she and that she looks great.  Can't wait to hold her.

270.  Good Friday service...taking time to focus on the work Jesus did on the Cross.  My hubby and three other guys from small group sang a beautiful song from Isaiah 53.  I was so proud of them...they sounded awesome.  We all confessed our sin by writing on red slips of paper that we all took turns nailing to cross as we went to communion.  The sound of the nails echoed through the room...over and over again.  And the cross ended up covered in red...

277.  Coloring eggs with my kids and my 3 year old nephew who was trying it for the first time.  He loved it, and it was fun to have the little guy with us so we could see it all through his eyes.

What are you thanking God for this week?

Happy Easter!

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?  

1 Corinthians 15:55

Rejoicing in Jesus' victory over death!

Have a blessed Easter!

I found them!

I found them!  They aren't always as easy to find as they used to be.  I'm talking about Brach's Classic Jelly Beans (BCJBs).  BCJBs are the only real Easter jelly beans, bloggies.  Their classic colors and flavors are the taste of Easter.  They were always in our Easter baskets as kids...I could smell them in the house when I woke up on Easter morning!  Do you know that fruity, sugary smell?  And just when you thought your Easter candy was gone...you could always find a few more hidden in the plastic easter grass...yes, the childhood beginnings of my fruity candy fondness.

You can keep your starburst jbs, your jolly rancher jbs, your sour jbs, and all other sorts of counterfeit beans.  They just aren't the real deal.  I've tried them...and they just don't cut it.  And don't grab a Brach's package too quickly or you might grab the spiced beans--those look the same and then they taste like clove or something.  Blech.

It's straight up BCJBs for me.  (although I do enjoy a jelly belly when it's not Easter...)

But I can't always find those elusive BCJBs.  Walmart and Target and various grocery stores load up on the specialty beans...and there is nary a Brach's bag to be found!  If I was looking for gummy spongebob crabby patties I would have been in luck today, by the way.  yuck!

But today, on the non-seasonal candy aisle, on the bottom shelf, I spotted a Brach's box.  Be still my heart!  I approached cautiously, trying not to get my hopes up.  I saw speckled Brach's--nope.  Bags of all black Brach's--nope.  Dig, dig, dig...and on the bottom, lo and behold were three bags of BCJBs!!!  I snatched them up.

Yes, it's going to be a good Easter...

And by the way, lest you think I'm headed to hell for writing about jelly beans on Good Friday...I assure you that I have reflected, attended service, and now am about to watch the Passion of the Christ.  What Jesus did for me is SO overwhelming.  That's why it will be Sunday before I can imagine eating the BCJBs.  What a celebration that will be!  :0)

I wish I didn't have to hurry...

photo: Brian Peterson

It's Good Friday.  

The busyness of the last few weeks have left me feeling a little depleted.  I usually bounce back from a busy season with the fervor of someone free from the weight of responsibility--excited for time to pursue other things.  I've been dragging though...  Is this age?  Could getting older slow the bounce-back process? Ohno!  Maybe it's just that there have been things to deal with this week too.  My hubby's back pain has been unmanageable again (poor guy) and I've done a few days of both of our shares of running around.  There has been some emotional stuff for me to carry as well (nothing big, just wearying).  


So.  Today has arrived.  Good Friday.  Two days before Easter.  I've done nothing to prepare for Easter.  There are baskets to fill, outfits to figure out, eggs to boil and color.  I wish my house was properly decorated (somehow I never got to that this year).  I love to celebrate Jesus' resurrection and the new life He gives us with gusto.  It's a big day.


So I need to hurry--so much to do!  However, in all of my plans to hurry, there is a part of me that wants to, NEEDS to, reflect on Christ's work on the cross.  I reflected some on the Garden the other day--cause it is particularly meaningful for me.  Today is a day to reflect on the cross.  I planned to do this to the kids' hands this morning...but Pickle left for school before I remembered.  (I'm gonna do it when she comes home though--and Bubba is off so I can still do it with him this morning).


I read an excerpt from the Ragman on my friend's blog this morning...I highly encourage you to pop over there and a take a few reflective moments to read it.


What is going through my mind are these words from a song, 


"Behold the man upon the cross 
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished" 

by Stuart Townsend--you can find lyrics to the whole song here.

I need to hurry today.  I haven't yet, but I'm about to.  That's just life.  So I pray that these words continue to echo through my mind as I go about preparing for the celebration of Easter.  That they stay with me until our Good Friday service tonight.  I don't want to give in to the temptation to fast forward to Easter...I want to bask in the price paid for me.  Good Friday is the ultimate example of Big-G-Good.

I am linking up with the Company Girls today...and wish you all a very Blessed Easter!