The Lord is risen indeed...

There is so much of Christianity that I tend to take for granted, but I never want to lose the goosebumps that I get when I think of Jesus's death on the cross and the stone rolled away revealing an empty tomb. So much hinges on these two events, and I'm thankful that 2009 years later, Christianity is alive and thriving and still retelling these stories to the next generation. When we read bible stories to the boys, I always take requests, and it never fails, they want to hear about the cross. I love the story of the cross, also. But Easter for me is loving the cross and what it stands for yet shouting praises that He proved Himself to be the Son of God by his resurrection on the third day.

Nate had a vacation day, so when he picked Drew up at school he took some pictures for me. I was impressed with his pictures and he said that anyone can make a picture look good with editing, so here is one au naturale just the way he took it. Beautiful.And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:46
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
Luke 24:12

When I was taking these pictures, Drew came out and watched for a while. He said, "That is really cool, Mom!" and he actually is the one that placed the linen like this. I said, "Do you know what it represents?" And his quick reply was, "Duh, Mom. The Holy Ghost." I laughed at him, then the more I thought about it the more I appreciated that this is what it represents to him. Jesus did leave our presence, but He left the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts. If this is a good visual to help Drew understand, then so be it. But it did lead to this slightly freaky picture.

Christmas 2008

This picture will always remind me to not take Christianity so seriously that I miss out on the blessings of loving Jesus with a child-like heart.

This is a picture Drew painted for me several months ago. Once when I was a little girl, I had a strong urge to show God something so that he would know that I loved him. I took a little piece of paper and drew a rainbow and a cloud and wrote I {heart} you God! Can you hear me? and threw it up as far as I could throw it. I went back inside the house and then worried that my dad would find it when mowing, so I went back out and retrieved it. Now as a parent, I understand how touching it would have been to my dad had he found it. But I know now that God absolutely heard me then and He still hears me today.

Enjoy your weekend. Retell His story. Believe as a child.