"Easter" & Resurrection Day Memories 2008

The name "Easter" really comes from a pagan figure from what I know - and christians just started to use the name Easter since our celebration of the resurrection of Christ falls at the same time of year as these pagan festivities that celebrated the goddess of spring (her symbol being bunnies - symbolic of fertility). The 2 just got intertwined since they're at the same time. But it's not like the pagan celebration is a new thing or simply the creation of commercialism --- our retailers just take advantage of something celebrated for centuries. It was created to turn the attention away from God though. These people worshipped this 'goddess of spring' which is a sin and against the 2nd commandments but that is just how the world (enemy) works though --- he does whatever he can to place distractions in our way or take our focus away from God. So I would really just love for christians to call what we celebrate... something else other than "Easter" --- to be able to separate the 2, ya know? Then there doesn't have to be any arguments or what does Easter really mean etc....

All that being said --- I believe it's totally okay to take part in celebrating God's creations of bunnies, eggs, spring and the beautiful flowers & baby animals we see! Jesus was the absolute CREATOR of fun and joy!!! He was never a condemner so I believe He would be happy to see us enjoying His creations. But I just of course never want the Easter bunny to be above Jesus - like Santa Claus should never be more of the focus than Jesus. And in our household that just won't be the case. But certainly I won't condemn anybody for not focusing on Jesus more...I'll just try to do whatever I can to live with Jesus as my focus and pray for others to do the same...we are not to be each other's judges - and really nobody knows our hearts or our intentions or what we really do in our homes except the Lord - so the judgement is left up to Him.

I have wonderful memories of dying Easter eggs with my grandma and going for Easter egg hunts and such. Easter time always reminds me of grandma.... at Easter time we always went to see grandmom and PopPop in Maryland. I loved dressing up into my gloves & easter bonnet and going to grandma and popPop's church. They loved showing us off to their friends and I just felt so special. I loved all the flowers and how they were readying their garden and all the birds she'd point out to us. I remember the smell of their garden so clear to this day. They just loved loved nature.

My mom, as I've said many times was just such a wonderful FUN creative mom. She is the best. She made my childhood such a fairy tale. On Easter we'd always have a fun way of finding our Easter baskets. She'd either hide them and then have a trail of jelly beans leading us to them. Or she'd hide them and then leave a set of rhyming clues to get us to them like a map. Some of the books MomMom sent Raymond this year for his Easter basket are so so so so cute! I LOVE them and have been reading them this week.

I love the illustrations in this book - Mrs Rabbit has 26 children - look at all of those pictures of them on her wall! So cute! :)

Here are 2 of the "Easter" cards I found and sent out. I loved these. The top one says "He sends light into the darkness"...."He makes joy from our sorrows"....."He is the hope of the world"...."He makes all things new"..Amen!

This one says... "Easter morning comes bringing with it the assurance that anything is possible to those who believe"
And today we had such a wonderful Resurrection Sunday. We went to church this morning (my father and mother in law were in town at the beach cottage so they were able to come too that was exciting!). The service was awesome. It was such a TEENy glimpse of heaven. I'm sure heaven will be exponentially more incredible than even what I can imagine - but His people gathering and praising Him and learning about Him is just so awesome. I just live for Sundays anymore! I can't wait for next Sunday as soon as I leave the church building.

After church, we came back to our house and *I* served my in laws lunch for a change instead of the other way around. My mother in law is such a good cook/homemaker so it was always intimidating to serve her but this time I really loved it! I was so proud - I tell you I used to not even be able to make spaghetti without getting all nervous and it not turning out great - but I just love serving people now. I have such joy in cooking and giving to others now! I cooked a spiral ham, deviled eggs, green beans, and antipasto salad (and my mother in law brought the rolls, and mashed potatoes)...and of course we had sweet tea for hubby and mother in law hehe .... and we had apple crumb pie for dessert - I guess it's really a fall dessert but we had it in the fridge so we ate it! I really really enjoyed everything. I was so happy that everybody liked it so good too! They even asked for recipes and took home leftovers! How exciting! :) and we used our fine china! :)

The craziest thing happened though... this really really thick bowl that had the mashed potatoes in it after dinner was sitting on the counter and literally just exploded into a milion pieces. I have never seen anything like it....I was thankful Raymond wasn't around and was walking with Peepaw outside instead. It was really scary though - I still can't figure out what happened...it was really weird. I am not sure what God was trying to say - it had to be a God thing - it was just...beyond words. It literally just shattered into a thousand little pieces. It was the thickest sturdiest glass bowl I have...crazy! (and yes I used cotton balls to get the tiny pieces like my previous post on interesting tidbits suggested).

So anyway.... although the dinner was not a priority of the day - it was very special to be together and just love one each other! I am so thankful for all I've been blessed with.

I love Jesus I love my family I love the joy He allows in this life but can't wait for my eternal home! I pray you all had a wonderful celebration of Jesus' life & death and resurrection too! May you feel Jesus love & mercy today - but more importantly EVERY day! Love!!