It Is Finished

I love that simple statement that changed history and changed my life. As he hung dying on the cross, Jesus proclaimed that "It is finished." The debt has been paid. I don't have to do anything because His grace is sufficient. I don't know about for you, but that is a huge relief. Grace. All we need is His grace. I don't have to spin my wheels, or "do, do, do" to be good enough. I mean, who's defining good enough anyway? Me? Society? My human expectations are too high to be normal or at least keep me sane and allow me to sleep, so it's probably not a good idea to follow those. So, I thank God for his unending grace. With it, I have freedom, and with Him, I want to live differently. I want to be different. I don't do things because I necessarily have to (diaper changing is an exception along with brushing my children's teeth) or because someone says I should. I do it because He loves me and He's changing me from the inside out. He's shaping my heart, and that is real love. Without Easter and without the cross there is no real love. What a beautiful exchange of ugly sin for true forgiveness in the picture of the cross. I pray you felt that for yourself this Easter, and that in your heart you know you are loved and His grace is for you and for me no matter what you've done or what's been done to you.

We have had a sweet Easter season, and a Holy Week that is always more precious than the one before as our kids (or at least Mary-Michael!) grow to understand what this time of year really means. There were still lots of plastic eggs and candy from various Easter gatherings and parties. I mean, it's hard to avoid and that's ok. I for one am a sucker for all things sweet, so we have thoroughly enjoyed a treat from the Easter treat bucket after meals (including momma and daddy). But really, I do want Easter to be about Jesus and not a bunny. So, we did a lot of reading about the days leading up to the Resurrection, took the kids to an annual cross-raising at our church at sunrise on Good Friday, went through a Remembrance Walk to remember what Jesus endured for him to be able to say, "It is finished." And of course, sweet Easter Sunday.

On the bitter side of this sweetness, in moments like these holiday times, I think about what Leila might be doing. If she's even aware of the awesome treasures and hope we have in Jesus or if she's simply just hungry, or sick, and no one is there to hold her or tend to her. The Holy Spirit pokes my heart at random times throughout my days. Sometimes, when I'm grumbling about another load of dishes to unload or the laundry pile that is growing on the couch...poke...I think I probably needed that. To be reminded of my blessed life. Gratitude. Perspective has a way of shifting you from ungratefulness to gratefulness, especially when you've seen Africa or another place of such poverty. Women are washing dishes in a river that they carried on their heads for a mile. And a washing machine? Yeah, right. That's also called a river and 2 good hands. So, what am I complaining about? Well, I still do it, and God still gives me grace, but hopefully, I am doing it a little less. And I'm doing more of saying thank you and being grateful for this good life I'm living. It sure makes a difference in my home when I'm doing that.

Here's some Easter pictures from this year. Hopefully, we'll have a 3rd child with us next year!

Mary-Michael's friend from preschool has a massive Easter egg hunt and party every year. Over 300 eggs, bags of candy just dumped and a big chocolate bunny hidden for each kid. There were 14 children, so all that candy I mention above, we can thank Anna for that!

Hunting with Daddy.

Anna and Mary-Michael - sweetness.

Easter egg dying time! They are listening to instructions here. Each child had a dozen eggs to dye. Though he looks awfully interested, Frazier dyed one egg before he moved on to the below.

He would have eaten his dinner here had we let him.

This boy loves all things machines. 

Topping the night off with an ice cream Sunday.

We really enjoyed having Easter lunch at our home. We had a full table with our family, my Dad and Beth, my brother and his bride-to-be, Christina, and her parents and brother. We showed them a little farm life with some 4-wheeler time and some target practice afterwards, which felt a little sacrilegious on Easter Sunday. No judgment please!

This is the best and worst hand-me-down we've received of late. Best because it's so loved and worst because it's so loved so both want to drive. ALL. THE. TIME. 

Yea, this is our Easter picture. On the trampoline with no shoes. 

Oh, and Princess Belle had to join in, too. She also had a turn on the trampoline. 

I felt so crafty doing this banner (even though all I had to do was print, cut, laminate and hole punch). It will probably still be hanging at Christmas, but it's a great reminder of Christ's love. I love Ann Voskamp over at www.aholyexperience.com who provided this printable and this beautiful explanation, "It comes right out of the Gospel of Luke: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them…” (Luke 22:19 NIV). In the original language, “he gave thanks” reads “eucharisteo.” The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy."

And what's Easter Monday without a Busch Gardens trip with Nonnie!?