Easter 2011

Easter this year was Good.

It was rather simple. I spent the weekend in Midland, like so many other past Easters, and was able to see family and enjoy home cooked meals.

But the reason it was especially good had more to do with my heart. To be honest, I did little this season to prepare for the message of Christ's resurrection. I did not participate in lent, and I skipped church quite a few times to catch up on sleep. But for believers, we cannot escape the power of the truth, and I was unable to avoid being overwhelmed the past few days.

After journeying to Jerusalem I realize I do see things differently. I walked where He did, and I saw where rose. I know a tiny bit more about Him now than I did before the trip, but even the small glimpse into His life has opened my heart and eyes anew to the Son of God. My thoughts this past week were invaded with the memories of the Holy City.

In addition, my heart is sensitive this season to the suffering this year of many close friends. My mind knows that without the risen Savior, there would be no hope for our hearts, no comfort in this dark world. The reality of this caught me off guard the past few days, and has caused deepened praise!

 

Spring Sprucing

This weekend was SO low key... not in an unproductive sense, just in a relaxing, go with the flow kind of way. We painted a couple of pots blue that we found by the dumpster.

 We covered our kitchen walls with burlap! Used to be plaid red and green wallpaper. It actually wasn't exactly a low key endeavor to be honest... but it wasn't as bad as painting either.

 And Sunday night, as we watched Discovery Chanels Human Plant, we recovered our dining room chairs. *We* - yes, Dillon jumped right in and helped with all of these projects (without being asked)... I'm very lucky!

I will be honest. Sometimes I see things in our house that I think are ugly, and feel justified in wanting to change them. Or I see something cute in a store and feel justified in buying it. Why? Partly because I do enjoy decorating as a hobby. But maybe also because I am greedy.
After this weeks decorating spree- I felt convicted. I get so excited about having things that are pretty and devote hours to reaching these goals.
But how often do I recognize when my heart is unattractive and needs changing? Or how often do I shop the bible for beautiful words? Where is my treasure? How excited and devoted am I to pursuing Christ?

Last night I picked up 'Spritual Disciplines' and opened to the bookmark, in the chapter pertaining to Stewardship/Time.  So many nuggests of wisdom spoke to me and helped encourage me in light of what I was feeling.

"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14

"If you suddenly realized you had no more time, would you regret how you have spent your time in the past and how you spent it now?"

Putting things in perspective, I am able to see that ultimately, my home does not matter. I can enjoy decorating, but true joy and purpose comes in seeking things from above and my heart will be restless until I remember this. There is no greater, more beautiful place to live, than with Christ. And no home is warmer than the one filled with love and stewardship.

Books!

All of my books have been in storage for the past few months, in 2 large pink crates. We simply only have room for essentials in our house- meaning the bookshelves are filled with Dillon's school books. We recently bought a new bookshelf from Ikea, one that has 8 little cubicles and I requested one MERE cubicle all my own and was granted my wish. I then had the difficult task of picking out which stories were worthy of display. I took a snapshot so you can see the wide aray of reading material

I'm not going to ask if it's weird that I have Tori Spelling next to Beth Moore... I just love a good biography! I love re-reading books, so it's been fun now, having some of my favorite out to choose from before bed (reading before bed = my favorite way to end a long day)

Sheep Worthy

I popped in Pier 1 today for fun- I've had a gift card for almost a year that I've been saving for a rainy day. I spotted two sheep that I found irresistible for a little Easter decor! Even amidst Dillons never ending homework, they look right at home.

We enjoyed our weekend thoroughly! Friday we had a pizza/game night with the Ferguson family- Tasha and I excused ourselves while the boys played laddergolf, we went shopping for plants and had a good time catching up on life.
Saturday we slept in, had lunch with some good friends, and ended the night with 'Secretariat' (I thought it was just Ok)
Sunday after church I did some shopping and cleaning, and for dinner we met up with the Sikes (our Dumas friends) at Cheesecake Factory.

As each month flies by I have been commenting to Dillon that I can't believe how fast time is moving... He has 1 year left of seminary which is so crazy because it feels like he just started. Pretty soon the job hunting will begin, but for now, we are content!