I was fortunate enough to spend Easter weekend attending plays portraying the life and death of Jesus. Though both obviously told the same story I was impacted by different aspects of each.
Friday, Good Friday, we went to Central to see their adaptation of Jesus. It was beautifully done with great effects and scenery. I enjoyed it but was really just a spectator as with any other play- until the crucifixion scene. Or maybe more accurately the earthquake after Jesus dies.
Jesus' cross much higher than the others and also rigged w/hydraulics. As those who know the story remember when Jesus dies the earth is darkened and earthquakes shook the land...the play had the cross shake for the earthquake and on it the lifeless body of Jesus.
There was something about seeing the dead body of Jesus shaking ever so slightly with the manufactured earthquake that struck me deeply causing me to gasp "thank you, thank you my Jesus. I'm sorry I'm so so sorry" realizing just what he went through for me. For me specifically.
He was beaten, mocked, spat upon, bloodied beyond human recognition and nailed to a cross left to fight for breath as his lungs collapsed under the weight of his own body to wash me of my sins against him.
I know all this on a daily basis but seeing it brought to life made me realize like the first time, exactly what this man, this Son of God did for me and what it cost and it broke my heart again.
The second play also beautifully done was at Mt. Ridge by my friends' church Potters Place. While their beating and crucifixion scene may have been longer and more detailed something else resonated with me.
They played the song "The Word Is Alive" by Casting Crowns while Jesus walked the streets healing people and teaching and performing various miracles ending with the healing of Jarius' daughter who had died just before Jesus reached her. I've read all those stories time and again but it was just beautiful to see them reenacted before us almost like we were in the crowds 2000 years ago as Jesus passed through and people pressed in for just a touch of his garment to feel that healing power. Being able to watch as Jesus (also known as my friend Ken) walked among the people talking, hugging and healing brought my Savior out of the sacred pages of the Bible and to life before me. It was just a play, but just like the other one, it was an opportunity to feel like Jesus was walking in flesh before us again.
I love Easter week because it brings us back to the truth that we know but so often neglect to reflect upon.
Jesus was here, he wasn't a story- lifeless words on a page. He walked the earth teaching, healing and dying- for you and me.
The beauty of this is that still , 2000 years later, his words teach us, the stripes he took upon his back heal us, and the blood he shed as he died for our sins delivers us.
The Word is Alive because Jesus lives, moving among us and we are free to approach him and ask him to intercede on our behalf. We can talk to him and hear his words speak life into our weary hearts. We can feel his presence as worship him for the King he is.
The Word is Alive, Jesus is Alive and because of that I am free and ever so grateful for all he did and continues to do.
Romans 6:8-11Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
I believe they were singing "We're going to Niagra falls" as the marched around the house.
Friday March 26- She found the sash to my wedding dress and had me tie it onto her. She added the non matching shoes.
I love taking pictures of my little Sleeping Beauty.
She came home from my parents asleep clutching the sun catcher she made it story hour at the library. I just thought it was so sweet she was holding on to it while she slept. She's very proud of it. Makes me sad she is old enough to make crafts.
Ella found her new great love today- "icy drinks" as she calls them. The smallest size at Sheetz was 24 oz and she sucked every bit of that icy blue goodness down. I was concerned because the name of the flavor had Mountain Dew in it. I guess it wasn't as caffeinated as Dew thank God!!!
This week has been particularly rough. I feel like I haven't gotten any sleep and Ella has been difficult as well, clingy and cranky and restless at night. I was cleaning up after making 2 lasagnas-one for this night and one to freeze. I didn't get finished cooking til 9 which is when we finally ate! As I was trying to clean a little of my mess through pregnancy induced sciatic nerve pain I turn and see a toboganned Ella trying to put tiny flakes of parsley back in the bottle she had just thrown everywhere. I suppose I should be glad she was trying to clean it up.... I wanted to cry out of exhaustion but saw that hat and her fruitless attempts at cleaning and had to laugh so I grabbed the camera. My mother in law has a similar picture of Tony sitting in a pile of flour after dumping 2 bags out. I contend this is irrefutable proof her rotteness comes from him.
She is into wearing everyone elses clothes. This is my robe giant on her. It made me laugh. I think in this picture she is imitating Dracula.
Ella got new jammies. Silk pandas and she loves them. I thought she looked so cute but too much like a big girl :( she's growing by leaps and bounds every day.
This is the box to my Jim Shore nativity set. Or should I say was. She enjoys cramming herself into nooks and crannies. She's insane and cracks me up I never know what she's going to get into-literally.
Another icy drink. This time she chose orange cream to match her dress. I'm not sure why she doesnt' get brain freeze.
Pretty Laci.
Ella is really working hard on potty training. She has 2 stars because she kept going on her own without me even asking. Maybe this will not be as difficult as I thought!!! The potty book with the star chart has really been a great incentive! I just love her little baby hands in this picture so precious.
Laci's school had spirit week. This is the getup she chose for pajama day. Note the pajama pants to another set of pj's and of course the cowGIRL boots. She will not hear them called cowboy boots. I think she's worn them to school daily since this. I hate cow boots boy or girl :D
This is Hillbilly day. She just looks like Hannah Montana lol. She's wearing my shirt (its miley cyrus ha so maybe that's why). She's a cute hill person.
The girls playing Wii Princess. Ella loves it-obviously.
I had a nuchal translucency test on Thursday. It combines a measuring of the fluid in the baby's neck w/blood serum results to give you a ration on your risk for different genetic problems, the main one being Down's Syndrome. The neck reading was very low which is good, haven't heard back on the blood yet. The baby wouldn't cooperate I had to keep rolling around on the table trying to get into the exact position. It also was doing reverse crunches the whole time and was really kicking at one point. It was funny b/c the legs are usually bunched up at this point so it was neat to see it all stretched out and all the tiny individual bones in the legs and feet. How people can say they aren't really babies or life.....
Here's the face. Not the most flattering shot and kind of scary actually! It does have a nose. On the profile we could really see it which was important because that is a soft marker for down's syndrome if they don't have a visible tip. We had to redo the ultrasound actually because the tech hadn't gotten a clear enough picture of the nose! We saw the baby for almost an hour I'd say. I didn't feel I needed it as far as my age and risk factor. It was just another chance for an ultrasound so I scheduled the test ;D
My sleepy ballerina. She doesn't sleep peacefully despite what this picture depicts.
This was Laci's homecoming game and her bag of goodies I brought for her.
The girls made their first fort and had lots of fun and a big mess to clean! After this picture they put on their winter gear to "prepare for the storm that was coming" as they hid in the fort.
Laci's last game for the year...
