Easter Sunday - 2011

Easter Sunday 2011 was utterly beautiful, not only because the weather was so unseasonably warm and we saw not a cloud in the sky, but Jason and I actually got to sleep most of last night. For you seasoned parents out there, you know that one night of average sleep doesn't really do much for the sleep deficit, but it helps just a little.

Here in North Carolina, many churches process into the sanctuary with armloads of flowers to decorate a cross at the altar. A rough-hewn structure about the height of an average-sized man is transformed into something really beautiful and meaningful in the space of about fifteen minutes. An added Easter blessing... today was the first day I had roses, so I cut one for each of us to place, some rosemary for remembrance and some sage for salvation/ healing.

The Easter bunny paid a visit to Jonathan last night, leaving a little stuffed bunny and the book, Guess How Much I Love You. Jonathan enjoyed looking at his Easter cards from Mr. Josh and Ms. Christi, from Giggie and Bop and from Aunt Lou. He also had a ball playing with all the kids in the nursery this morning. Often, he's the only baby there, so it's always a treat for him to have someone to play with. Although he took about a three hour nap when we got home from church, he still sacked out early tonight. He played hard in the nursery today!

Jason and I each had roles in the Easter presentation today. Jason was the beginning reader and I sang a small solo. The solo was my favorite part of one of my favorite songs...

"Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?

And who told the ocean, you can only come this far?

And who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?

Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

I know my Redeemer lives,

Yes I know my Redeemer lives.

All of creation testifies, this life within me cries,

I know my Redeemer lives."

~Nicole C. Mullen

I've had a life-long struggle with public performance. As I've aged, I've learned to give up that struggle by stages, but I still deal with the jitters when I sing or play for folks. I was able to totally let loose the other night at rehearsal, but today, the nerves got the better of me just a little. Someday I hope I'll be able to completely get beyond myself and find that place where I can worship God with no other thought, but I'm still getting to that place. It didn't help that Joan's reading just before my song was so moving and so beautifully done that I could hardly hold back the tears as the music began to play. For such a small choir in such a small country church, I'd say the presentation went extraordinarily well and I pray someone's heart was touched for eternity by the Scripture and music presented today.

We were invited to have lunch with some sweet friends, but after the crazy week/weekend we had (the open house that no one visited but the realtor), we opted to come home and lay low the rest of the afternoon. We did pop out long enough to take a little walk and grab an ice cream cone this evening.

This week promises to be more of the same crazy busy overwhelming fun that we've been enjoying here this year, but we're getting a little more laid back about it. I'm about done with the constant cleaning. If it shows and it's messy... so be it. We really want to take a day at the beach and maybe another day at Williamsburg and Yorktown. I'm ready to get moved, slow down and just be... but I sure will miss this place, this house, this neighborhood and the NC folks we love like family. I can hardly believe that one month from today, Mom, Jonathan and I will hit the road.