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Sunday, May 15, 2011

EASTER!!!!

Alleluia!!! He is Risen, He is Risen indeed!!!!.

Happy Easter.  This is by far my favorite holiday.  All fear, and hopelessness is gone.  We are forgiven, and saved and have the free gift of eternal life.  I love Easter.

We went to church and then ate lunch and then spent the day just hanging around.  We drove by the storm damage and I am truly thankful for being spared.  Prayers need to go out for those that weren't.

Anyway, next week is a big weekend for us.

The story continues

Easter Eve.

Today the mood is definitely lighter.  Yes last night was a horrible night, but it is amazing how many folks are reaching out to others to help with storm cleanup.  What a great city I live in.  Now today is different from other years.  Usually I am scurring around to make food and get ready for Easter, but since Erin is getting confirmed next week, I don't have much to do today.  I am having a meal, but it will just be me, Brad, Erin and Joe.  Julie has to work and Katie will be coming next week.

I also am going to church again tonight, but this service is really neat.  We go outside and light candles and then process into church.  The church is so beautiful.  Where last night was dark, cold, evil and stormy, tonight was better.  The cross was adorned with a gold and a Crown.  The Crown that no one can take from me.  I got to sing in the choir tonight and even saw Julie, as she was on call and didn't have to go to work.

I love this service.  Tonight Hope... stay tuned
Wow.  I know it has been awhile since I have written anything, but the past few weeks have been super busy.

So lets get started.

Good Friday. -- What a day this is.  Jesus' death.  This day really makes me cry, especially since I had a lot to do with him dying FOR ME!!!.  What a Savior we have that he would totally do this for all of us.

The day started out like any other, but as the day went on, I could tell it was going to end badly.  The weather was extremely hot and humid for April.  The air was so oppressive you could feel the moisture.  We went to church that night, but as we left for church, the tornado sirens were going off.  I find it extremely unnerving to be in a car when that happens.  It just plain scares me because if a tornado swoops down, you have absolutely no where to go.

So we get to church, and the service is one of my favorites.  The alter is striped so no adornments are in church.  Just a cross with a black drape and a crown of thorns, THE crown I helped put there and seven burning candles -- one for each "word" of Christ. Our service usually has a lot of solemn hymns and slowly the candles get extinguished and the room gets darker.  Only this night it was eearie.  The sky outside was pitch black, and you could feel the evil lurking around and the lights were flickering.  It was just an evil night.  In the middle of the service I heard the sirens go off for a third time, and realized this was definitely not good.

One of the ushers stopped the service and we were told to evacuate to the basement for safety.  We finished the service, but by then everyone's nerves were shattered, and the moment of darkness was lost.  I was just glad to come home and find that 1.  I had electric; 2, my father-in-law, who was recovering from surgery and staying with us was safe, and 3. our neighborhood was spared the tornado. 

Other member of our church were not so fortunate, but the amazing thing was that not one person died or was seriously injured.  I truly believe that God was watching over our city and spared everyone.  Houses and cars can be replaced.  So on that Good Friday, Jesus died...but read on.