Easter

We started celebrating the week prior to Easter week, with our annual egg hunt at church. Luke really got into things this year! The day was terribly windy and cool, but we managed to hunt and hide eggs about three different times!

We started off with some Easter activity sheets...

...but Luke decided he was more interested in having Mrs. Amy make him a paper airplane!

Then the hunt was on!

Ella and Luke show off their loot!

Can you tell Luke was ready for the candy?

We ended the day with some music from Luke and his nursery buddy, Anabella.

They actually sat and played without fighting! Anabella is at the age that she wants whatever Luke is playing with, and he is NOT happy about it!

******************************************

Easter week was super busy! We had dress rehearsals for our Easter passion play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and performances on Thursday and Friday nights. It was exhausting, but absolutely wonderful! Everyone worked so hard, from learning lines to the music to the costumes and scenery. We had a full house and a sweet spirit both nights. I do believe that the choir and cast got as big a blessing out of performing it as those who attended. I have to admit I was a little sad when I changed out of my costume that last night...we'd worked so hard for so long, and there was a little bit of a let-down. However, I found out a couple of days ago that we're taking the show on the road! Another church has asked us to come and put it on for them on Mother's Day evening. It will be a challenge, adapting the sets, etc., but what a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel with more people! I only got a couple of photos, but maybe I'll be able to snap some more when we perform it again.

This was Barabbas. We did a different "take" on Barabbas than what you usually see. He did a soliliquy, talking about how he felt when he was in prison, when Jesus was thrown in the cell with him, when he thought he was about to be crucified, and finally when Jesus was led out to be crucified, and Barabbas realized that Jesus was dying in his place. Very powerful! A couple of people have told me that was their favorite part of the play, because it made it so personal.

******************************************

On to Easter morning.....very low-key for us. We'd had our Easter lunch with our family the Sunday before, since we would be leaving for FBLA state conference that afternoon. The boys found their Easter baskets by the door where we'd left them the night before, and were tickled to see their goodies. Luke's favorite surprise was an electric toothbrush (Thomas) that he promptly took out of the package and tried out, right there on the couch, without toothpaste!

The very best part of our Easter, however, was our Sunday morning worship service. God moved in a mighty way, and three (maybe four) people came forward wanting to get saved, and several more wanted to move their membership to our church. One of those who got saved was someone we'd been praying for for a very long time, so that made it even sweeter. God is so good!!!