Easter Blessings

There is such hope on Easter...

There is a newness, a sense that something has changed. I don't think it rests in the daffodils or the buttercups. I am certain it has nothing to do with our Easter best or baskets.

I felt it in the way the clouds rolled back, and the sun broke through. I saw it in the faces of my brothers and sisters at church as they sang praises. I heard it in the Sermon the Lord spoke through my husband...

HOPE.

It is what Easter brings.

It really wasn't the easiest day. I was stressed most of it, trying to get dressed, get the boys' clothes just right, the perfect picture, knowing they needed a nap but didn't get it, and I was rushing through it wrapped in my own nerves.

However, as I remember what Jesus did for us by dying on a cruel cross, suffering for our sins, and rising so that we might be made righteous, I am overcome with the hope of the Gospel and the blessings I don't deserve.  How great God's love is for us!

I tend to get overwhelmed by details and lose sight of what's really important in this life. It was looking through these pictures from Easter that God reminded me of the great hope we have in Him...

I am so unworthy, yet Christ willingly gave His life so that the faces in these pictures might have hope. I am humbled by the fact that not only my children, but everyone can have the hope of eternity because of the greatest Easter blessing, Jesus.

Easter Sunday and Birthday in One

Daniel's last night being 4

Waking up Easter morning to the LAST chain being gone!

SO exciting!

Easter Pictures in the Front Yard

This is typical.

:)

Sweet Brothers

How old are you?  Show me!

Pictures at Mimi's after church...

Samuel was so over it.

The Johnson Family

Sisters

Jenna and Jessica

Jenna and Brian

Ca and Daniel

Mimi and Grandboys

Mimi and Daniel

Opening his first gift...

A John Deere Gator from Grandpa.

Opening up his card from Aunt Cathy

Seeing his card from Pop and GranJu

Opening up his gift from Mom and Dad

He was so happy to get the My Spy Birdhouse!

Mimi surprised him with a TMNT Master Splinter.

A Ninja Turtle book!

:)

His Ice Cream Cake with all the colors

because he loves them all.

Getting ready to blow out his candles!

Eating cake and ice cream

Sweetest Thing

I asked Daniel earlier this afternoon where he wanted to go for his Valentine's dinner, and he responded: "WHAT?! Are you and Dad taking us to Cracker Barrel? This is going to be awesome! Thank you, Mom." 

I said, "I doubt we're going there. Is there anywhere else you think is nice?" 

He said, "Well, um, maybe Pant-your-o's (Painturos), or Taco Bell. I love it there. Their curly chips are so good. I like Chick fil A too; you know, because it's really nice."

After that discussion, I laid the boys down for a nap because I knew if we were eating out, they'd need to be well rested for it.  SO, while Elias and Samuel were napping, Daniel decided he didn't need to nap.  I told him over and over to get into his bed and rest even if he wasn't tired.  

Imagine my frustration as I heard his voice echoing into the room where I was secretly wrapping their Valentine's gifts.  Frustration soon turned into tears when I walked out and saw his sweet face.  

You see, he'd spend his rest time getting "ready" for our dinner without my knowledge.  

He'd taken off his play clothes, put lotion all over his body, got dressed in church clothes (khakis, dress shoes, and button-up shirt which he'd buttoned ON HIS OWN), brushed his teeth, wet his hair and combed it.  

Then, when fully dressed, he came into my bathroom (where I was wrapping) and said, "Mom, you didn't know, but I got ready for our dinner all by myself.  Don't I look nice?  I even brushed my hair to the side because sometimes it gets in my eyes and this way you'll be able to see my eyes while we're eating."

I cannot believe God blessed me like this.  Daniel, his brothers, and his Daddy are the best gifts of love I've ever received, and I'm constantly reminded that God's love for me is greater than I can fathom simply through living this life.  Tonight, it was in the face of an independent, loving 4-year-old.  

Simple, Sweet, Sick Valentine's

Brian and I decided that Valentine's Day wasn't ever going to be a big deal for us.  If we make plans, great.  If we don't, that's fine too.  This year was so simple.  The weather was perfect and the boys are particular.  I knew just what to do.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood,

despite the fact that Mommy had bronchitis.

CRAZY.

Pushing the double stroller sent me 

straight

to the nebulizer.

Samuel, however, loved getting out.

Daniel loves the outdoors.  

He rode his tractor around the subdivision 

until its battery died.  

That might have been what sent me

straight

to the nebulizer.

I asked the boys specifically what they wanted

for the Valentine's supper.

Here were their requests:

Daniel wanted a chocolate (nutella) sandwich,

fruit with all the colors, grape juice, and 

a little macaroni.

Samuel wanted a sandwich with "just jelly by itself",

macaroni and cheese, tea, watermelon and strawberries.

"Not all the colors, just blue."

Well, actually, Samuel, those would be red.

Their Valentine's dinner plates. 

Fancy.

We broke out the FINE china paper plates.

I even used my knife to cut their sandwiches 

into hearts.  Cute, right?

Samuel just wanted to eat.

Daniel was ready to pray.

Elias just wanted to crawl under our feet.

Taking a picture of one of my Valentine's.

Elias tried watermelon for the first time.

He liked the juice.

THEN, Daddy got home!

Samuel took our picture!

We lowered Elias' crib so we could attempt

to put him in it at night.

He didn't like the idea 

as much as his big brothers did.

Our Jesus Tree

Our Christmas tree is a special sight.  God gave me the initial idea before Brian and I were even a couple to make him his own Christmas tree.  I knew he wasn't exactly home living in a church couple's upstairs bedroom, so for my pastor's Christmas gift in 2006, I purchased, decorated, and gave him a very special tree that he could have in his room.  It was SMALL, but the ornaments each represented a name of Christ.  I laminated a sheet that included each ornament, the name of Christ each stood for, and the scripture reference for each one.  It was amazing.  (In fact, it still is.  It meant so much to him that he kept it, and it is a staple decoration in our home every Christmas.)

So, when we married just a mere 4 months after that, we knew what our first Christmas tree was going to be.  We decided to make a large-scale of the small tree I had created for him.  It's really special.  We've collected and added ornaments over the past 6 years, and each one represents a name of Christ OR a scripture in the Bible.  It's decorated with scarlet ribbons, a string of pearls, a vine among the branches, and for each ornament, there is a ball ornament with the scripture reference written on it.  It's topped with a crown of thorns.  As our children grow, we plan to use each ornament and decoration as a nightly devotion leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Tree 2011

Vines

I am the vine; you are the branches...

John 15:5

Trump

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1 Thessalonians 4:16

Deer

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You.

Psalm 42:1

Lily and Rose

I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.

Song of Solomon 2:1

Nets

Follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.

Mark 1:17

After decorating our tree in 2011

Daniel with the "trump of God"

Samuel holds our "winnowing fan"

Matthew 3:12-17

Christmas 2012 included tracks under the tree.

Christmas Tree 2012

Christmas 2012

3 boys and their toys.

Elias' favorite ornaments are the "bells."

Exodus 28:34

The small tree that started it all.