The Chuppies: There's Still Time to Be Intentional...

Purposeful.
That's how I wanted to be about this Easter.
To be intentional.

But--April is a daunting month for me.
October and April.
For some reason those two months just seem to get a little chaotic no matter how noble my intentions--
In April it's a mix of birthdays and travel and quarters-ending-in-school.
Add in some stomach bugs, antibiotics...and that so much about April reminds me of Selah...

I found myself yesterday wishing, wanting, praying for a way to--
Pull my heart to a place of Easter worship.

But--I'm writing this morning to tell you:
There's still time.

So if you're reading this on the Monday morning of the Holy Week of the 7 (oh wait--now 6) days before Easter, and you're bemoaning the fact that you wish you'd done more to prepare your heart or your kiddos' hearts or your family's readiness... to enjoy and appreciate and be thankful for:

The cross--
And all it means for those who cling to His redemption.

Then again--I'm writing this morning to tell you:
There's still time.

So--since the reality of this Monday morning means a run to Costco for medicine, a trip to Target for Spot Shot and several loads of laundry--I'm going to try something new with this post.
Throughout the day, I'm going to add ideas of ways to focus
Or in my case--to refocus--

On Easter.

So--if you find yourself in a similar state--please check back for updates as time allows (or for an accumulated list this evening).

8:46 am--Finally printed Ann's Booklets of Thanksgiving with an Easter theme. At dinner last night, we talked about looking for little gifts from God throughout the day and we made a plan to each write daily in a booklet during the next 7 days, so that we can share them as a family on Easter Sunday.

8:50 am--Started playing one of my favorite Easter songs...Fred Hammond's "Celebrate".

9:00 am--Printed out an Easter poem by a kindred poet: Annie Johnson Flint.

Some of us stay at the cross,

Some of us wait at the tomb,
Quickened and raised with Christ
Yet lingering still in the gloom.
Some of us ‘bide at the Passover feast
With Pentecost all unknown:
The triumphs of grace in the heavenly place
That our Lord has made our own.
If Christ who had died had stopped at the cross,
His work had been incomplete.
If Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb,
He had only known defeat,
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross,
And the way of the tomb leads on
To victorious grace in the heavenly place,
Where the risen Lord has gone.

-by Annie Johnson Flint

12:20 pm--Considering either a family time of communion tomorrow night with possibly foot washing after reading John 13 and Luke 22. We've never done the foot washing before, but years ago, my guy and I went to a Good Friday service where the whole tiny congregation participated in foot washing after the service. It forever impacted John 13 for me.

12:24 pm--Still time to download Noel Piper's Lenten Lights to read in the evenings as a family. The readings for the week plan started on Saturday, but if you read two tonight and two tomorrow night...you'll be caught up.

12:26 pm--Might let the kiddos watch The Story of Jesus for Children (The Jesus Film Project) again on Thursday. The Jesus Film Site says it is best for ages 4-14. If you click on the link above, the movie is available through their website.

2:21 pm--My friend Anne-Marie found a local church that has the Stations of the Cross open to the public from 9am to 7pm on Friday, April 22nd. I think we'll try to go. We have two kiddos in particular who are very impacted by visual imagery...

2:28 pm--How to make Resurrection Rolls. I'm not sure these are going to actually happen for us...

2:31 pm--Printing out this Easter poem that my friend Cheryl shared on her blog yesterday.

5:24 pm--In the midst of decorating Easter eggs...we might include some discussion about Easter symbols.

5:28 pm--And finally, I don't want to forget the Resurrection Eggs. The kids really do enjoy going through the eggs and it's a good way to explain the real meaning of Easter. I'll share below a store-bought version and also one that is child-made.

Resurrection Eggs that you can purchase...