{pretty, happy, funny, real} Spring! Easter! Pinatas!

| a weekly capturing of contentment in everyday life |

Oh my, our world is full to overflowing with good things and hard things and in-between things right now.  How's that for specificity?  I imagine your world is much the same, and you get me. Right?

Here's quick photo diary of a few moments I'm rehearsing from the past couple of weeks.

A few photos to practice contentment this week

| pretty |

He is risen (and He thought up tulips)!  Hallelujah! 

| happy |

I felt special responsibility as a godmother to capture the quintessential Texas spring photo of adorable children frolicking amidst the bluebonnets.  On the left, you see that one child humored me.  On the right, you'll see the other child was having none of it.

Godparents Club: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

I can't remember if I've mentioned on the blog that our daughter Kendra became a godmother when she was still a teenager.  She and the sweet Lucy Scout bonded when both of them were new to Austin and so Lucy's parents asked Kendra to be her godmother.  A couple years later, Brian and I were honored for the same request for Lucy's little brother Emmett.  We often ask ourselves how we got so lucky!

We took advantage of the week that Kendra was home for Spring Break to plan a morning adventure at the wonderful Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  I've decided that we should call ourselves the Godparents Club, and will henceforth name all future collaborations likewise.  We've also discovered that we need a 3:2 ratio now that Brian and I are so old and out of practice.  

If you live in (or visit) Austin, spring is THE time to visit the wildflower center.  Admission is reasonable, and Kendra got a student discount (kids 5 & under are free).  Before we even got inside the main area, we happened upon a nesting mama owl.  I'm not sure the binoculars actually helped L & E see the owl, but they sure had fun trying. The flowers are lovely, the walking trails just the right amount of work, the observation tower worth the climb, the cafe tasty and the children's garden imaginative and delightful.  

Of all that goodness, though, the swings are the absolute best.  You have to walk quite a ways to find them, but it's worth the trek (especially when you're little enough to let someone carry you back to the car when you're tuckered out).

Gosh, we're going to miss these kiddos.  (their parents too!)

| funny |

Second Annual Friends Easter Feast

Last year they came to our house, this year we went to theirs.  I am not exaggerating when I say they got robbed.  May I also recommend you all go out right now and find yourself a friend with culinary school training?  

Also, they make me laugh. A lot.  Laughter belongs near the top of the list of ways to practice resurrection.  We feasted (lamb! leek fritters! chili queso! corn pudd'n!), hunted for colored eggs (lottery ticket prizes!  winner gets a kitten!), and whacked a pinata (lollipops!).  

| real |

My people 

It's beginning to dawn on all six of us that very soon we're going to be separated by thousands of miles.  As in, over shawarma at the Peace Bakery & Deli right after church on Sunday. As in, at any given moment one of the six of us had our head in our hands, bawling our eyes out.  I'm really grateful for the hospitality of the restaurant owners who gave us a quiet space to talk over all-you-can-eat pita and hummus.  (An aside: I'm thankful for the Resurrection sort of peace that makes a way for us to enjoy food prepared by our Middle Eastern neighbors on Easter Sunday. May that peace be known across the globe.)

I'm not going to lie.  This stage of parenting (or should I say, "family-ing"?) is really hard.  I have been humbled quite a bit in my assessment of myself as a mother.  Humbling is a good thing, though, and I've never been more grateful for the extreme privilege of sharing life with my husband and kids.  And I've never been more grateful for a Christ who bridges the gaps of our imperfect love, and saves us all.  

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Have YOU captured any contentment this week?  I'd love to hear about it!

| Join in at P,H,F,R to see other wonderful people practicing contentment. |

Practice Resurrection: Celebrate!

Harriet Tubman series (Panel #4)
Jacob Lawrence
source

So, says Jesus, it's time to celebrate! It's happening! Not perhaps, in the way you thought it would, not yet on a national scale, but it's happening all right.... Resurrection, the ultimate hope of new life for Israel, is happening under your noses, and you can't see it. But for those of us who can -- well, we're having a party, the same party that the angels are having in heaven... This, it seems, is part at least of what it means that God's kingdom is coming "on earth as in heaven." The heavenly celebrations at the signs of renewal, the first flickers of a dawn that will soon flood the whole sky, are to be matched by the motley mob around Jesus here and there, in Matthew's house and Zacchaeus' house, in this tavern and that, with Mary Magdalene and her friends and anyone else who cares to join in. This is what it looks like when God's in charge. This is how the campaign gets under way. 

N.T. Wright , Simply Jesus  

via Topology magazine

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How do you plan to celebrate the fact that "resurrection is happening under our noses" today?

Easter daybook, 5: How good it is when brothers dwell in unity.

An Easter daybook for these 7 weeks of Alleluia! Join me, won't you? 

(see all Easter daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

John and Peter Running to the Tomb - Eugene Burnand
source

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read

Psalm 133:  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.

{all readings for the day: Psalm 133;Daniel 1:1-21;Acts 2:42-47 }

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pray 

 Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's  Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. source

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listen

The Passover Song
 Sean Carter + Caroline Cobb

Listen to my Resurrection playlist here

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do

 Christ Church Eastertide Devotional 2015

download a copy by using this link: 

http://www.christchurchofaustin.org/sites/default/files/cc-eastertide-devotional-2015.pdf

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Easter daybook, 4: and they went out and fled from the tomb

An Easter daybook for these 7 weeks of Alleluia! Join me, won't you? 

(see all Easter daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

Harbingers of the Resurrection - Nikolai Ge
source

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read

Mark 16:1-8:  and they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them

{all readings for the day: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;Song of Solomon 3:1-11;Mark 16:1-8 }

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pray 

 O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. source

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listen

Death In His Grave
 Sojourn Music

Listen to my Resurrection playlist here

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do

 Christ Church Eastertide Devotional 2015

download a copy by using this link: 

http://www.christchurchofaustin.org/sites/default/files/cc-eastertide-devotional-2015.pdf

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Easter daybook, 3: This is the day the Lord has made...

An Easter daybook for these 7 weeks of Alleluia! Join me, won't you? 

(see all Easter daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

First Sight, South Africa - Bret Stirton
"This image is part of an essay made as an attempt to tell the story of their lives before surgery, during the operation to regain their sight and after, as they begin to discover light."
Source

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read

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24:  This the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

{all readings for the day: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;Genesis 1:20-2:4a;1 Corinthians 15:50-58 }

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pray 

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light:  Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. source

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listen

Morning Has Broken
 Cat Stevens

Listen to my Resurrection playlist here

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do

 Christ Church Eastertide Devotional 2015

download a copy by using this link: 

http://www.christchurchofaustin.org/sites/default/files/cc-eastertide-devotional-2015.pdf

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Easter daybook, 2: Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven

An Easter daybook for these 7 weeks of Alleluia! Join me, won't you? 

(see all Easter daybook 2015 posts here)

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look

The Resurrection - Stanley Spencer
source

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read

I Corinthians 15:35-49:  Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven 

{all readings for the day: Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24;Genesis 1:1-19;1 Corinthians 15:35-49 }

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pray 

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. source

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listen

Ain't No Grave
 Johnny Cash

Listen to my Resurrection playlist here

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do

 Christ Church Eastertide Devotional 2015

download a copy by using this link: 

http://www.christchurchofaustin.org/sites/default/files/cc-eastertide-devotional-2015.pdf

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