Rejoice, Rejoice!

Rejoice, Rejoice.....again I say Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say Rejoice!

What a glorious day, what a perfect day!

Today was a day I've been waiting for this entire week!  It was the light at the end of my tunnel in the midst of the "t" word challenge......how perfect that this day shall be Easter!  The day our Lord rose from the dead and gave us peace in the midst of fear!

It began bright and early with a workout at 5:15am, by 6:30am we were at sunrise service in the shelter house at our church!  It was the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen - maybe it was the dreams I had, had of how it would be after the challenge was over.....it was even better then I had imagined!

It followed by grocery shopping for baking stuff as we gave up sweets for lent and haven't had a sweet in 40 days!  So we stocked up so I could do a little baking!

By 9am we were back at church where I corralled my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders around to the Easter festivities at church where we heard all about the Easter story.....o and hunted for eggs also!  Adam was one of the readers for the children and did a great job!  It was certainly a great way to jumpstart Easter celebrations!

10am I am chatting with a few ladies and who comes up behind me to surprise me......my mom and dad!  O MY GOSH!  I had NO idea and being overcome with emotion I cried right then and there like a little kid coming home from camp.....weeping and wiping tears from my eyes......mom cried, I cried......and I think even dad cried!  I hadn't seen them since Christmas and it was joyously overwhelming to see them.  With LOTS of hugs and LOTS of tears we gathered ourselves there in the middle of the gathering area at church and then enjoyed a PERFECTLY lovely church service!  What a service!  We are normally in the choir, but with the business of our life at this time, we had the great pleasure to LISTEN.....I know right!  It was beautiful with a full orchestra and chorus, with children and the joy they bring, with a peaceful and encouraging sermon.......what a day already and it isn't even noon yet!

By noon we were on our way to a lovely lunch with my parents where we sat outside with the beautiful sun and enjoyed a perfectly delicious meal together!

By 2pm we were back at our apartment telling stories, laughing, smiling, ......eating candy.....and enjoying every second of our time together!  There truly is nothing like family and wish for everyone to know the joy that is family and the joy they bring to life!

By 5pm they were on their way back to the farm and the two of us sat and enjoyed the sun of the afternoon, planted a few more herbs (Rosemary and Mint), and soaked in every ounce of the day!

I truly can't imagine a more perfect day.....a more perfect life!  In the midst of trial and hard, hard work......there is nothing like a perfect day to refill your battery to go out and do it all again!

Today was everything and more that I dreamt it to be......much more!

My Lord rose today, Your Lord rose today and as a result we can LIVE!  So LIVE and live fully in all you do!

What's in a palm?

Did you know that a palm branch, like the ones we waved around today for Palm Sunday, are symbolic for "victory?"

In the process of working through my Sunday School lesson this week and the lovely sermon given by our pastor (Rev. Steve) I've come to look and maybe understand this day a bit better....here is what I've been mulling around:

The story goes that the people from long ago (that is those alive when Christ was) were looking for a king to come in victoriously to concur and save them from the Roman Empire.  Now they expected a military king.  A king riding in royal garb on a big beautiful horse with guards and militia who would overthrow the empire and set them free.  Did you also know that the word "Hosanna" is translated into "save us now."  A very likely thing for them to say and expect with their understanding of the type of "king" that Christ was to be.

Now the King of Kings did not ride in to overthrow the Roman Empire and neither did He ride in on a gallant horse with militia.  No, no, no....this King came in plainly colored cloth, likely barefoot, and rode in on a donkey he borrowed (he didn't even own it).  A less observant follower might have missed his entrance.

In our Sunday School class today we engaged in the humor of this scene......what do you think the people with the palm "victory" branches thought as Christ came in riding a donkey?  I imagine some of them probably thought "this is the guy that is going to save us from the empire....how?"  They might also have been wondering "how is this guy going to save us "Hosanna"?  I don't doubt that all these things crossed their minds...I mean we are human right and Jesus' entrance had been built up for hundreds of year in the early scriptures to be a victorious King........

I also found it interesting to learn that riding in on a horse is symbolic for a "concurring hero", whereas riding in on a donkey is symbolic for "coming in peace."  Now, isn't that just like our Jesus...the servant - He did not come to rule and have authority over all, but to serve.  What better message to take out of today than that!

We know Jesus is victorious and does save us all, but not in the way we (as humans) expected.  I assume this is still true today and only when we are with our Heavenly Father will we truly understand what God intended by sending a King to serve rather than rule.

Happy Palm Sunday and welcome to Holy Week!  

We Are Waiting......

A beautiful song that I have the pleasure of singing at worship services and one I have come to love very much.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

It is a song I can get lost in and that is the true test!  

God is so great and so mighty and I feel truly blessed to share music everyday.  

 This is one that I hope you will continue to share!  

Raspberry Mousse!

What better way to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon than with a light and fluffy raspberry mousse!

I saw this recipe on the Giada's Food Network episode and had to try it!

Success!

Here is a link to Giada's recipe!

When I watched this episode she actually used Mascarpone Cheese instead of Ricotta.  Today I used half Mascarpone and half cream cheese (mainly because I had only half of the requested amount...and Mascarpone is really expensive).  So for those of you that are wanting to keep things simple and cheap it was VERY tasting with half cream cheese! 

I also thought that the cream cheese/mascarpone mixture with raspberry preserves (mixed in the food processor) would make a great spread for bagels.....so 2 great recipes out of 1!  I call that a success!

Hope you all enjoyed your lovely weekend!