Resurrection Day Celebration!

After a great Resurrection Sunday service we headed home to make preparations for our Easter meal.

We had our kids, Josh, Laura and Katie along with my sister Lana and hubby Steve. Our son in law Andrew celebrated Easter at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan. We did hear that they had a Sunrise Service at the camp. Our son Dan is celebrating with his girlfriend’s family in Eastern Washington.

Our menu included rack of lamb, rice pilaf, salad and bread. For appetizers we had asparagus spears wrapped in prosciutto and broiled.

Our dessert was Italian Easter bread (Colomba)…think Paska/Kulich with strawberries.

We had fun with special shrink wrap boiled egg Matryoshka embellishments that we found at the Ukrainian market. The eggs with the XB on them are hollow chocolate eggs. The X is for Christ and the B is for arose. Here’s the shrink wrap method. With eggs that have been boiled already, you put them in the sleeve and then dip them in boiling water for about 3 seconds.

The guys are out on the deck now enjoying the sunshine and the girls are inside enjoying relaxing on the couch while watching Property Brothers. After a busy rewarding morning and early afternoon it’s good to just sit and veg!

How was your day?

Can’t Imagine…

…the sorrow those who loved Jesus Christ felt on the day in between his death and resurrection.

I can imagine Angels were guarding His body as it laid in the tomb.

I’m so thankful we know the rest of the story and we are not of those who despair.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Looking forward to Easter Sunday and celebrating our hope with millions of people around the world.

Easters Past…

For my flashback this week I’m going back to Easters in the past. These are all from the 50’s. Later this month I’ll share Easter Flashbacks from our immediate family that hail from the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Growing up my immediate family was divided 4 x 4. My mom and dad had the four of us siblings pictured above and then there was a 7 year gap before they had 4 more children. I was the baby of the family for 7 years.

My mom had one brother who survived to adulthood and these are my cousins on my mom’s side of the family. This photo was taken of my maternal grandmother’s grandchildren at the time. She would add 5 more grandchildren in time.

I was so excited when I learned I’d have a baby brother or sister. I really wanted a brother and I remember jumping up and down on our family room couch when my father announced that my mother had my baby brother Tim. Tim was soon followed by our cousin Tanya and then our brother Steve. The twins, Leonard and Lana came a few years later.

This last photo is of my Dear and his older brother Terry. Dear and Terry were born 4 years apart. I’m guessing this could be an Easter photo but it also could be that it was just a Sunday going to meeting photo!

Do you host Easter at your house?

It was all about the Son and…

…the sun on Easter Day!

We celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s son early on Sunday morning and then came home to prepare for our Easter meal and the sun shone brightly on us.

I walked about the yard and brought in some color from my Forsythia and Lenten Rose.

We had our traditional lamb barbecue (Shashlik) and sides for our meal. We were so happy the weather was perfect for a barbecue.

I have a confession to make. I did not bake our traditional Russian Easter Bread (Kulich/Paska) this year.

When I was in Italy I saw these in all the grocery stores advertised for Easter and decided to buy one to bring home. It worked perfectly with a texture and aroma very close to Paska.

Lombardians came up with colomba pasquale (literally “Easter dove”) and its popularity spread throughout the country until today it is an unofficial national Easter bread.There are several stories about its origins. (We have to say “of course” again; we’re talking about poetic Italians, after all.) One version has the colomba dating back to 1176, commemorating the Lombardian victory over Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. During the deciding battle, according to this version, two doves representing the Holy Ghost miraculously appeared on the battle standards.

After our meal we headed out into the sunshine to enjoy some much needed Vitamin D!

For us fair skinned people a portable umbrella was needed to shield our skin from the hot rays! It’s a bit too early for our patio covers to go up here in the Northwest. We usually pull out the patio equipment for Mother’s Day weekend or Memorial Day weekend.

Here we are in April and today I’m checking the calendar to see what’s coming up. We have 2 weddings to attend, one local and one that involves travel the end of the month. We are also getting plans finalized for a 90th birthday party for my parents the end of April. How does April look for you?

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Christos Voskress! Voistinu Voskress!

Христос Воскрес!

Воистину воскрес!

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

Good Friday ~ How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

How Deep the Father’s Love For Us

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

~Stuart Townend

Luke 23:44 ~ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:49 ~ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

All these images are from Monumentale Cemetery in Milan, Italy taken 10 days ago.

Maundy Thursday

I took this photo just 9 days ago at the Monumentale Cemetery in Milan. Today and this whole week Christians around the world remember the events that led up to the crucifixion and Christ’s resurrection over 2000 years ago. I always look forward to celebrating our risen Lord who is alive today. The Last Supper and the Washing of the Disciples Feet are both remarkable events. While in Milan I was also able to see Leonardo da Vinci’s mural of the Last Supper. The original mural is on a wall of the refectory (dining hall) in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. No photos allowed. This next sculpture of Jesus washing Peter’s feet is at the Gardens of the World in Thousand Oaks, California.

Excerpts from John chapter 13…

It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Fairest Lord Jesus ~ Hymn

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in the blooming garb of spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.

Have a wonderful Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week everyone…

FFF ~ All About Easter…

What a great week starting off with a glorious Easter celebration. My 5 favorites are all about Easter.

1. Easter services at church. I love to see the little ones come all dolled up in their spring finery. I love to sing the wonderful Easter songs.

2. Flowers that bloom at Easter time are another favorite.

3. Russian Easter Bread with Sweet Cheese spread are two traditional things we always have at Easter.

4. Easter meals that we enjoy with loved ones.

5. That Jesus paid the penalty for me and opened up the door for me to have a relationship and new life in Him.

Anneliese, Judy, Lovella and I are all in one of our hotel rooms typing away on our computers. So classic. I’ll share more about Fresno next week. We hit the ground running tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Click over to Susanne’s to join in with your favorites.

Easter Day 2012

Dear and I were out the door early Easter morning and attended the 7:00 a.m. service. It was a great way to start this glorious Easter day. The Easter cross was on center stage!

After church I set the places for our Easter meal.

We had Shashlik (marinated lamb barbecued on skewers), glazed ham, roasted vegetables and salad. I sent ham home with our guests, too.

Our centerpiece was our Russian Easter Bread. Some people call it Paska. We call it Kulich.

The signs written in Russian say, Christ is Risen, Truly He is Risen or He is Risen Indeed.

This is Searnaya Paska which is served with our Easter Bread. Searnaya Paska is a sweetened cheese spread that is made with a type of dry cheese, egg yolks, butter, cream, and sugar. Don’t even bother trying to figure out the calories or how it will raise your cholesterol levels. The mixture is pressed overnight in a mold to get the excess liquid out. Besides the sweet cheese we serve this with strawberries. A most wonderful combination. Think strawberry shortcake.

To document the fact that we got amazing sunshine on Easter 2012 I had Lana and Laura pose with some Easter symbols outside.

Look at them! They are squinting. That made us happy today!

We all spent some time out in the Easter sunshine soaking up some vitamin D.

We are full and satisfied with all the glory of the day we enjoyed. Hope you had a wonderful Easter Day!

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Easter