Christ Has Risen . . .

Last week was Holy Week and it didn't really feel any different to be until Friday night. On Friday night we attended Good Friday service at Grace (where I have come to feel extremely comfortable), the service we attended was awesome!! Several of the high school youth put on a shadow presentation of the stations of the cross. I really wish I would have taken pictures - as we looked at the at the shadows and heard the story being told by four different pastors it really brought the story to life. When the shadows displayed Jesus carrying the cross and being crucified on the cross, I could picture Jesus' face and I was really moved by this. It got me thinking about his Crucifixion in a whole new way.

On Saturday, my parents and sister joined us for a trip to the zoo where we got to see the baby elephant again. I just love to see this little guy - when we saw him this week he had a little more energy and strayed a little bit further from his mom, but still not more than a few feet. Wouldn't it be nice if people were like this little elephant where they may stray a little from their faith but not very far and always went back? I will admit that I fell victim to straying away from my faith for about a year (maybe a little more). I was to the point where I didn't know what I believed, but within the last couple of weeks I have found my faith again and it may even be stronger that it ever has before. I'm not even really sure why or how - I just know it happened!

On Sunday we all attended church and got to see Emali sing. It was awesome to see her up there - she often looked scared to death as there were probably more than 200 people looking up at her but she continued and seemed to enjoy it. While Pastor Jeff was preaching, his question of the week was Have you seen Jesus? What Pastor Jeff meant was how and when do you see Jesus in your everyday life? I think the biggest way I have seen Jesus in my life lately is every time I look outside and see all the new growth with the flowers and the leaves blooming, and even when we take our trips to the zoo and see the new baby elephant.

Sunday night as Alex was putting Kiefer to bed he asked him what his favorite Easter present was and he said his lacrosse sticks, but then he said the very best present was the first Easter when Jesus rose again. That really went straight to my heart! I did notice that both Friday night and Sunday morning Kiefer really seemed to be absorbing more than usual during service to the point I don't think I've ever seen him sit so still as he did Sunday morning!

He has Risen indeed!