It's 3:15 on Good Friday and everyone is home--what a blessing it is! Tonight we will decorate our eggs and remind the boys that we will do our egg smashing contest on Easeter Sunday--one person says "He is risen!", the other says, "He is risen, indeed!" then the two of you point one end of your egg at each other and go for it! The last person at the table with one end of their egg in tact wins!

I am so thankful for the time we have with our kids to teach them about Jesus Christ. Even at their young ages, they have deep faith in him. They know that God is always with them, that he is all powerful and that only by believing in His death and resurrection can they spend eternity with him. Even Kelly is learning--she calls Jesus: "Je-Je" and squints her eyes almost shut with a big grin when it's time to pray.

I've been thinking a lot today about the Good Friday service at my church growing up--it was a Tenebrae service and as each scripture was read one candle was extinguished until the sanctuary was dark. After a few minutes of silence the Bible was SLAMMED (to represent Christ's death), jolting you from your seat, even though you new it was coming.

The past few months as Ben and I have watched friends experience deep loss and as we have grieved with them, I think of how the disciples grieved when their friend (who probably seemed more like a brother) suffered and then died in front of them.

And then, in the midst of their very real, very raw grief, he came back to life! Hallelujah what a Savior!

Ben should maybe get his own blog

The best way to clean the microwave: Fill large pyrex 1/2 way with water & 2 lemons, quartered. Microwave 10 minutes. Wipe down microwave with paper towel.

Matthew's skiing foray

As part of his birthday present, Ben took Matthew skiing today. According to Ben they went down all of the runs (even black diamond) and Matthew had a blast! This was Matthew's first time on skis and he couldn't get enough. He would only allow Ben a 15 minute lunch break! They went in a few times to warm up, but they spent most of their time on the slopes...about 35 times down the hill. He even mastered the chairlift (though it ran him over once). Wish we had a photo from the day!

While they were away, I worked with Brian on learning his letters (he thinks "Z" is the easiest one to remember), and baked cookies for Ben's work. Chocolate Truffles. Maybe I should post that recipe!

Ben and I agree that one of the funniest parts of the day was hearing Brian's rendition of Jesus feeding the 5000 (Sunday School lesson today)--"He used (his pronunication 'usid') the bread and the fish and EVEN he had left overs!" He definitely has his own speaking style!

The second highlight of the weekend was debunking the bunk beds...Matthew and Brian are back in seperate rooms! Ben and I tend to learn the hard way--but at least we learn eventually!