Christ is Risen!

He is risen, He is risen indeed!!!

I’m glad today was Easter for so many reasons.  It is so good to meditate and think and remember why Christ died for our sins and how powerful our hope in him is because of his resurrection.  I also needed to be reminded to praise him--to focus on a story that is far more global and important than the fact that I am much much too pregnant.

Much to my disappointment, we did not have our baby yesterday or the day before or the day before that—nor has she shown any sign that she would like to be born on Easter!  When I asked Charlie this afternoon, he agreed with me, he would prefer her to come out of my belly rather than stay in.   However, despite our distraction by all things baby sister, we did manage to celebrate Easter, and I hope the Lord forgives this impatient and quite self-centered Mama for her one-track mind!  Here are some of the ways we made Easter a “high feast” day this year.

A Jacobson tradition:  homemade Bear Claw Pastries with almond and apricot filling.   It is a two-day process that involves a whole pound of butter and lots and lots of folding and rolling (and patience) to get all the layers of dough and butter that makes pastry so yummy!   

 

 

 

 

I found great comfort in watching my swollen fingers shape the dough below that huge baby-girl tummy I’m lugging around.  I hope to pass this love on to her someday as my Mom passed it on to me.  I hope she loves the Lord and, as I have, finds his presence sweetly with her in the midst of menial tasks like this .

 

 

Along with that I hope she too decides to enter into the extra work that it takes to help those around her celebrate special days—I can’t think of a day more worth extra work to celebrate than Easter!

A Grace and Peace tradition:  the Balloon Release.Our church in St. Louis has some really fun non-traditional ways of celebrating.   Isn’t this a wonderful way to end an Easter  service?

Christ is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!