Be Still

One of many things that is funny about mine and Kurt's relationship has been and still is the fact that I am a goer and a doer and he is...well, not. Don't get me wrong he is a hard worker and a really fun guy but he knows how to relax and slow down and I...don't. Basically, we go in this cycle all the time where I wear him out, he has to have "down time," I get bored, and wear him out again, and well....you see the pattern.



However, despite the annoyances of this cycle there is something beautiful in it. I push him to go and do and he reigns me in, keeping me from going crazier than I already am! Just today, for example, being the end of the semester, I have 5 lesson plans, at least three papers the majority of which are due on Tuesday, all of which I had not even started still yesterday! Basically, I am SLIGHTLY over whelmed. He comes home from work and makes me put down EVERYTHING to just go lay with him for a few minutes. I resist, skirm, and wiggle trying to get away, frantically telling him ALL of the work I have to get done and how stressed I am and that I have absolutely no time to just lay around. Of course, those of you who know us, know that Kurt is much bigger and much stronger then me. Needless to say, he always wins. Frustrated I unwillingly am forced to submit to his request.

Slowly though, as I lay still, in his arms, I am able to breath. I feel my muscles relax, the stress of the day melts away and I am able to live in that quiet moment. I am not thinking about papers, lesson plans, or exams. Instead, I am only thinking about Kurt and how perfect and priceless these little moments are and I savor every minute.

Finally after a few minutes of this peace I return to my work refreshed and revived. My homework was not more important than the precious moments I got to spend with Kurt and all of it still got done in a timely manner.

It is times like this that teach me something very important about God. He is longing for those exact same precious moments with me everyday. Unfortunatly I get blinded by the "pressing issues" that I feel have to be done now. I pray that God will open my eyes to see past the "pressing issues" so that I do not miss out on those precious moments with Him.

Easter!

Can you imagine what it would have been like to be alive that fateful Saturday 2,000 years ago? Driving down for an afternoon at the beach with Kurt's family we passed a church with black fabric draped around the cross. This has always been a powerful image for me, but this year my senses were a little more heightened to how magnificent a holiday Easter really is.

For the first time, I decided to participate in Lent. I gave up sweets, which to my suprise was easier said then done. It even put little stress on mine and Kurt's relationship a couple times : ) Just goes to show you how addicted I am. As this new experience unfolded I was continually counting down the days until Easter, just anticipating when I could ease my sweet tooth once again. As Easter came closer, however, it was not the sweets, bunnies, or eggs that captured my attention as they had in the past. It was my Savior and my God. I noticed Passover week written in red on my calander (that I had been checking like a mad woman due to my sugar withdrawls). Coinsidently I was just finishing up Genisis in my quiet time and begining Exodus. Reading about the Exodus of God's people over Passover week opened my eyes. God raised his people up out of their slavery in Egypt, and with the sacrifice of His son, He raised us up out of the slavery and bondage of our world.


As I continued thinking over this, the weekend finally came! Friday was upon me, and Christ was crucified, BUT I knew how it ended. Seeing the cross draped with black on Saturday reminded me that 2,000 years ago my brothers and sisters did not know how it was going to end. That Saturday was the worst day that could ever be imagined. Their hope was gone. They were scared. All meaning in life ripped away.


This contrast of darkness, with the light the next day would bring, made it all the more exciting for me. The hope that Easter brings to a hopeless world became REAL! I knew my Savior was going to rise in the morning and I could hardly go to sleep!


I talked Kurt into getting up at 6 with me and having our own sunrise service, together, just us and God. Leave it to me to over sleep! I woke up, looked at my clock and it was 6:45! Thinking I missed the sunrise I jumped out of bed and ran outside. It was cloudy. So technically I did not miss the sunrise, at least thats what I decided to pretend. We just sat side by side on his parent's deck, praying, having no words to express our gratitude and excitement that our God and His son CHOSE to save us in all our imperfections. Then, reading through all of the versions of the resurrection, we tried to imagine what it would have been like to be Mary, Peter, or Thomas! It was truely an intimate morning we were able to share with each other and our Father.

Here are some pictures from the weekend!


Never to old for an Easter basket! (this picture is out of order, which drives me Crazy but I don't know how to fix it!)




Saturday afternoon spent at the beach could not have been a better treat! Hopefully it will get me through till the summer!

My big 8 year old playing with every jelly fish we passed walking down the beach. Love him : )

Sharp looking boys!!!


Even Bear wanted to get in on Easter pics! (that was not posed he just walked over and got in the picture)


Yummy Easter lunch!