Family Easter

We gathered for our Easter celebration on Good Friday. 

It felt a bit of a somber day to celebrate, so I kept decor simple

and we lit candles on the tables. 

Papa talked about the significance of this day and asked the

kids, "Why do they call it Good Friday?"

Apparently the term "Good" as applied here is an Old English expression meaning Holy. 

Holy Friday ... when the sky went dark and the earth shook just before Jesus breathed His last. 

Easter baskets were hidden by the dads ...

you can tell.

I was chasing the kids but didn't get to see all of 

the hiding places or initial responses.

And guess where Koen found his! 

Papa's shop has lots of good places,

including a trash can. 

I struggle with the balance of taking photos and just enjoying the time.

If I had more photos of Paska,

it would be of the kids spreading icing on slices of paska bread

and adding their own sprinkles. 

The recognition on their faces when I told them of this possiblity 

still brings a smile to my face. 

 How thankful we are that the story did not end with Holy Friday,

but that on Sunday we could celebrate our risen Savior,

Lord of life and death.

But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, 

as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised.

1 Corinthians 15:20

That I may know Him More

Before I came to know and put my trust in God, there was a tug of war within my soul.  This has been our destiny from the Garden of Eden, when the snake asked Eve, "Did God really say?" Ever since then, good and evil have fought side by side.  So how did I come to trust God? In order to trust Him I need to know that He is good, that He does good and that His desires for me are good.  

How do we know that God is good? The Bible, the book that has stood the test of time and, dare I say our conscience, tell us that He is the source of morality. He made laws for our protection and for our good. However, following our own way,  God's goodness is also evident in His mercy by providing a way for us to come to Him.  The gift of Jesus is the greatest show of His goodness, ultimately the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. This is what we celebrate this weekend.

God made the heavens and the earth and about every thing He made, He said, "it is good." Creation shows us that out of His goodness, He makes good things and He does good. His goodness is shown in a common grace to all mankind.  "For He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:45. 

So, if God is good, makes good things and does good things, why is there evil in this world? As strange as it sounds, maybe evil allows us to see goodness. In the Garden, Eve was told by the serpent, "you shall surely not die, but your eyes will be opened and you will be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4,5

Why would God allow evil? Being only human, we are not in a place where we can't see clearly yet, but there are times when we see a glimpse, and what we see is that He can allow allow evil for a greater good. It may just be a bigger miracle that God can bring healing and redemption from brokenness than if we never needing healing at all. Joseph was sold into slavery, and ended up being the one who saved his family in the end. He told his brothers, "what they had meant for evil, God had meant for good".

Never would I have chosen for my mother to have Alzheimer's. But what I learned in the process and how I was encouraged by her faith may not have happened in any other way. It is in the valleys that we  become more willing to depend on the Lord, and learn that His desires for us are for our good - sometimes only seen in the grand picture. 

These are the truths that spur me on in my faith and desire to know God more.  Psalm 119:68 says, "Thou art good and doest good; teach me your statutes."

Blooms in the Desert

 As I think about the effects of the pandemic -

and the terrible things happening because of war -

I'm feeling less joy in posting photos of things that sound like a dream.

Not a day goes by that we don't remember and pray for 

those who are left homeless, separated, hungry and afflicted.

And yet, here we are ... undeserving and not

wanting to take this vacation for granted. 

We brought our bikes along,

and have done a fair bit of cycling this time.

To think that a desert can produce such beauty 

is something that reminds me of the season in life we are in now.

It is a unique time and place 

to look back as well as to look ahead.

The palo verde trees along the streets were in full bloom last week and

today many of the blossoms had fallen off.

Such a brief glimpse of their beauty. 

As we pack up to begin our journey towards home

I am grateful for blooms in the desert.

A sign of hope, in a dry and parched land.

A prayer of my heart for all. 

The Napa Valley Detour

The first time my H and I drove down to explore southern California,

I was 20 and he was 25.

 This year we will be 65 and 70!

Listening to a favorite artist of the 70's, 

I let the years flash through my mind

and found it hard not to get a bit emotional.

God has been so good!

There were years that we picked up three excited kids from school,

suitcases in the car, ready to head to Portland or farther,

sometimes driving late into the night. 

Now they are doing similar trips.

Familiar landmarks dot the way

ranging from scenic mountain views to farms and orchards.

I always marvel at the precise way the trees are planted,

straight rows no matter which direction you look,

flying by in a kaleidoscope design 

intensified by the white painted stakes or trunks.

We are still getting used to the fact that we can slow down and take our time now,

so, for the first time, we took a detour off the I5

ending up on a windy road leading to Napa Valley.

There was something magical even about just getting there.

Wildflowers along the side of the road.

Okay, I made him stop!

California poppies

I coudn't get enough of the views.

Immaculate hillside vineyards began to dot the landscape. 

Coming into Napa, the friendly vintage locomotive Wine Train made its presense known 

as we drove by and admired the historic homesteads.

We made our stop at one that made us feel like we'd been transported into Italy.

 

We didn't  do the tour or the wine tasting but it's all available,

along with a large Deli where we got our lunch

and then took it out to a picnic table area. 

It was a perfect setting and one I'll remember as a highlight. 

We left this beautiful little valley after such a short visit, but hope to be back. 

 

Run to the Father

Last Sunday I was touched by the music and lyrics

of this song written by Cody Carnes.

I love how the words express that

whatever comes, 

we can keep running to the Father

who loves us more than we can ever understand. 

Such amazing grace.

 I'll post the words of the second verse and chorus.

You saw my condition

Had a plan from the start

Your Son for redemption

The price for my heart

I don't have a context

For that kind of love

I don't understand

I can't comprehend

All I know is I need You

I run to the Father

I fall into grace

I'm done with the hiding

No reason to wait

My heart needs a surgeon

My soul needs a friend

So I'll run to the Father

Again and again

And again and again

Oh, oh

Again and again

And again and again

♡♡♡

History Repeated

These days, as our thoughts go out to Ukraine and Russia, I was looking up the map of where my grandparents came from and I came across this photo that I posted as part of my grandmother's story a number of years ago. 

This photo has always struck me as beautiful and sad at the same time. My Omi and my dad, facing a life I just could never imagine. In about 1943 they fled Memrik (Ukraine) under the threat of the Russian army. By this time her husband had been executed and two other children had died, likely because they were not able to get medical attention. Together they faced the war torn landscapes, settling in Poland and later in Germany.

This map shows the Mennonite villages in Ukraine 100 years ago, places that were moslty destroyed during WWII.  But as I see the News today, showing the line-ups of refugees heading to Poland and other places, it makes history come alive. My heart cries out for the mothers and children having to leave their husbands and daddies, not knowing if they will ever see them again. Many people making life and death decisions. I also pray for the Russian soldiers who may not have a choice about being where they are. Altogether very sad. And yet, I'm here. My children are here, as are my grandchildren. May we never forget the price of freedom and may God redeem the years the locusts have eaten, even today.