Incredible Weekend

What an incredible week end! I love Easter (just like everyone else) but this year meant so much more to me than it ever has.  I think I know the reason.  Much like the Jesse Tree that we completed at Christmas, we went through the Jesus Tree for the forty days leading up to Easter.  Each day we read a passage about Jesus, going all the way through the crucifixion and resurrection.  While I know we remember Jesus’ wonderful resurrection all of the time, placing a special time of remembrance and reflection on it this year helped keep our focus on Christ and not on what the Easter bunny would bring.  I want to make sure that our kids understand that these celebrations of Jesus are about something much more than receiving gifts.  A friend told me last night that they gave Easter baskets on Saturday night so that Sunday would just be about Jesus and not about what they were getting in their baskets.  I love that idea! Our yard/bake/craft sale was amazing!!  God blew our expectations out of the water (we really had no idea what to expect).  The way that our church family responded was incredible.  The friend who hosted the sale, made the comment that she felt like she was watching the book of Acts on her front yard.  Friday was RAINY and we are so thankful to the friends who helped us to load and unload the U-Haul of stuff in the yucky weather.   We’re so thankful for friends who have very busy lives of their own, but still took the time to deliver stuff for the yard sale, and to donate items for it.  Thankful for friends that housed everything at their home and tagged  ALL of the items!  Thankful for friends who made unbelievable cupcakes, and baked goods!  Thankful for friends who took time to make and donate their beautiful handmade items.  We are so thankful for the friends who got up very early on Saturday to hang up signs and set up in the drizzly, cold rain.  We are so thankful for friends who came and spent their Saturday helping us work the yard sale! Thankful for friends who came and shopped at the sale.  For friends who helped us pack everything up at the end!  Thankful for friends who bought us all pizza for lunch!!  We are so thankful for friends who let us invade their yard and home for one long day!  We are so grateful for old and new friends whose generosity blew us away!  The body of Christ doing what the body of Christ is called to do….it was humbling to be in the middle of it all.  We are so blessed to be surrounded by a group of people who truly love God with all of their heart and that leads them to love others and carry each others’ burdens!  It was a beautiful day.  We will never forget it as long as we live...of course in the craziness we forgot to take pictures!  But it is forever etched in our memories!  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.   1 Peter 4:8-10 Love Tracy