He Is Risen!

A legendary early Church tradition:
When two Christians met, they reminded each other of the Resurrection.
One said, "He is risen!"
And the other replied, "He is risen indeed!"

In early Christian art, the central theme was the empty tomb.

The Cross brings salvation and eternal life.
The Resurrection brings new life, abundant life.
It means that, truly, all things are possible with God.
Nothing is stronger than Him.
He is King.
He is risen!

Little Blessings

God recently blessed me with a job at a daycare here in Richmond, so five days a week I spend at least four hours giving lunch breaks to teachers in various rooms. The kids are so fun! (Usually ;-D). Here are some examples of the new joys I've been experiencing:

• a set of triplets whose belongings are marked A, B, and C
• an adorable four-year-old boy with thick, curly red hair who gives great hugs
• a toddler who has learned to climb into my arms
• an older toddler professionally patting a younger one to sleep (pats back, strokes hair, lifts blanket to see if eyes are closed, pats again, et cetera)
• kids saying "I like you"
• sloppy baby kisses
• sharing "secrets" about knights and dragons and princesses
• watching toddlers dance and try to somersault
• receiving colored pictures of rainbows and other interesting creations
• a billion smiles a day

Kids are great! Just saying.

Challenging Femininity #11

http://feelinfeminine.com/?p=5342

4 Days!!!

I'm getting excited about camp at Laurel Lake and thought I'd share some old xanga posts from the last time I got ready for summer camp (2007 at the Word of Life Ranch).

So... summer break was awesome; I didn't realize how long it had really been since being home with my family. We went on a lot of errands - shopping, visiting old friends, fixing up our old house in preparation for its sale, etc. I read the book for this summer, as well as some fiction :) and spent a lot of time with my dear brothers ... bike-riding, playing CatchPhrase and Dutch Blitz, listening to music, etc.

I kind of wish I was still there, I can't lie. But that time will come before I know it, and I know that God has great things in store for this summer in the meantime! I am so excited for those little girls to start coming! I want to be the enthusiastic counselor that they need, not letting any fear of man or discomfort or failure get in the way.... Please pray that I will depend completely on the Lord and His grace, rather than on my own feebleness which definitely isn't strength by a long shot.

This weekend will be fun, as all the camps are coming back and the STC'ers will be coming. I hope to get a chance to talk to my friend Courtney whom I haven't seen for a year, but we'll see.

Open Our Eyes

This life is only an echo

Of the deeper life to come

This ache is born of

Your Spirit in our hearts

Calling us homeward

Till our passing days are done

And You bid us "rise and...

"Come, now the wait is over

Eternity's begun

Wake, now the dream is ended

You're finally free to run" (Dance in the morning sun")

Open our eyes

Open our eyes

Wonder is only a window

Beauty is an open door

Longing, leading us onward through the night

To what we're made for

When these shadow lands are done

We will hear You crying...

"Come, now the wait is over

Eternity's begun

Wake, now the dream is ended

You're finally free to run" (Dance in the morning sun")

Open our eyes

Open our eyes

All that's eternal

You've set in our hearts

Our joyful desire burns like the morning star...

Open our eyes (to the joy that's to come)

Open our eyes (to the home that we seek)

Open our eyes (to the promise of heaven)

Open our eyes (to eternity's dream)

We're longing to see (open our eyes)

To live in Your light (open our eyes)

To always be near (open our eyes)

Open our eyes

~ Words by Doug McKelvey

Honors Day at University of the Cumberlands

On a recent Monday, Pappaw, Mammaw,

Mom, Jedidiah, and I

took a trip to Williamsburg, KY to visit Caleb,

meet some of his friends,

show our grandparents the campus,

and eat a tasty lunch in the intramural gym.

The president speaking

Here we are in front of "the prettiest spot on campus" -

the fountain!

It had begun to rain,

so Jedidiah ran to the car to put away some papers.

Thus he unfortunately is not in this picture.

Challenging Femininity #8

Be sure to check out the article on Elizabeth Prentiss! She wrote the hymn "More Love to Thee, O Christ" which has recently become popular due to a contemporary Christian musician singing it. She also wrote the book Stepping Heavenward, among others. That book is one of my favorites. It's a sweet story about a young girl who draws nearer her Heavenly Father throughout her life.