It's been a quiet Holy Week thus far and I guess that's a good thing...
Except for the fact that I did have some liturgical projects and crafts planned for the kids this week...Nope, none of them happened.
I wonder if God laughs at us with all of our "big plans" some times?
Go figure, He often seems to have other plans than mine. The weather has been so nice and sunny that the kids just wanted to play outside after school work got done...Can't argue with that!
We did do some cleaning around the house and helped clean the church for Easter.
Rod loves to head this up every year as it encourages the Youth of our parish to feel comfortable in their church and be connected to the inner workings. The complaining that goes on around our house suddenly stops when our kids work somewhere else...Why is that?
Our Living Water Hike was the highlight of our week! (Though our local Good Friday Walk for Life will surely be a another highlight;) This hike is a glorious witness of metaphors that surround some of the meaning of Easter.
Prior to our hike, we talked about how we renew our Baptismal vows every Easter, right a long with the new candidates entering the church. I packed a long a small bible so we could review the scripture verses that I had written down from last year. It was a beautiful reflection and connection, certainly for this weary Mama. Some of the younger kids don't quite get it but hopefully some of it sank in with the olders. Regardless, they certainly saw God's hand in all of the amazing wildflowers and new life around them...It's become a tradition and we all love it:)
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Ezekiel 36: 24-28
John 4: 7-13
The metaphor of the tree with sturdy roots by the stream truly comes alive here. Can you believe this is only 10 minutes from my house? We should be out here a lot more than once a year!
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8
"For I will take you out of the nations: I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you and your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God." ~Ezekiel 36:24-28
This little muchkin carried her blankie the whole way!
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ~John 4:13~
Another great metaphor in view!
Dad got injured so it was a special treat to have some dear friends join us this year:) For this we were grateful.
Wishing you a very Happy Easter!
May the spring of Christ's living water fill the reservoirs of your soul and renew your spirit.
We did do some cleaning around the house and helped clean the church for Easter.
Prior to our hike, we talked about how we renew our Baptismal vows every Easter, right a long with the new candidates entering the church. I packed a long a small bible so we could review the scripture verses that I had written down from last year. It was a beautiful reflection and connection, certainly for this weary Mama. Some of the younger kids don't quite get it but hopefully some of it sank in with the olders. Regardless, they certainly saw God's hand in all of the amazing wildflowers and new life around them...It's become a tradition and we all love it:)
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Ezekiel 36: 24-28
John 4: 7-13
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8
Another great metaphor in view!
May the spring of Christ's living water fill the reservoirs of your soul and renew your spirit.
Tiffany, what a beautiful and serence place. I love that you make it a spiritually enriching journey with the scriptures! I love the ones you chose. Gosh, what an amazing pilgrimage you made with family and friends. I hope your husband is OK and not injured too badly. God bless your Triduum. (Also like your new "Pages" on your sidebar).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gardenia. Rod is slowly getting better. He sprained his knee and hip doing some ladder training...Can you say "getting old?" hee hee He's hanging in there and nice to have him home for awhile!
DeleteWow, what a beautiful walk! God must laugh at me a lot. All my plans for this Lent... Instead, we've spent it sick with one thing after another.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
I hope you all were well for Easter, Nicole! Thanks for stopping by and many Easter blessings to you and family:)
DeleteOh, I love your beautiful pictures!! That's my kind of walk--those purple flowers and stream, just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHope your husband is ok.
God bless you and happy Easter!
Hi Jamie~Thanks for asking about Rod...He's getting better each day:)I mentioned what happened in my reply to Gardenia. Hope your Easter was blessed!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous walk to go on and such beautiful photos! I hope your husband is feeling better now. I agree about us making big plans for Lent. It is kind of counter productive if you think about it. We spend much time and energy trying to make it extra special when all we need to do is slow down and focus on Him. I know I am guilty of that and my plans got derailed too and that is fine :D
ReplyDeleteI hope you all have a very blessed Easter, Tiffany!
You are SO right, Ann-Marie! Slowing down and focusing on Him was just what happened on that hike...Derailed plans seemed not to matter one bit;) Thanks for asking about Rod...He is slowly getting better. I mentioned what happened in my reply to Gardenia.
DeleteHi Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteYour spiritual hike was held in such a gorgeous place. How easy it must have been for your children to connect the scripture verses to the beauty around them created by God. I should do this with my son. Your pictures show God's splendor in His wildflowers. How fitting for Easter.
Praying your husband is doing well from his injury.
Forgot to mention that I mentioned you in my recent post and linked back to you :)
ReplyDeleteThank yoy for mentioning me in your recent post...I'll be popping over to visit:)
DeleteBeautiful photos! I hope your hubby is okay. I love the scripture, particularly John 4:13. We didn't do any liturgical crafts this week either, the public school kids were on spring break so the kids opted to play with friends! Hope you and your family have a blessed Easter week!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! Rod is doing ok...I mentioned his injury up in Gardenia's reply. He starts physical therapy this week so hopefully that will keep him moving towards speedy recovery!
ReplyDelete