"So she (Mary Magdalene) came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" John 20:2 NIV
HE IS RISEN!
Happy Easter! The Lord is risen indeed! I love this verse because this moment is so common in life. We can be blinded by the crisis, heartbreak, or trial that we're in the middle of and although God's already beautifully solved it in the most wonderful, miraculous, and unexpected way, we can't see it yet! It's so easy to panic and be even more upset at some new revelation because we don't yet understand the significance of what's happened. God has raised the dead! He's saved us by grace! He's miraculously crushed the Enemy and claimed victory!
Celebrating Easter always reminds me of just how deep the Lord's love is for us. How incredible it is to realize that He cares so very deeply about His babies. All of His babies. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world. Amen!
Here are all the cousins after the grand Easter Egg Hunt at our house:
The paperwork continues. We thought that we were finally done with our Home Study, but it has been delayed... again. Jackie reminded me of this old song the other day when I was getting frustrated:
Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient
You only start to worry
Remember, remember
That God is patient, too
And, think about the times
When others had to wait for you
Out of the mouths of babes!
Cute kid alert: Our 5-year-old nephew Johnny tried unsuccessfully for months to convince his parents to name his baby sister Ruby (he says "Woobie"). Being not easily deterred, he decided that maybe Evangeline could be called "Woobie" instead. We assured him that, no, Evangeline already had a name.
"Well, maybe her middle name could be Evangeline and her first name could be Woobie."
"No, hun. It's Evangeline."
"Or how about we just call her Woobie?"
After we said no, he replied, "OK, well then maybe I'll just call her Woobie."
We said, "No, babe, she's Evangeline."
So, now, you guessed it, our new baby on the way has been dubbed "Woobie" by Johnny. He's praying that it'll stick. We just love that little guy!
This month we enjoyed the field trip we've been planning for literally years... two weeks in Washington, D.C.! We had such a fantastic time seeing the awesome places that have crafted this great nation. We also were able to visit with our dear Sweet family, Great-Uncle and Aunt Chuck & Margie Wright, and Great-Uncle and Aunt Gordon & Mary Alice Keller, which was so precious to us. Wow, we are so blessed to be related to these incredible people!
A few personal favorites for us were visiting Great-granddaddy, Great-grandmother's and Great-Uncle Robert's graves at Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Supreme Court, the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Gettysburg, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and the beauty Amish country in Intercourse (countless jokes shall remain unrepeated!) and Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.
Thank you again to everyone who has been praying for the health of our grandparents Ray Ortlund, Anne Ortlund, and John McClure. If you'd like an update on their progress, just leave a message in the guestbook or email us.
After a tour of the White House
Jackie with former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert (who, it turns out, is in my Great-Uncle's discipleship group!)
The reflecting pool
At the Capitol
Margie & Evie in Jamestown
Mount Vernon
Jackie (who wants desperately to be in the military) with a plebe at the US Naval Academy
Cherry blossoms
At the spot where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg address
Uncle Chuck, Uncle Gordon, Auntie Margie, and Auntie Mary Alice
We need one of these at home! (The boys in Williamsburg)
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