Good Friday

Russia follows the Orthodox calendar so we are celebrating Easter this Sunday.  It's been a special week of reading, crafts, cleaning the house & yard (another really good Russian tradition ~ you HAVE to clean your house right before Easter :).  In case anyone is interested for next year.. www.aholyexperience.com had some wonderful readings and ideas to do with children.   Also my friend Phyllis at www.fylliska.blogspot.com.

So yesterday we made the hill of Golgotha out of playdooh and planted some cactus.  I laughed so hard at David's comment while we were hard at work..

Me: So imagine Jesus walking up the hill, what kind of trees did he see.. birch, maple, apple?

Rachel: lots of cactus and short, scraggly trees

David: WAIT A MINUTE!!!  You mean Jesus died in TEXAS??!@!!!?!?!@  (the look on his face was priceless)  (note to concerned Grandparents we really DO teach him things.. he just gets confused easily..sometimes...)

Tonight after our reading from Matthew, Caleb carefully took our pipe cleaner Jesus down off the cross and laid him in the tomb and then we placed a stone over the tomb.  Johanna has loved playing with this ~ so much so the kids have already asked that we keep it for the centerpiece of the table even after Easter.

Our friend Olga came over to help us color eggs ~ special memories!

Thank you for all your prayers for James this past week.  He was very glad to be able to attend his Father's memorial service.  It literally was a miracle he was able to go ~ when we entered the country in February we were told we couldn't leave the country for the next 90 days, but somehow the paperwork got cleared and James received his passport back the very day before his father's death.  Anyway, it was neat to see how God worked so James could be with his family during this time.  It's been very special this week to prepare for Easter and think about dear Grandpa Jack in his new body in fullness of JOY with his Savior.  I've had the words to this song 'I will rise' in my head all week.. 'Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed.'  Here's the link if you want to listen ~  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvrBQL8swLI&feature=related   May you rejoice today that the victory is won!

Oh and just two more random funnies from Rachel.  Today I had the news on my homepage and there was a heading 'Obama appoints border Czar'.   Rachel gasped 'You mean there's going to be another Czar?!?  I thought when they killed Nicolas that was the last of the Czars!?  I guess Obama didn't get the memo about no more Czars ;)  

Also why practicing her piano tonight she was playing a minuet by Bach ~ I said 'honey that note right there is not right.'  'Oh yeah, I know, I changed it just a little bit because I thought it sounded better my way.'  Hmmm so my 10 year old thinks she can improve on Johann Bach, now that's funny!