They Buried Him in a Hurry

I've been using 24-7 Prayer's Lenten podcasts as a way to reflect in the lead-up to Easter.  Today's reflection from Carla Harding struck me deeply.  "They buried Him in a hurry..."

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 229

Today's Daily 5:

1. Good Friday quiet
2. a dream that had palm trees
3. skype with a friend
4. the satisfaction of finishing Anne Lamott's latest book (so earthy and lovely and jesusy all at once)
5. laundry hung on a drying rack, and the feeling of knowing that this one choice is a good one
6. time spent alone in the house
7. making lasagna 
8. audio book pleasures
9. magic bags
10. clean water

Friday Reflections, April 6, 2012 (Good Friday)

Normally on Good Friday I focus exclusively on the cross.  This year, however, more than ever I feel the longing for resurrection, and quite simply couldn't resist sharing this video with you today.  I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch and listen, and to allow your heart to feel the impact of this day, and the anticipation of Sunday.

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 228

Today's Daily 5:

1. an extra hour of sleep
2. a bus driver who cranked the heat in the face of the snow this morning
3. a laugh emailed to me by a friend that perfectly summed up the challenges of nursing thus far
4. one more day down in the countdown to the end of the semester
5. packed my own lunch every day this week
6. listening to Anne Lamott's latest book on the bus
7. meeting my favorite date's new brother for the first time
8. cuddling a one week old baby
9. loving on my favorite little guy as he adjusts to being a big brother
10. an evening out for dinner with house church friends

Free Bird

I'm feeling a lot less stressed as I write this post.

The last school thing that had really been weighing on my mind was finished yesterday afternoon.  It was something I'd been dreading, and now it's over.

Don't get me wrong.  There are still two presentations, one paper, and one final exam standing between me and the end of the semester, and all of those hold tiny amounts of stress, but none of them hold the stress that yesterday held for me over the last week or so.

And now it's done, and I'm a free bird!

And at this point, I'm planning to celebrate my freedom tonight by having dinner with all my house church people (hello pizza!!!), and cuddling a week-old baby boy (a new honorary nephew to spoil!) for the first time.

It's a lovely thing to be a free bird!