Easter 2012 in Pictures

I've written a number of posts about how meaningful Easter was to me this year. Aside from that, I took 1,000 pictures! One of my best friends has this amazing way of finding 3 or 4 perfect pictures that totally sum up the subject of her blog posts. They are dramatic, and say everything she is trying to convey with few words and with pointed pictures. That is not my gift. I can't choose. So, here are 100 pictures of our awesome weekend in Columbus!

 One of my very favorite things in the world is pulling into my parents driveway. It is an immediate stress reliever. I love this view so much.

 These two are now the best of best friends. They love each other to death. One of my favorite moments was on the way to church, while they were chatting in the back seat,  Lizzy asked London, 'Do you want to talk about Princesses?' :)

 Best one day purchase ever... Mom & Dad bought bubble guns on a recent trip. They lasted approximately 2 hours, but it was SUPER fun while it lasted! 

These next two pictures are 2 of my favorites! What a perfect picture of reckless abandon fun! 

Dying easter eggs... Renny made one for the blog!

Easter Egg Hunts

 (Egg snatcher!)

 Unhappy baby and check out Lizzy's pose!! Haha!!

 This was darling. This is at Papa's house and these kids sat here forever talking about the family members they recognized!

 We've come to realize that this is London's excited face. She did this same thing at Christmas. There was all this fun stuff going on and she got this permanent super serious face and it was like she said, "lets do this' until she conquered the task at hand! This year? Get as much chocolate in my belly before mom pries my steel grip hands off of it. She is her daddy's child.

 Renny went in for a bite and got DENIED!! :)

Awesome Video

I love this commercial. Reminds me so vividly of my momma. Waking up her grumpy, groggy children for pre-sun swim practices. Pouring us into bed exhausted and smelling of permanent chlorine. Driving all over God's creation for swim meets. Hearing her distinct, muffled voice from under water. Remembering the way she looked, tanned from hours upon hours outdoors, as she leaned over the starting blocks to cheer us on with all her might during flip turns. Thank you, momma. You were (and still are) the best cheerleader that ever was.

Is there any earthly force more powerful than a momma's pride and love for her children?

Introducing Caden Rhea, Future MLB Star

Caden had his first tee ball game this weekend and it was a success!! He hit the ball, ran in the right direction, and made it safely to first! His team even gave him the game ball!! I am going to watch his game this Saturday and could not be more excited! Both teams 'win' in 4 year old tee ball, so he was a victor!! Way to go, my sweet little buddy!!

 This is on my favorite pictures ever list!

 Running to first!

{Video}

Beneath The Cross of Jesus

After my mom read my last post, she called and said that the church is singing a song that seemed to fit the sentiment of what I wrote. I couldn't agree more. This is Beneath the Cross of Jesus by Keith Getty. It is just beautiful.

Beneath the cross of Jesus I find a place to stand, And wonder at such mercy That calls me as I am; For hands that should discard me Hold wounds which tell me, "Come." Beneath the cross of Jesus My unworthy soul is won. Beneath the cross of Jesus His family is my own— Once strangers chasing selfish dreams, Now one through grace alone. How could I now dishonor The ones that You have loved? Beneath the cross of Jesus See the children called by God. Beneath the cross of Jesus— The path before the crown— We follow in His footsteps Where promised hope is found. How great the joy before us To be His perfect bride; Beneath the cross of Jesus We will gladly live our lives.

Soul Stirring Easter

Growth. The act of maturing. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

8 years ago, Easter and Christmas were about presents and chocolate. And more presents please. Nice ones if you don't mind.

3 years ago, Easter and Christmas were anticipation to a great church sermon and presents and chocolate.

This is my first year to be brought to my knees over the Glory of Christmas and Easter. PRAISE THE LORD. Please, no present or chocolate. Just more Jesus.

My soul stirs to PREPARE. Prepare my heart. Prepare my mind. Slow. Still. Allow Him in in the most intimate of ways. Remember. Be broken. Then REJOICE. He was born. He saved my soul from what I most deserve by DYING FOR ME. Brutally. Then, His lungs filled with breath and HE LIVES!

This Easter was amazing. My girls group prepared. We welcomed the message of Easter even though it breaks our hearts. Then we came together to discuss. There were tears. There was encouragement, there was Jesus, heavy, in the midst of my work in progress home. He is always there, we just need to invite Him in. Then, Lord Jesus, He will come and show up and change you. Still you. Remind you. Strengthen you. He is faithful. Evermore.

I didn't check my email over the weekend, but Monday was a day full of flooded heart. I prayed last night and thanked God for showing up in people's lives and prompting them to act on their feelings and writing about it. The Easter blogs were almost more than I could handle. So moving. So full of the message.

This will take time to read through these, and I know time is fleeting, but if you want to be filled to overflowing today, read. Quiet yourself and read. Then wait, Jesus is there and He's about to rock your world.

(Or, bookmark this for next year to prepare yourself for this greatest of seasons)

In preparation, we celebrated the Passover meal. Our outline was from the beautiful Ann Voskamp. If you haven't subscribed to her daily blog, then click HERE and be blessed... every single day.
The Passover Meal (click the titles of all blog posts to be re-directed. It's hard to see with this layout!)

I have been trying to put together a blog post on what it was like to prepare the lamb for this meal. I am still speechless, but Ann says it perfectly in The Shocking Theology of Good Friday. (click)

Good Friday. This blog mimics my life so well. Oh, how i still want to fall at His feet to ask why he saved a wretch like me? His Wounds Healed this Prodigal (click) by Lara Williams.

I'll read this every year on Easter Day. One of the most powerful things I've ever read. He's Already Up (click) by Beth Moore. If you don't raise your hands in church, you might after this!

What You Really Need to Know the Day After Easter (click) by Ann Voskamp. Shut it down Ann. "When the back doors of the chapel open, we all stream out into the light and Resurrection and the Reign of the Risen King!"

The Practice of Living Easter (click) by Ann Voskamp. Progress. Beautiful. Oh, how I want to move forward with this Jesus. The living, breathing Jesus inside of me everyday.

Lastly, if you live in the Columbus, MS area and you aren't attending First Baptist Church, you are missing out on a Preacher that has been divinely empowered. Pastor Shawn Parker's service on if you REALLY BELIEVE that Jesus was raised from the dead to flesh and blood had me on the edge of my seat. What am I living for? Nothing outside of my hope and belief that Jesus Christ is exactly who he says he is. Nothing else.
They played this sound bite (different graphics) before the sermon. Oh, how I wish I would have been in  S.M. Lockridge's congregation this day in 1976. Would there be any way to stay in your seat? Surely not!!


That's all. I just wanted to share these resources in hopes that they bring you to a place where he shows you the depth of his love more. He is good. He is deep. He is overwhelming. He is all I need.

Life In Pictures

Life in pictures. These are sometimes my favorite posts. Just the smattering of daily life. The small joys. The small reasons to be exuberant! I just finished reading a book that I can not recommend enough. Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts. She explores how to become a person of joy and discovers that it all comes back to giving God thanks for the big, hard,  and mundane in life. Thanks in everything. Thanks continually. He blesses always and we need to receive these blessings by experiencing the fullness of Him in giving thanks! I am certain it has changed my life. So, these past few months have been spent snapping pictures of things in which I see God.. or in which I find joy, but recognize that I must give credit where credit is due. To the Creator of all things good. Please pickup this book. Instant perspective change that really teaches you to find God in all things. Wonderful. So, here is a collection of things that I've found joy in over the past month. And a few extra pictures thrown in for good measure!

I turned on my phone a few weeks ago and saw quickly where London was the last to play on it. She had drawn this picture of steaming piles of poop.  Excellent in every way. 

 Ice cream treat for Renny being the most excellent kid on the planet. 

 A servants heart in action....

 Steady snacking. All the time. 

 I was sure that while this picture was being taken my youngest child was going to flat pass out from laughing so hard. She couldn't even think about catching her breath because she was rolling laughing at Ren! Music to my ears!

 The warm welcome of Spring and the first reminder of the Easter season. Blood scarred hands. 

 We babysat 'Fishy' for a few weeks and someone was super excited about it! Then SUPER upset when Barry came to pick him up!!

 She sits like this often. I can't wipe the smile off my face. Man, those chunky legs and feet are so wonderful!

 Contagious Joy. 

 Cutest thing in the world!! He's been practicing and his first game is this weekend! Isn't this darling?? Look how big it all is on him!! Cutie pie!

 Passed this guy on one of my runs. Stopped to scratch his head. Perfect breather. Thank you, tiny donkey. 

 Last week, the sky held the moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars all in sight. Hard to tell from this picture, but they were GLOWING bright. They won't all be in this stage of orbit again for another 400 years. It was quite interesting and beautiful. (mars not shown)

 Even the demon dog deserves to be totally spoiled sometimes. Her head is on Powers' pillow. 

 I prepared a lamb (and my heart) for my first Passover meal. I didn't expect God to still my soul like he did. Spent the night in the heaviness of His presence. Went to bed knowing without hesitation that God is faithful and always good. Hallelujah! 

Saturday morning breakfast outing. I loved this 30 minutes so much!

The view on an early morning run. The beauty of His creation is unmatched. 

Playing under our magnolia tree. Serenity has climbed this tree before. London's personality is beginning to show. She asked to climb the tree and I told her she wasn't big enough yet. She looked me dead in the eye and said, "I try." Then proceeded to give it a shot. I picked her up so she could sit on some branches and she loved it. So, she's fearless... like her daddy. Oh my soul. 

Blowing dandelions!

2 years old is so strange. Wonderful but strange. One second she is joyful and happy as a lark, then out of nowhere, this. Then just like that, were fine. The emotions are CRAZY!!

"What you talking about, Willis?!"

Watching donuts being cooked!

A friend of mine posted this a few weeks ago and I can't stop laughing about it! Being a wife/mother is hard, yall!! 

Last big news! London can spell her name! I don't know how she learned... her daycare teachers said they didn't teach it to her, but she can spell her name, knows that my name is Taylor Lane, and can count to twenty without any trouble! She also can quote entire scenes (the the words she knows) from the movie Ratatouille because she's watched it so much! Still hilarious to listen to hear speak the lines of the movie along with the characters!