Some Thoughts on Easter

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember and meditate on Christ's death on the cross, and what it means for us. This Sunday we will celebrate Easter... and Christ's resurrection from the cross. In years past I have been either half oblivious or perhaps half hearted towards Easter Sunday. Often I show up to church and am reminded as the service starts... "Oh yeah, todays Easter... cool." Every once in awhile I'll actually remember early Easter sunday morning... and put on Keith Green's "Easter Song" and blare it around the house a couple times before church. (And who can forget Easter lunch... one of the highlights of the day!) This Easter though somethings different. Different in that I have been reminded that today is Good Friday. Different in that not only do I know Easter Sunday is just two days away... but I cannot wait for it to be here. Today is a day to think on death, and on the cross. Today is in part a somber day. To realize that something terrible had to happen in order for something so beautiful to happen. This year is different because for some reason I can't wait for Sunday!! I can't wait to celebrate, to rejoice and to claim the victory we have in Christ. I feel almost like a little child waiting for Christmas morning!! Like something inside me is waiting to come out!! Can't wait to sing at the top of my lungs alongside others... " The enemy's been defeated, death couldn't hold him down!" To revel in the fact that death has no sting anymore. That my sin has been taken away... all of it! That the God of the universe, not needing me, or anything I have or can do, still wanted and loved me so much that He sent His only son to die for me and my filthy sins. Wow!! I can't wait for Easter Sunday!!

If you look closely at the pictures above you can see tiny little crosses in the light... my way of celebrating Christ's resurrection with my camera!! I used a method my good friend Sarah explains in much more detail in one of her blog posts, she also gives some beautiful examples (mine look childish next to hers... but it was my first attempt.) Basically I put a piece of card stock with a cross cut out of it on the front of my lens and played with the light and bokeh. Hope ya'll have an awesome Easter!!

Cupcakes with Katie!!

Yay for cupcakes!! This past Thursday Katie and her mom took me out for the delicious cupcakes I've been craving!! They picked me up and we went up to the oh so cute Winter Park area and had a blast eating some yummy ice cream cupcakes at Cold Stone!! I have been wanting to try these cupcakes forever... and boy was it worth the wait! They are just as good as I thought they would be! I have to say the Cake Batter Delux is my favorite... red velvet cake and cake batter ice cream... yum!! Thanks so much Katie and Mrs. Headley for letting me come along!!

Meredith Andrews

Every Wednesday night my husband's band (Chris Allen Band) leads worship for the youth at our church. This past Wednesday night the guys did a night of worship with the very talented Meredith Andrews! I had never heard of Meredith Andrews before this Wednesday, but let me tell you she is amazing!! She has such a powerful voice and a sincere passion for the Lord that comes through in her music!! Her songs have really great lyrics, that encouraged and convicted me! She even sang a Keith Green song (Keith Green is one of my personal heroes and a musical fav)! At the end of the night I really wanted a one of her cd's... but had to leave before I could get one! So I called my husband to ask if he could get one... and he said he didn't have any money on him so he couldn't... I was kinda sad! So I went about my business... went out to eat with my friends... then came home. The minute I walked through the door guess what I saw...

..a Meredith Andrews cd signed with my name on it, and a sweet note from my hubby!! Yay!! My husband is pretty much the sweetest guy I know... and yes, he spoils me a lot!! He really didn't have any money. He went and was talking to Meredith and her husband after the show... and somehow got a free cd (I think he gave them a Chris Allen Band cd)! I really like the verse Meredith put on my cd, Acts 20:24, "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." What a neat attitude to have... check out her website at www.meredithandrews.com!!

Chris Allen Band

Sunday the guys from the Chris Allen Band and I headed to downtown Orlando to try and get a couple more recent pictures for their press kit. They mostly wanted just a simple pictures of all their faces... nothing fancy. We headed downtown, drove around for just about forever trying to find a parking spot, and then when we had finally made the decision to pay $8 to park.... it started to rain. We spent the next hour trecking around in the rain trying to find cool picture spots, talking to a random security guard and hiding under overhangs in an attempt not to get soaked. I will admit that I got a little frustrated at the rain... downtown Orlando is so cool and I have been wanting to take pictures down there for awhile. Then when the opportunity arrives... so does the rain!! We didn't get to take that many pictures... but here is what we got from the few I took! Let me know which one ya'll like... the guys are only sending out one with their kit (the one right below is my personal fav!)

We tried the whole reflection thing....hmm.... not so sure?

This one cracked me up!! I told the guys to all look off... and this is the result!!

These are just a couple pictures of downtown Orlando... so much cool stuff down there!! The next time I have a sunny afternoon off... I am just going to spend it cruising around downtwon taking pics!!

My New Obsession!

I have a new obsession (previous obsessions include hamburgers, Chick-fil-a Peppermint Chocolate Milkshake, hot cocoa... basically random, unhealthy foods!) About a week ago Chris took me on a ice cream date to Cold Stone Creamery... and guess what I saw for the first time......

.....cupcakes with ice cream in the middle..... in a chocolate shell (belgian chocolate no less!!) For someone with a sweet tooth and a love of chocolate like me... what could be better!? I personally have my eye on the Cake Batter Deluxe... but as of yet I have not had one!! Crazy I know.... the problem is they come in sets of six... and I have yet to find five other people who would also like one... or even two other people who are willing to chow down on two cupcakes each!! Everyday I have to talk myself out of buying all six... because I know I will then eat all six!! So for now I will just admire from afar... and go to their website and drool every now and then!!