Reconnecting For Lent — Celebrate (Day 47)

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blogging101, Creative Writing, Faith and Writing, Family, Journaling, Lent 2016, Memories & Reflections, Quotes, Writing 101, Writing Prompts

Lent Photo-A-Day (February 10 – March 27, 2016)

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Day 47 — Celebrate

Granted this is a REALLY crappy picture we decided to have taken on the spur of the moment as we had a very short window of time to get the three of these guys together. And NONE of them remembered to bring along their graduation cords and medals which all three had earned and of which I was so proud. But hey, Bran was leaving that afternoon to fly to Florida for Mariel’s graduation so there wasn’t time to go get them. I guess there’s no such thing as a perfect picture!

The deal was, I had ALL THREE of them at WSU at the same time. MY job was to keep the wheels turning at home while they traveled between their jobs, their studies, and what little social lives they had (including mine!). I should have gotten to graduate, too! 🙂

Nevertheless, this day was a HUGE cause for CELEBRATION for the Carter Clan. Especially for Sir Drollery as he’d just spent almost 18 years going to school VERY part time to get his degree. He’d forgotten to apply for his Associates degree when he completed it, and when he went in to apply for his BA was told the requirements for the Associates degree had changed since he’d finished it up years before. They threw three more years of part time classes at him!

There are no words to describe how worn out and discouraged he was. That made this day all the more poignant for him. For me, it was just the joy of seeing all three of them graduate together that day. And this was Bran’s second degree! He had one in Psychology, and now one in Criminal Justice.

This is a picture of Stef’s high school graduation and Bran’s first degree. Paled in comparison! (Can you tell I like to brag about my family? 🙂 )

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That was the only time in my life I’ve been tempted to get drunk! 😮 But since I fall asleep after the second drink, it just wasn’t happening! LOL The thing I remember most about that day was the feeling of relief at knowing it was FINALLY ALL OVER!

I couldn’t help wondering as we sat in church this morning listening to the choir and the bell choir, shaking hands, passing out hugs, and sharing a huge Easter brunch, what Mary Magdalene must have felt when she stumbled upon Jesus in the garden that first Easter morning. She had been with him for a while, been so close to him emotionally, believed everything he said. Had she felt it was finally all over? And then upon seeing Jesus did she feel it was actually just beginning? What a cause for CELEBRATION that must have been. (John 20:11-16)

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’

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“Mary.” I can never read these verses without getting all teary because at times this life has seemed like such a long, hard road to me that hearing my Jesus say my name when it’s all over will be the biggest relief, the biggest CELEBRATION and joy I can imagine in my wildest dreams…
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I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen:
not only because I see it,
but because by it I see everything else.
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C. S. Lewis

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Picture Credits:
graduation — moi
Mary and Jesus — www.pinterest.com
Mary in the garden — toobworld.blogspot.com