For a pastor, the week leading up to Easter is crazy busy. He preached on Palm Sunday, taught that evening, was a guest preacher Tuesday night at a community-wide service, taught Wednesday night, attended the community services Thursday and Good Friday, and then got up Easter Sunday to do a sunrise service followed by the normal Easter service. In between all of that, he was planning each sermon/lesson plus he's still taking classes at seminary. The man is busy! I knew he didn't have time to think about my birthday.
I know it sounds terribly selfish, but I'm a stay-at-home mom, who lives every single day for everybody else. My ministry right now is to support Chris' ministry and take care of our family. And I know that's incredibly important, but there are days where I just want to be noticed. Doesn't everyone really? No matter what their jobs are! I really just wanted one day that was about me. Gosh, that sounds bad, really bad. I know. But, it's honest and real. I just wanted to feel special in a world where sometimes I feel a bit invisible. So I knew this birthday was going to be a little bit of a bummer.
But then I woke up --- at 5:30am (yikes) to get everyone ready and out the door for our sunrise service. It's an amazing, awesome service that I really can't describe well. We hike up this trail to the top of an arch and watch the sun rise over the mountain tops. And this isn't just a simple hike. It's easy - as in the path is well maintained so it's a nice walk. But it's hard. As in, I can't really talk most of the way up because my heart is beating out of my chest and I can't seem to catch enough oxygen as the trail goes straight up. And what blows me away is that 50 people are there heading up the mountain at 6:30am for this simple service. We worship together with a sweet girl playing her guitar and leading us all in song and then Chris gives a short message and prayer as the sun rises. It is something special to experience for sure! An awesome way to start a day, especially a birthday!
We then headed home for breakfast and the kids' portion of our day! They had made such big plans to "go all out" as Sophia kept telling me to make it a special day for me. Anna and Isabella sang me songs. The girls gave me a box of sweet messages and notes that I can open daily, and they had ME do an Easter egg hunt. All the eggs were filled with sweet messages like, "We love you," "Daddy is so lucky," and "You're a rock star mom." So, so sweet! The kids had even made a homemade cake the day before!
We headed off to church for a service where God was truly moving and ended it with two baptisms. Then we went to "the big city" as I like to call it -- driving 45 minutes to eat at Old Chicago. We came home, took a nap (well Chris and I did) and then headed out for a short hike to try to watch the sun set.
It was a good day. A day where they all made me feel incredibly special despite how busy we were! And it pulled me out of my grumpy, selfish attitude I had been having. I was reminded what a great little family I have and how loved I really am. Here are some pictures from the day!
Natural Bridge before the sunrise - and Sam photo bombing!
Kids on top of the arch.
Isabella's song.
Anna's song.
The dresses (and tie) I made for the kids this year.
A little too sunny to smile with their eyes open!
At Old Chicago. Chris and his crazy eyes.
Sunset hike to end the day. Yes, I told Sam to change his clothes to something more casual to wear on a hike, and this is what he chose.
Cross shaped tree.
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