Easter

Since it is still the octave I am not late posting for Easter. Right?

DG, RA, and Blake went to the Vigil Mass. PG, KJ and I stayed home. They said it was beautiful. They met up with Nana and Blue Truck, who said the kids did the best they have ever seen them at Mass. Maybe I should send them to a 3 hour Mass every Sunday. The deacon (who is baptizing KJ in a few weeks) sang the Exsultet. We had no idea he could sing! Apparently the cantor did a beautiful job as well. Everyone was very excited (and tired) when they came home.

After 7 hours of sleep, they "hopped" (no we don't do the Easter bunny - but I couldn't resist the pun) out of bed to find their baskets. we don't hid eggs - we hide baskets.

Then DG and RA went to Nana and Blue Truck's while PG, KJ, Blake and I went to Mass. Father gave a wonderful homily and actually Confirmed 5 people at mass. KJ and I went about an hour early to get a seat and PG and Blake were able to walk in 10 minutes before Mass, which for PG is 10 minutes too early. Although without having to deal with his brother he did much better.

After Mass we all headed to Nana and Blue Trucks to have dinner with my mom's whole family. 15 of us is a bigger Easter than I have ever experienced. It is so nice to live around family. Have I said that before? :)

My mom took our family Easter pics so I will post those later. (Mom if you are reading this -- I need those pics.)

I will post RA's b-day later as well!

Rejoice! Happy Easter

Rejoice heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes forever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people! It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise the unseen God, the all powerful Father, and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!

This is our Passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers. This is the night when first you saved our fathers: you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea. This is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin! This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer? Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love! To ransom a slave you gave away your Son. O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!

Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead! Of this night scripture says: "The night will be clear as day: it will become my light, my joy." The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride.

Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth and man is reconciled with God! Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night receive our evening sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering. Accept this Easter candle, a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God. Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning to dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning: Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all mankind,your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.