resurrection

This Easter was pretty unique from all the others. Far from both our families and church families, observing lent (more on that later) and stunned with summery heat (weren't we just wearing our winter coats last week?), I think the only constant for us this year was the resurrection itself. And, well, that's a pretty great constant.

The most thrilling part of this particular Easter was seeing Maia wake up to the person of Jesus. To see the stories in her children's bible come alive for her in recent weeks was beautiful -- stories of Jesus talking with people (especially the 'least of these'), healing people (did you know he never turned anyone away who asked for healing?) and teaching them about what God is like and how he sees us. It's hard to put into words what a joy it is to see a spiritual awakening in your own kid. Resurrection indeed.

My parents passed through here on Good Friday en route from Florida to Ontario. It was great to be together. The girls were especially thrilled. And not even because Oma showed up with matching Easter dresses. Though that likely added to the thrill. Ever since they left, Ellie has been talking about them and asking if I'd sing 'Opa's song'. He loves to sing her, 'Hush, little baby, don't say a word..." I really must learn the words so I can indulge this request. I always get stuck after the diamond ring.

On the way to church Sunday morning, Tim and I talked about how different this Easter is, not being with family at all. (We did see my parents on Friday, but didn't really celebrate Easter together in the way that we always do.) So it was quite lovely when a large family at the church invited us over for Easter dinner with them. Fabulous southern food and warm hospitality. It reminded us of the generous homecooked meals and company of our Mennonite friends. They enjoyed our girls and we were honoured to be part of a stranger's family for a day. "Strangers no more," I suppose, as the hymn goes. On the drive home (through the corner of Tennessee, which is actually more direct than the North Carolina route), Tim made a comment about how good it is for us to be with people who are really different from us. And he's right. Yeah. I live with a man who is pretty much always right.

Easter has also meant saying goodbye to some new friends. I think we are both really surprised at how some special friendships have emerged for us here in such a short time. We didn't intend for that. In some ways this time away was about drawing away from people in our lives in order to draw closer to God and to each other as a family and return refreshed and ready to be fully present again. So to be leaving here with a few new friends that are close enough that we would keep in touch -- but without any expectations -- is about as surprising as discovering daffodils that have suddenly sprouted up, and equally as beautiful.

One of these new friends is Jason, a pastor here at a church plant that surprised us with its depth and beauty. Jason and his lovely wife Kim also started a non-profit to help free people rescue people trapped in slavery. Jason actually did a Q&A with Tim this morning during the service about sabbatical -- what it is and what it has been like for us so far -- which somehow felt more like a blessing to us. It's become clear that Jason and Tim have been a real encouragement to each other in recent weeks. I'm glad they're going for coffee one more time this week before we leave North Carolina on the weekend.

Through swimming lessons we've gotten to know another great family. We even shared a sitter with them so Tim and I could go for a night out and catch the Banff Mountain Film Festival on its world tour. Loved it. Maia and Silas have quickly become best buddies. About three lessons in, they started holding hands on the deck and sitting beside each other on the pool wall. In her swim teacher's words, "I think Miss Maia has a booooyfriend...." Our families got together yesterday at the park and for dinner so these two could play together one more time before we are on en route.

Hard to believe our time here is winding down. I have mixed feelings about that. It took time to adjust to being here but now that we've settled into life here, I think we'll all be a little sad about leaving this slice of paradise. But I am believing that the One who goes before us has a great second half of the sabbatical in mind for us and that He will keep 'resurrecting' us all. He is capable of more than we ask or imagine, after all.

These treasures in matching dresses are just one reminder of that for me.