Christ is Risen!

It's been a while since I've posted. I think I'm turning a bit inward these days - must have something to do with an impending baby arrival and 2 sweet 3-year-olds who are in need of constant reassurance (that the wind won't blow them away, that the thunder won't hurt, that the baby clothes being washed and cradle being pulled into the house don't mean they are any less important...). And a husband who is amazing and has been crazy busy. And a house that is a disaster area.

But what a joy, no matter what else is going on, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We were definitely those who arrived at the 11th hour this year (see the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom if you're interested), unable to make many Lenten services and then missing much of Holy Week. Somehow we all made it to the midnight Paschal liturgy, and it was with such gratitude that I watched my girls hold their candles high and sing with gusto "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!" (Although I have to admit, I'm not sure they were singing those exact words. Whatever they were, they were certainly close.)

And as I sat in the liturgy with Aida and Sophie in my lap and baby Lucy making her presence very well-known, I remembered last Easter, when the loss of our 3rd baby was still new and raw and stinging. I remembered the feeling of surrender, the gift of comfort in the words, "O death, where is they sting?...Christ is risen, and life reigns!" Thank God for His mercy.

So now we are in Bright Week, which Sophie thinks finally explains why it is still light when she has to go to bed. We'll continue to devour our fair share of chocolate and ice cream and leftover Pascha cheese. We'll sing "Christ is risen" for 40 days. And I'll keep hearing conversations like the one I heard last night coming from our girlies' room:

Sophie: "Christ is risen!"

Aida: "Christ is risen!"

Sophie: "He was ALIVE!...and He was a real boy."

Aida: "...Noooooo..."

(Elijah says my explanation of the Resurrection to my children was somewhat reminiscent of the end of Pinocchio. Seriously?)

for fun

Last week we went bowling with our twins group friends.

This was the girls' first foray into the world of the bowling alley.

It was magical

and exciting

and super fun.

In other news from our house:

Sophie is rockin' the side ponytail...

Both girls are rockin' the "fancy dress"...
And I have made it past the 31 weeks 3 days mark at which these beauties were born. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your prayers for me and our littlest one. She is moving around like crazy these days and I love every second of it.