I finished my first class of my masters program and received an A!!! (a 97% to be exact). I’m so glad to get the first one out of the way and to do well. I’m taking this semester off from school but will start back in late June. Hopefully it goes well with juggling a newborn! Speaking of newborns, still no baby but give it three days (or less) and hopefully I’ll be updating with pictures of her!

My repeat c-section is scheduled for Thursday morning and we are all so anxious to meet her! I’m so excited to have all of my family come in town to meet her and celebrate her arrival! It means so much that they are all making the long drive to be with us. And while we’ll be in the hospital most of the time they are visiting, they’ll still get plenty of snuggles with little Quinn (as long as you can tear her away from Memaw….)

Mark and I are most anxious to see what she looks like! For 9 months I’ve envisioned certain characteristics she will have of mine and which she will take from Mark. In case you have seen the similarities, our son looks like a clone of my husband. Aside from having my eyes, Davis gets so many of his physical traits from my husband and I’ve been hoping and praying that this little girl will look even slightly like me.

Mark and I have decided to publish our predictions to see who is most accurate:

Emily

Weight: 8 lb 10 oz

Length: 21 inches

Hair Color: Reddish-Brown

Eye Color: Green-Blue

Physical Features: My mouth, feet and eyes – Mark’s nose and chin

Mark

Weight: 8 lb 3 oz

Length: 20.75 inches

Hair Color: Bald

Eye Color: Blue

Physical Features: My chin, eyes, skin tone, and ears – Emily’s nose, mouth and attitude

Join in our fun little game, we’d love to see which predictions are correct! I’ll post updates (and pictures) as soon as I feel up for it!

As a mom, I now have a little glimpse of how hard my own mom actually worked to raise 4 wildly different and unique daughters (I can barely handle my own 2 boys…I can’t imagine adding 2 more!). So, on this Mother’s Day, I decided to pamper mom with basket full of things to help her relax and unwind. I filled it up with goodies such as magazines, bubble bath, lotion, tea, cookies, and of course, ya gotta always add something homemade to your baskets for that extra special touch.

This year, I made Mother’s Day Mugs. This is a fairly easy project, but it does require a very specific marker, so plan accordingly. First, you will need a set of 4 coffee mugs. Choose whatever color you think your mom (or yourself…who says you can’t treat yourself!) will like best. Next, you will need to order a special marker especially for writing on ceramic. I ordered mine from this site. Make sure you get the fine point marker for writing and choose a color that coordinates well with your mugs.

1. Wash your mugs.

2. Once your mugs are dry, you’re ready to write on them. For my mugs, I decided to write scripture that reminded me of my mom. I just free-handed the words on my mugs. Here are some of my favorite scriptures that I felt best described my mom:

• Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy. Proverbs 31:20
• She opens her mouth with wisdom and loving instruction is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26
• Her sons rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:“Many womenare capable, but you surpass them all!” Proverbs 31:28-29
• Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Proverbs 31:30

3. Place the mugs in a cool oven (DO NOT PREHEAT). Turn your oven to 300°F (149°C). Once your oven has reached this temperature, bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and allow it to cool back to room temperature gradually.

4. Now your mugs are ready to be used. As you can see, I placed mine in a prominent location in my basket.

After all of my items were added, I wrapped the entire basket in clear cellophane wrapping. I added a pretty bow and I was done! To learn how to make a gift basket, click here.

Doesn’t that look pretty! What mom wouldn’t LOVE unwrapping a basket full of her favorite goodies this Mother’s Day. The added bonus…scripture mugs made especially for her.

I hope you try this project. It’s really easy, and if you mess up while writing, you can easily wipe it off with a damp cloth. I also think this would be a great project for kids to do. Wouldn’t an ABC mug made in your kids handwriting or your kids art on a mug be super cute. Hmmm…I may have to use that for a grandparent gift.

Enjoy creating your Mother’s Day Mugs.

Let me tell you it has been a rough week trying to get started on my new “life.”  I think the hardest part about this little excursion is my lack of motivation.  If it was not for my sister Hilary, I probably would have blown it off this past week.  She is tough and mean! I am just kidding, she is amazing.

I started a program called “Couch to 5K” which is a running program that helps us couch potatoes get into shape.  I almost did not make it through the first day and I am pretty sure Hilary had to push me up a hill, but I made it.  The second day was rough but I, if I can brag for a moment, did not stop at all.  Almost did but I kept on trucking.

The food portion of my journey is a little tougher then exercising because it is just me that I am cooking for, but I have come up with a plan and I am ready to stick with it.   When I was in high school, I did a program called “6 Week Body Makeover.”  This program has you eat 6 meals a day that are smaller but healthy for you.  It is designed to give you more energy throughout the day and to help you not over eat.  What I am doing is cooking my food on Sunday and prepackaging it for the coming week, so for work I just have to grab and go.

This is definitely going to be life changing, but I am ready to for this change.  I have needed to do this for a long time and I think that I am ready for it. I have decided that for a motivation and reward for my hard work, that I will be taking some form of a long vacation.  Please keep the motivation coming!  I definitely need it! I have loved hearing stories and getting helpful hints.  There is a light at the end of this tunnel and I am excited to reach that destination.

Many Blessings,

Now this baseball bulletin board has been a thorn in my side for the last few weeks. I knew what I wanted but could never get the product I desired. First, I bought too thin of a cork board. Next, I tried many different materials for the stitching and hated every one of them. Finally, after many failures (trust me…it was ugly), I had a bulletin board I was proud of.

Baseball Bulletin Board

Supplies:

• Thick cork board with cardboard backing (size will vary depending upon the size of your project)
• White spray paint/acrylic paint
• Black or Red Sharpie marker – regular tip
• Measuring tape
• Box Cutter or Jigsaw
• Command damage-free hanging strips (I used the 12lb ones)

Directions:

1. First, you need to determine how large you want your bulletin board to be. I knew a size I desired, but couldn’t find a way to make a perfect circle on the board. Finally, I used the round tire cover out of my husband’s car. I place it on the FRONT side of the cork board and traced around the circle.

2. Next, you will need to cut out your board. I attempted to use an angled box cutter (which was working just fine, thank you), but my husband came in and whisked my cork board away. 10 minutes later, my husband returned with a beautifully round bulletin board he had cut out using a jigsaw. NOTE: Make sure you cut with the right side up. If you cut from the back, you cork will chip and look choppy in the front. Also, DO NOT throw away your scraps. You will need these pieces later.

3. Wipe down you cork board with a damp cloth. Paint the cork board front and sides with either spray paint or acrylic paint. It will take about 2 coats to gets good coverage. Make sure you let the coats dry in between.

I used spray paint which gives a more weathered/aged look to the “ball”. Use acrylic paint for more even coverage.

The back of my board. See all my crazy math, markings and trials before I did anything permanent damage to the front

5. Place the right side of your board on the ground, with one of your tally marks at the top (as shown above). On the sided of your bulletin board, mark the 1/8 marks (indicated by the red marks above) with your sharpie. Next, take you discarded scraps and used the curved cut out to draw a curved line from the top red mark to the bottom red mark. Repeat with the other side.

Drawing the curve from the scraps

Almost done. Don’t you love the weathered look from the spray paint!

This looks so good above his desk and goes great with his sports themed room. He came home today and immediately started hanging his “important” papers from it. Perfect solution for my little sports writer.

Finished product!

All of my life, there has been one thing that I have really struggled with.  I have tried countless times to get over it, but it has haunted me most of my life…my weight. This weight issue has plagued me since I was in middle school, probably because I was made to feel like the biggest kid there.  Many times a week I would walk down the hall and someone would yell out, “WATCH OUT! Wide load coming through.”

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love who I am.  The experiences that I have gone through have made me the person I am today.  I know that I am beautiful, but I also know that my body is God’s temple and right now it’s looking a little run down.

So, my pledge to you, and myself, is to rebuild this temple God has given me from the inside out.  While I restructuring my outward appearance, I also want to focus on strengthening my spiritual walk.  So, here’s the deal…I need some major accountability partners, because I know that my strength is not enough to tackle this large feat alone.  Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.  I know that I have God on my side, but I also believe that God has called some of you to be prayer warriors/motivators to help keep me in check throughout this whole process.

I will “try” to document this experience every step of the way, which will probably be a miracle in itself.  Just like my sister Tory with her cooking, I will give you the ups and downs of my “Journey to a Healthier Me” every week.  I would love feedback and helpful hints because I am a young, single woman on a very strict budget (or one who attempts to be on a really strict budget).  Please, I encourage you to give me uplifting words because they may be something I will hold onto throughout my journey.  It will take hard work, but I know this is something that I have ignored for a long time.

I want to live more like Jesus and focus on Him, not my physical appearance or limitations. I want to stop running away from my problems and start running toward my goals. Who am I kidding….I’m gonna start with walking! I don’t want to die right off the bat!

Many Blessings,

You’ll notice that it’s been awhile since anyone has posted on this blog (10 whole days!). Well, last weekend all of us girls, minus Hilary the workaholic, went down to Emily’s to attend her baby shower. Katie, nana, mom and myself had a great time meeting Emily’s coworkers and friends, and watching her open all of the presents she received. Since this is the first girl grandchild for my parents, my mother went a little crazy with the presents. Here are some pictures from the shower.

Myself, Katie, Emily, Nana and mom at the baby shower

Mom and Emily next to a big pile of presents!

Ruffled panties, head bows, and tutus were the theme of most of mom's gifts to Emily.

Of course dad had to get something from Oklahoma State University for the baby

All of us girls teared up when Emily opened up a present from Aunt Nancy and our late grandmother

For the past couple of weeks I’ve been frantically crocheting some of the items Emily asked for in my spare time. Here are final products!

Baby sleepy owl hat

Mermaid outfit with crown

That’s everything I was able to make before the baby shower. I’m still working on a monkey hat with matching slippers and butterfly wings. Let me know if you want the patterns and I’ll post links to the blogs or Etsy accounts where I bought them.

Supplies:

• Wreath form (You can use wire or foam. Whatever size looks good for your door. I used 14 inch)
• Red/Blue/White Bandanas (For a 14 inch wreath, you will need 3 red, 2 blue, and 3 white bandanas)
• Scissors
• Ruler/Marker (optional)

Directions:

1. First, you will need to cut the edges off the bandanas. Personally, I just made a small cut at the top and then ripped the fabric. (Yes, I said ripped. It’s fast, easier, and has more of the shabby, worn look I’m going for).

2. From the edge, make 1 inch wide cuts along the top. You can measure with a ruler if you want, but I like to estimate my measurements since this project does not have to be exact.

3. Now for the fun part (great after a frustrating day at work or with the kids). From the edge, grab a cut of fabric along the top and rip the fabric till you reach the bottom. Whew…didn’t that feel great? Repeat with all of the bandanas, making sure to sort the fabric pieces by color.

4. Next, take a group of 5 or 6 fabric pieces and stack them together. Fold the pieces in half lengthwise and cut in the middle. Repeat with all other fabric pieces until you have a pile of red, white, and blue fabric pieces.

5. Take your wreath form and visually divide it into 8 equal pieces. Think of how you cut a pie into 8 sections (same concept here). You can mark these sections with a marker or just visualize. Luckily my wreath was already divided for me.

6. Next, you will start tieing your blue bandanas strips to your form. I wanted mine to look like the flag, so I started in the right upper 2 sections of my wreath form. Take a strip of blue fabric, wrap it around your form, and tie a knot. For stability, I double-knotted my strips since my wreath was outdoors.

Tieing fabric strips into knots.

8. Now it’s time to add your red and white fabric strips. Here’s where it’s important that you divided your wreath into sections. You should have six sections left. To add the white and red fabric, you will need to place a mark (or visualize) in the center of each of your sections. This now leaves you with 12 sections on your wreath.

9. Start from the right hand bottom corner (where the blue fabric stops) and add your white strips to the first section. Work around the wreath in a white-red-white-red pattern until you have filled in your entire wreath.

10. If you want, you can take your scissors and trim any wild and crazy pieces that are sticking out in your wreath.

What a fun and easy wreath to make! This is also a great project for kids to help with (especially those learning to tie knots). If you don’t like the flag look and still want a patriotic theme, just change the pattern to red-red-white-white-blue-blue, or whatever pattern you choose. Just make sure you adjust the amount of bandanas that you need.

I hope you enjoy creating this wreath as much as I did. God Bless.

Muesli Ingredients (makes 3 1/2 cups):

One cored red delicious apple

• 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup oat bran
• 3/4 slice almonds
• 1/2 cup shelled unsalted sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp wheat germ
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combing the oats, oat bran, almonds, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and cinnamon.
• Use a rolling-pin to crush the mixture into coarse crumbs.  Shake the bag to combing the mixture.
• Keep the dry mix in a resealable bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

Baked Apple Ingredients (1 serving):

Ready for the microwave

• 1 apple, cored  (you can also use a pear, but with a shorter cooking time)
• 3 tbsp muesli
• 1 tbsp non-hydrogenated soft margarine
• 1 tbsp raisins
• 2 tsp sugar substitute
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg

Instructions:

• Place the apple on a smale plate or a bowl.
• In a separate bowl, combine the muesli, margarine, raisins, and sugar substitute.  Stuff the mixture into the center of the apple, pressing any excess filling on top of the apple. Dust with cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap (makes sure it’s microwaveable!) and microwave on high until the apple is tender when pierced with a knife, about 3 minutes.

If you’re feeling more daring, you can also drizzle a little bit of caramel on top of the baked apple.  I hope you guys enjoy this recipe as much as I do, it’s one of my favorites!

Supplies:

• 17in x 23in Cork Framed Bulletin Board
• 1 yd fabric (your choice)
• 10in x 7in Plastic Mail Organizer
• Pencil Cup
• Pencils
• Sharpies
• Calender
• Push Pins
• Hot Glue Gun/Glue
• Magnets/Adhesive Strips/Nails

Directions:

1. Take your bulletin board and set it on a flat work surface, face up. Place your fabric over the bulletin board, making sure the fabric overlaps the sides. Place a push-pin in each corner of the bulletin board to hold the fabric in place and cut the fabric along the OUTSIDE of the frame.

Fabric cut to fit bulletin board frame

Using knife to tuck in fabric under frame

Fabric covered bulletin board

4. Next, lay out your items on your bulletin board. As you can see, I placed a calendar and mail organizer on the top portion of my bulletin board. Then, I added a pencil holder on the bottom. To attach these items to my board, I used a hot glue gun. Make sure to let your items dry before you place your bulletin board upright.

5. Flip your bulletin board over and attach either the magnets (with hot glue) or adhesive strips (these usually come with the bulletin board) to the back, if you are not hanging the board up with nails.

6. Now add all your fun accessories. I wanted to keep our board simple so I added different colored sharpies (each color for a different activity), pencils, and metallic push pins.

Let the creative juices flow and bling your board however your choose…fun pics of your family, ribbons, funky fabrics…anything that displays your family’s personality.

We have really enjoyed this ‘Central Station Board”. My oldest is a schedule nut, so he loves knowing when I have to work and what’s for dinner that night. So far, it’s helped keep us organized and on track.

Jesus was born on this Earth for an extremely good reason.  He is just not another man who people talked about.  He feed thousands, healed the sick, told us how special we were and never once fell into temptation.  How amazing is that!  He is perfect. 

Would you have died on the cross for your friends, family and people who accused you of something you never did?  He did just for you and me and He arose from the grave alive and well.  The grave could not hold Jesus.  Words can not express the gratitude I have and my desire to live like Jesus grows stronger everyday.  My hope for you on Resurrection Sunday is that you will open your hearts and hear how amazing a 33-year-old man impacted the world and saved us from our sins.

Here is the historical event that has been changing lives for over 2,000 years.

Luke 22

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

 ¹ Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper

 ⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

 ⁹“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

 ¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹²He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

 ¹³They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

 ¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

 ¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

 ¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

 ²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.^{[a] 21} But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

 ²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ²⁸ You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

   ³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³²But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

 ³³But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

 ³⁴Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

 ³⁵Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

   “Nothing,” they answered.

 ³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’^[b]; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

 ³⁸The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

   “That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

 ³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[c]

 ⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Jesus Arrested

 ⁴⁷ While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

 ⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” ⁵⁰And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

 ⁵¹But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

 ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Peter Disowns Jesus

 ⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

 ⁵⁷But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

 ⁵⁸A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

   “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

 ⁵⁹About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

 ⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶²And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus

 ⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵And they said many other insulting things to him.

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

 ⁶⁶ At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

   Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I asked you, you would not answer. ⁶⁹But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

 ⁷⁰They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

   He replied, “You say that I am.”

 ⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Luke 23

 ¹ Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. ²And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”

 ³So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

   “You have said so,” Jesus replied.

 ⁴Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

 ⁵But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

 ⁶ On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

 ⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. ⁹ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. ¹²That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

 ¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” ^{[17] [a]}

 ¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

 ²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

 ²²For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

 ²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

 ²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. ²⁹ For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ ³⁰Then

   “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
   and to the hills, “Cover us!”’^[b]

   ³¹For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

 ³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. ³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c]And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

 ³⁵The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

 ³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar ³⁷and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

 ³⁸There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

 ³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

 ⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

 ⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”

 ⁴³Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The Death of Jesus

 ⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e]When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 ⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. ⁴⁹But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

 ⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. ⁵² Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

 ⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 24

Jesus Has Risen

 ¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸Then they remembered his words.

 ⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹ But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹²Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

 ¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him.

 ¹⁷He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

   They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

   ¹⁹“What things?” he asked.

   “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

 ²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

 ²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

 ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³²They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

 ³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

 ³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

 ³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

 ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence.

 ⁴⁴He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

 ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

 ⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵² Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Many Blessings,