I'm not a great writer, and while some of these thoughts linger I have to get them down.  I was just washing my good china...I normally hate washing dishes.  But I decided since I was making a nice meal for today's lunch for Easter it was deserving to get the china out.  Plus my dad has been our company for a while and I wanted him to feel special this day too.  I even got out the cups and saucers since Doug made coffee.  I think my dad's favorite drink is coffee sometimes and he also uses it to stay warm since he's always cold. Oh, and the waterford crystal creamer and sugar bowl came out to use with the coffee. I really do love my china, I don't know why I don't use it more often.  I was thinking this while I cleaned up.  I will not put it in the dishwasher, so maybe why I don't use it as often not wanting to wash by hand.  But you know what, I actually enjoyed washing it and enjoyed my time alone doing the dishes.  Usually I would be grumping about doing it by myself, blah blah blah...But it was a joy to wash them by hand, being careful, and thinking about when I bought it.  I went to a "party" at college and they were selling this, and cookware.  You could buy what you wanted and only pay $10 a month while you were in school and it went up to something like $35 when you got out.  I was dating Doug then, and I guess we were engaged, so I asked him what pattern he liked.  He really liked the one called "shadow rose".  I must have loved him, because it wasn't my first choice and I picked it because he liked it.  I was thinking how he made a good choice.  So often I want to make all the choices or I get mad at him for doing it.  But I have no ill feelings with this china.  So often "things" remind me of something to be mad about.  The dishes are thin and light and just so nice to handle.  Not clunky like the everyday stoneware.  I think if I would think of every day as precious, like I think of my china....too precious not to use.  My family is precious and deserving of more from me.  Handling them more gently.  It's not a burden, it' a joy.  Why have I listened to the lie that work is such a burden?  I watched most of the Ten Commandments on tv last night, I always loved it, but couldn't get why it was only about a half hour after the red sea parted....that's another commentary, but watching the extra biblical part that was so long in the beginning I watched how Nephrite(close as I can get it for now, the princess)was so enamored with Moses.  He could have become pharaoh...and even when he didn't she still pined for him.  God tells me, you need to treat your husband like a king....ackkk....my first thought is "don't I already?", and he doesn't treat me like a queen...but isn't Jesus my king and isn't my husband told to love me like Jesus loves the church?  And aren't I commanded in the bible to respect my husband?  I will keep you informed on how that goes....even my china is teaching me what it's like when I don't hold grudges and unforgiveness, and this is a good day to remember forgiveness! 

This is probably very rambling...but I think it's going somewhere and that's why I'm writing it.  The last thing I was thinking about was my dad.  He loved the church service today.  It was a musical drama about Jesus.  I'm still praying for him.  In the past I've had a lot of unforgiveness toward him.  And I think I've forgiven it now.  But now I'm thinking of the good things about him.  He still thinks Easter and Christmas are holidays for children.  And I will talk more about that with him tomorrow when he's not so tired.  But I think about what a good man he really is in his heart.  I remember the story he told me when he was working for Montgomery Wards and a man comes to the door as he's closing up.  It's Christmas eve and the man smells of alcohol and begs to shop for his family, he has no presents at all yet...my dad let him in and took him around personally and helped him pick a present for each person.  We could be unforgiving and say, "you're a loser you drunk, you get what you deserve."  But my dad had compassion, he still does.  God never calls us losers.  I'll probably have more thoughts about him later, but I know God is waiting for him like he waited for that man on Christmas eve, not impatient, and very compassionate.  I am the impatient one, but I've also learned impatience shows a lack of faith.

I love you all and wish you a very happy Resurrection Sunday!!!