Picture and blogs, no matter how lovely and inspiring, do not tell the whole story. I am propelled to tell the whole story and nothing but the story (so help me, God) because I don't like anyone coming to my blog and leaving disillusioned or thinking my homeschool or my family is better than their own.
Jesus carried his cross for my family as well as yours.
These pictures don't reveal the Way of the Cross I trod while trying to get my children out the door on time.
No one but Oma saw the harried search for shoes.
No one but Oma heard the middle child lamenting that her costume wasn't "peasant" looking enough and why didn't I bring the orange dress instead of the princess costume? Don't you know, Mom, that St. Martha never wore a princess gown with a curtain thrown over her head. Mother! what were you thinking? (No, she didn't say that last part, but her tone of voice most certainly did.)
Of course, what was I thinking. I bowed my head in humble submission. One has to laugh at these sorts of things, otherwise all mothers would go around bald-headed after tearing their hair out.
No one but Oma noticed that my youngest was the only angel with no wings. That happens when a mother decides that between the butterfly wings, the fairy wings, and the angel wings there are too many wings in the house and no angels to wear them. In a furied wrath that could compete with the wrath of God, mommy did a closet clean-out that included throwing every. single. wing. away. Good idea. Until you need wings for a reenactment.
No one but Oma heard my son mutter under his breath that the sheet and rope around his head was itching him and could he please take it off!
All anyone saw (and what you see here) was a stoic Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry his cross, a humble St. Martha faithfully following her Lord to Calvary, and the littlest angel playing nearby and handing out flowers.
Hopefully God is like that, seeing only the very best in us despite our human faults and failings.
*****
The First Station: Jesus is Condemned to Death (here Pilate washed his hands of the whole affair and a young soldier places the crown of thorns upon the head of Jesus)
The Second Station: Jesus Bears His Cross
The Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
The Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Sorrowful Mother (that's my daughter playing the role of St. Martha to the left of Mary)
The Fifth Station: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross (that's my boy playing the role of Simon of Cyrene)
The Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus (don't you just love that angel? That look! LOL)
The Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
The Eighth Station: Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
The Nineth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
The Tenth Station: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments (yes, that's my little angel---dressed in a white pillowcase--- trying to give a flower to the little soldier)
The Eleventh Station: Crucifixion of our Lord
The Twelth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross (my dear husband had a very minor role to play. After only four hours of sleep after working the night shift, he joined us to help hold up the cross)
The Thirteenth Station: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross (I missed that picture somehow so I thought I'd substitute it for the cutest little soldier you ever saw---complete with his spray-painted milk jug helmet)
The Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (oops! there goes Mary...)
The Fifteenth Station: Jesus Rises from the Dead
When I mentioned to Opa the chaos we had last year with children running all over the place, my dad just laughed and said, "That's realistic enough. I'm sure when Jesus was crucified the whole place was in a state of bedlam."
How true. See what I mean about putting things into perspective?
And so, afterwards, we let our little soldiers and weeping, wailing women of Jerusalem and angels run down to the scenic overlook bridge and spend some time just being children of the twenty-first century and enjoying God's world:
While the moms visited:
Thank you for joining us in this virtual rendition and may you and your family enjoy a holy, blessed Lent.
Wow! This is absolutely incredible. I would love to have that done here. The Angel in the Sixth Station is too cute : ) These are beautiful pictures. I would definately treasure them forever. Have a blesses Lent.
Posted by: Ruth | March 09, 2007 at 08:24 PM
Wow, Cay, this is tremendous!!! And I love your narration of the kids getting out the door. Such a nice touch to bring all of this to life. You are such a good writer, and I've really enjoyed all of this.
May God bless you and those beautiful children of yours!
Posted by: Alice Gunther | March 09, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Oh Cay this is just beautiful. Your children will never, ever forget this. A living faith. What a beautiful gift to give our children, Thank you Holy Spirit for the revelation, understanding and creativity to present these truths to our children.
Posted by: Theresa ♥ | March 09, 2007 at 09:03 PM
WOW I think that is awesome Cay!! Thanks for the photos, and the milk jug helmet is priceless!
Posted by: molly mcgovern | March 09, 2007 at 10:09 PM
Cay, I hardly know where to start! First, thank you for sharing your day with us - what a beautiful tradition to share with your children. I wish my group did something like that. Secondly, your humor and perspective is so warm and welcome. This whole post just makes me smile - inside and out!
Have a most blessed Lent my dear friend!
Posted by: Dawn | March 10, 2007 at 05:37 AM
That was incredible. What a way to help the children really understand what happened.
You do have a great sense of humor.
Posted by: KC | March 10, 2007 at 07:22 AM
Beautiful, Cay!
Was this done at the retreat center in Moss Bluff? It looks familiar...
Posted by: marcie melancon | March 10, 2007 at 07:28 AM
Marcie,
Yes, it was. I almost wrote to you to come join us but didn't think of it till yesterday morning. :O A little bit late.
Our group is typical of hsers, I'm afraid. We do everything last minute. LOL We were told Wed. morning to be at the library Wed. afternoon for rehearsal. Production was Friday. We basically threw everything in God's hands and told Him to do with it what He willed. :)
We might do it again. I'm not sure. If we do, I'll let you know earlier in the week.
God Bless! Have a beautiful weekend.
Posted by: Cay in La. | March 10, 2007 at 08:20 AM
I love the pictures and the great narration -- thanks Cay!
Posted by: Maryan | March 10, 2007 at 11:45 AM
What an incredible job they did.
Posted by: MaryM | March 10, 2007 at 12:23 PM
That would be awesome. We would love to come! I thought I recognized that boardwalk.............
Posted by: marcie melancon | March 10, 2007 at 01:19 PM
Dear Cay, I LOVE this post! Delightful! And your narration of the backstage happenings made me laugh. Real life with little ones is rarely unaccompanied by adventure!
Posted by: Kristen Laurence | March 10, 2007 at 01:33 PM