Easter Morning!

Ahhhhh … Easter Morning!

Fresh air blowing through the window. (Hooray for NO snow! Those pesky April blizzards sometimes get me a little down.)

A sweet daughter snoozing away in her room. A kind husband snoozing away next to me. A baby kicking away in utero and my Golden Retriever awake at my feet. Yes, yes, I am a blessed woman and I am rightfully embarrassed to think about how often I fail to be grateful.

But of course, I am most grateful that God saved me from my sins and adopted me into His family 24 years ago when I was just about as messed up a teenager as a person could be.

And I am grateful that He put me into His Body–the Church. I am looking forward to corporate worship this morning! I love our church home here in Billings and I can’t wait to hear the sermon and pray and worship with my church family.

BUT … I have to admit that Easter is one of those church calendar days when I really miss my liturgical “roots.” (Roots in that, “when I got saved / my first few years in the church both in high school and undergrad” historical way.) Because for me? Based on my participation FOR YEARS both as a ringer and then later as a conductor, I think that Easter services (no matter how wonderful) will always be a teeny tiny bit lacking without HANDBELLS.

Yes. Yes. Did you know that I rang? I did and I loved it and I still (a tiny bit) miss it. I loved working hard in an ensemble. I loved learning to work under a conductor (Hi Mrs. Funte!!). I loved playing with the organ and accompanying the congregation. I loved bringing in Bethany on flute for “Silent Night” at Christmas and I just can’t sing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” without having a strong urge to do some serious handbell rejoicing.

Sadly (hah!), my circa 1987 videos of Tara-in-80’s-BIG HAIR ringing away are all on VHS tapes so I can’t share them with you. But I did find a YouTube video of a lovely handbell choir. I wouldn’t recommend watching the whole thing or anything, but just in case you’re wondering, “What IS a handbell choir?!”, here is a taste:

Hope you enjoy this Blessed Resurrection Day!

Yours,
Tara B.