My grandpa was a tremendous woodworker. I remember his workshop in the basement of my grandma and grandpa's home. The smell of wood shavings and a old tools was sweet to the soul. Grandpa left us many memories of himself when he went to meet his Savior many years ago. He was a wonderful grandpa so fun and humble. We named our son Peter after him, Lawrence.
But on Easter I have an bit of something more. I love so much to remember all that this holiday is. To understand a risen and relevant Lord both through the scripture and in the present moments of life. It's an extra sweet holiday when I set on the mantel reflections of Easter carved from my grandpa's own hands. For he love the Lord as well.
The wooden cross with symbols of the death and resurrection of Christ is a rare beauty when all I seem to find lovely for this holiday is full of bunnies and eggs. But I love those thing too. Which is why the other objects of his craftmanship are also deserving of a mantel display.
Every year my grandpa would lath a wooden egg. Each unique and a piece of art in and of themselves. He would always carve the date of each year they were made. I loved to see my grandparents mantel covered in these works of devotion to his craft. When grandpa passed away grandma felt we each needed a bit of his love for us within our own home. So every child and grandchild received the wooden egg of the year they were born and then one more that each person personally found particularly wonderful.
This Easter I know, as I have always known, that Jesus Christ lives today that I may have eternal life. But oh, how sweet that eternity when you anticipate a life lived again with those you love.
The couple in the frame are actually my grandpa's parents. It is a picture that graces our mantel beyond the holiday. I included it in the photo because my grandpa was the spiting image of his father.
