Easter at the Bowl 2010

He is Risen! Easter is one of my favorite days. Since I've worked in the church (both churches now), the days and weeks leading up to it are a little crazed (the busiest days of my year). All that work, and all those long hours always pay off come Easter morning. To sit and rejoice in the resurrection of our Savior Jesus pulls all the pieces of every day of every year together. All of the work I have done or will do the rest of the year only means something because of this day. And all of what and who we are only mean something because of what Jesus did for us that Easter morning.

Easter morning means Easter at the Hollywood Bowl for our church. We get there early (9), enjoy the grounds and our seats for a couple hours, and then the choir and band take the stage. There's nothing else like it. In that huge, historic venue, with all 17,000 seats, every breath of the open air is filled with God's presence. For the second time in the last five years, we had an overcast and even drizzly morning. And as soon as the service begins, the clouds disappear and the sun shines through in a circle just above the Bowl. Amazing!

This was Jonathan's third Easter. His first Easter was so hot we ended up stripping him down to just his diaper when we got to the car. His second Easter was much better—although still very warm. His third Easter was uncharacteristically cold for LA, but that didn't bother him. Jonathan took over the Hollywood Bowl stage as soon as Pastor Mark ended his sermon. :)

{Note: This post is about to get long . . . I can't pick just a few pictures. He was so darn cute that morning!}

Jonathan is missing a very important piece of his outfit in the pictures above. He wore a tie for the very first time! We didn't get any really good shots of him in it {Gamma probably did}, but I love this one . . .

I warned you this would get long! But wait, there's more! Jonathan and his buddy, Joshua (or Joshy as we call him), took over the place as well. Even before the service, they were running up and down the aisles together. It was as if as long as they were together, they didn't mind if they couldn't see their mommies or daddies. :) We captured a few adorable shots of them together after the service (Joshy wore the cutest seersucker suit and yellow tie (which he wasn't wearing by the end either)!) . . .

The story of Jonathan's Easter morning wouldn't be complete without a picture with Gamma and Gampa Holman. He was so happy they were here to share the morning.

Easter at the Bowl 2010 won't be forgotten. Our last Easter at Bel Air, and one we'll treasure for years to come.

Happy {belated} Easter from the Cohn family! He is Risen!