Judas and The Lost Dog

Easter morning we woke up and took our time enjoying the morning. At 8:00 the phone rang. It was the pastor asking if Sam could please fill in as Judas Iscariot. Turns out Judas is not only a traitor, but can be a slacker. I'm assuming Judas got sick sometime between Saturday rehearsal and Sunday morning. We were expected to be there early. Like that's going to happen with 4 kids and 10 minutes notice!

So we slapped some hurry up on the morning and as we were walking out the door I realized we were missing a dog. (We never did find the song 'Who Let the Dogs Out' amusing.) We called and whistled and clapped and yelled and screamed. The neighbors love us and our many dogs, I'm sure. It was decided that she would have to just continue to roam the neighborhood and come back at her leisure because we had to leave.

So not only were we not early, we were not even on time. Sam didn't think to grab a pair of sandals but was able to borrow a pair from a Roman guard. Problem being, said guard has feet the size of barges. As in size 14 barges. Poor Judas was sorta scuffling his way around on stage trying not to trip over his own feet or step out of his sandals.

And then there was my dad who was another disciple. When Jesus was arrested the disciples were to run away. My poor dad had hip replacements done years ago and can't run. The disciples are all trucking down the aisles and there's my dad limping along behind. He so looked like a baby brother who tags along with the big kids. I swear I almost heard him say "Wait for me! I can't run that fast!"

The kids were all part of the crowd that waved palm branches and Micah was a bit spazzed over the costume. I managed to get it on him after missing the first half of the play with my coaxing. And he very nearly carried a magnifying glass instead of a palm branch. He just wanted to get a better view of Jesus, I'm sure.

All in all it was a wonderful play (the part that I did get to see) and I don't really think anyone but me noticed Judas and the lame disciple.

After church we headed to my in-laws for the afternoon to spend time with my husband's brother. It's the last we'll get to see him before he's deployed in a few short weeks. But since it's a long time to let the dogs locked up we had my dad pop in and let them out for a potty break. I gave him a heads' up that one should be waiting on the doorstep for him. She wasn't. He called and clapped and yelled and woke the neighbors that we managed to miss in the early AM. The dog never did materialize.

So in the late afternoon we made our way home after eating way too much Easter dinner and sugar-laden goodies. (I think 2 months at the gym were undone in one afternoon.) We realized that dad never found the lost dog when we let the others out. So the kids and Sam took turns yelling and screaming. Again. (Our neighbors have gotta love us to pieces.) I was beginning to think that someone found an Easter pet for themselves. But when I put my purse in the pantry, who should trot out but the dog? Dim-witted canine. Why on earth can't she bark or scratch? It isn't like we didn't give her a chance.

So our Easter Sunday was interesting, as it only can be married to Judas with 4 kids and twice as many dogs.