Easter celebrations

This morning the kids and I headed out the door at 8:00 for church, and we didn't return home until 7:20 this evening. We were at church until 12:30 and then drove to Aunt Millie's bakery for our Easter dinner. She had quite a feast prepared - coleslaw, macaroni salad, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, rolls, ham, green beans, pickled eggs, chicken, sausage, 3 different kinds of pie, cheesecake, cupcakes, and 3 different kinds of cookies. No one left hungry that is for sure!! It was our first time meeting our niece Brandi's children. They are pictured here at left. Autumn is 2 1/2, and James is 1 1/2.

After our sumptuous meal we stopped in at the assisted living center where Paul's 93 year old Grandma lives. We hadn't seen Gram in more than a year. She was amazed at how much Oliver had grown since she saw him last. As we left the center we drove past our first house. I bought it in January 2001, and Paul moved into it in August of that same year after we were married. The new owners did a lot with the landscaping. It looks much better than when we lived there.





Then we spent a couple of hours at Paul's parents house before heading home. Grandma and Pop Pop gave each of the kids a bag of Easter gifts - some candy, a book for each of them, a stuffed animal for Oliver, and Lego sets for Nadia and Ian. The picture at right is of Oliver wearing Paul's hat from when he was in a marching band many moons ago. The Easter service was beautiful this morning and included a powerful testimony from one man in the church and also an absolutely gorgeous acapella quartet at the end of the service. It was called the "Man of Sorrows Medley" and was a very beautiful arrangement of a few different hymns concluding with "Because He lives." It brought me to tears. I apologize for the poor quality of these photos. I didn't have my good camera with me today and so these are just cell phone pics. They are better than nothing. So grateful that we serve a risen Savior!