EASTER CELEBRATIONS

Well another busy, busy week-end has come to a close, and Easter 2014 is a memory to record.  What a GOOD celebration we had.  On Sat. hubby and I started the busy day with lunch, haha.  We went from there and saw the movie Heaven Is For Real.  We both thoroughly enjoyed it.  We had both read the book when it was out as well, and while I don't remember every little thing about it, I do think the movie stuck to the book pretty well. I love that it is a true story of course, and moving one that gives you LOTS to think about.   After the movie we headed to Costco and I had my eyes examined.  I have worn contact lenses since high school, and in order to keep getting your contacts you MUST have your eyes examined at least once a year or no one will fill your prescription.  It is frustrating in some ways as honestly I think I am old enough to know if something has changed, or if there is a problem of some sort that would warrant a visit. Can't tell you how many times I have laid my hundred dollars down for the EXACT same prescription I have had for years and years.  But I guess they DO check for cataracts, glaucoma, and the general health of your eyes, so it is always good to hear all is well.  After handling that we did our shopping for Easter dinner and drove all the food over to my oldest son's house and dropped it off.  Usually we have dinner at our house, but as the grandkids have grown and our house is much smaller it is nice to head to Joe's house as they are the ones with HUGE HUGE yards, and therefore plenty of room for them all to run around.  Hubby and I headed home after that and collapsed in front of the TV and then went to bed fairly early.

JAMES AND THE WORSHIP TEAM

 Easter service was sooo nice!  It was outside in God's creation in the middle of the Plaza square where people wondering by could stop and listen, and they did just that.  There is just something about worshiping God in a public place with the sun shinning, the birds singing, the breeze blowing and so many voices joined together in song that is just really hard to beat.  The message was powerful and  several got saved, praise God.  After service hubby helped load up chairs and then we stopped at one of our favorite Greek restaurants and had a yummy chicken salad for lunch.  We then began the drive to Joe's house for dinner.  This was the only portion of the day that was just NOT GOOD.  The traffic was just soo bad that honestly it felt like we were crawling along with turtles passing us by, lol.  But we FINALLY got there and the rest of the day was as nice as the start.  The little kids ran and played together while the guys played some basketball and the ladies sat on the patio in the shade with little Vinny visiting. We ate dinner around 6.  We had ham, potato salad, baked beans, rolls, deviled eggs, and chips all served on paper plates that we tossed, and enjoyed outside as well.  It was perfect.  After dinner the kids hid inside while the older kids hid the Easter eggs for the hunt. So nice to have such a LARGE area for that fun activity. After that, we brought out the desserts and the kids ran and played some more.  There were cookies, brownie and lemon bites, and of course candy.  Everyone is so busy on Easter what with church etc., that the ready made desserts, and the easy menu just makes more sense.  Now Joe's wife Leah had to make the beans (we have such a yummy recipe for this) and the devil eggs of course, but other than that not a lot of cooking which was good.  We sat around talking and visiting until it grew dark and it was time to get the little ones into the bath as there was school today of course.  How grateful I am for time with my family.  I did miss my Melody and her little family, but we had some pictures from her and a phone call as well.  I have got a few pictures to show you now of the day.  I will start with the ones I got via text of Melody's family.

SAM'S LITTLE HAND PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THEIR DECORATED EASTER EGGS.  GOOD JOB SAM!

THE BOYS NIGHT BEFORE EASTER...SOO CUTE IN THEIR MATCHING SHIRTS

SAM ENJOYING HIS BUNNY EARS FROM HIS EASTER BASKET

THEY FELT BETTER ON HIS HEAD THIS WAY, LOL

MELODY AND THE BOYS AS THEY WERE LEAVING FOR CHURCH

VISIT LATER IN THE DAY IN THE CORN FIELDS...AGAIN, THE LIFE OF THE LITTLE FARMER BOY

And now some pictures from the rest of our day...

LARISSA AND THE KIDS BEFORE CHURCH 

THEY LOOKED SOO SWEET.  LITLLE JD HERE SO REMINDS ME OF HIS DADDY JAMES IT IS REALLY UNBELIEVABLE

THE BOUNTY FROM THEIR EASTER EGG HUNG

VINNY AND GRANDPA

TWO OF MY OLDEST GRANDKIDS LINDSEY AND EVAN

TELLS FOUND A SPARKLE EGG...THOSE HAD MONEY IN THEM!

ON THEIR SEARCH

SWEET CAPRI STOPS FOR A POSE

A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

I have done a little visiting this morning, and it seems as if many of you had similar celebrations, and good times.  I have finally settled on my next quilting project, and I am anxious to get started on it.  But more about that later.  For now, I will leave you with a 3 second video of little Sam wishing you all Happy Easter. Blessings to you all, Debbie