Easter Weekend 2014

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating our Risen Savior! I hope that you did as well. Of course, we should always be thankful for the cross, but this time of year in particular makes us especially mindful. My debt has been paid and I'm forever thankful!

We had a little Easter egg hunt with our playgroup buddies. They were all were so cute trying to figure things out. Kinley and Emery got the hang of opening the eggs and eating what was inside. They were just too busy doing that to actually hunt for the eggs. Ha!

 The cutest little bunnies I've ever seen!

 I'm so thankful for these sweet friends and their precious little ones!

The Saturday before Easter we got together with Chad's side of the family. He has a big family and when we're all together there are lots of little ones running around. I can't tell you how thankful we are to have added our two to the mix! Chad's uncle told the story of the cross to the kids while the Easter eggs were being hidden.

The Easter egg hunt had to be inside because it was raining, so just imagine mass chaos as all the kiddos ran around the garage looking for their eggs. We had to leave abruptly because someone, ahem Kinley, threw a major fit. While trying to get my screaming child to the car, in the pouring rain, I dropped her Easter bucket and every egg fell to the ground and cracked open. Aghhhh! Parenting sure is humbling, huh?!

Sunday mornings are hard for us with Chad leaving earlier and staying later than us. I was determined to get at least one picture, and thankfully my mom was able to get one decent shot of us as a family of four!

 

My babies have grown so much since last year. =(

 

Trying to get pictures with/of these two silly girls is quite a challenge. But, oh how I love them!

Lastly, we took advantage of the time off that Chad had for Easter weekend and updated our kitchen counter tops and back splash. I am loving my "new" kitchen!

"Oh praise The One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead!"

Easter 2013

What a wonderful Easter weekend we've had. I just love this time of year. Of course, I'm so thankful that we serve a risen Savior every day of the year, but there's something so special about Resurrection Sunday. What a mighty God we serve!

We were able to spend several days together as a family and those are times that I dearly treasure. Because Sunday is a work day for Chad, we look forward to his Fridays off so we can spend time together. We took a quick trip Trader J0e's and picked up a few things. I hadn't been since before I went on bed rest and I was going through withdrawals. We did a little baby wearing there too =)

 

Then on Saturday we went to a cookout with Chad's extended family. It was the first time for most of them to meet Kinley and Emery. They looked so precious in their beautiful gowns from Kelly and Judy. 

I could hardly wait to see my precious angels dressed in their beautiful smocked dresses on Easter morning. If you've been reading my blog for a while then you know how I am about Easter outfits and color coordination and getting a family picture. Well, now that my babies are finally here I could not wait! I knew our day was going to be very hectic, but we managed to get a few pictures and I just love them. 

 

There is nothing sweeter than a baby girl in a smocked bishop and ruffled bonnet. Be still my heart!  

I LOVE this picture of Emery. 

 My precious Kinley girl.

 

We've come a long way! I'm so thankful for my precious little family!

 

I pray that you had a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating our Risen Lord! Hallelujah, He's alive!

Easter 2012

Once again, I didn't mean to go so long without updating. I thought I would jump back in with a recap of our Easter.

I love Easter Sunday. When you think about it, without this glorious resurrection day, where would we be? We had a wonderful morning at church with incredible worship and an inspiring message from the Word of God. It was such an exciting time of celebration. He is alive!!

We then headed to my parents house for Easter lunch. I'm always excited when my mom cooks a big meal, but I was especially looking forward to two of my favorites. Green bean casserole - so simple but so yummy!

And, my very favorite Horseradish Scallion Deviled Eggs. Boy, was I glad to have a couple of those left over for lunch today =)

We didn't really get a lot of pictures this year, but here is one that my little photographer-in-training niece took of us. Not too bad for a six year old =)

I hope you all had a very blessed Easter Sunday celebrating our risen Savior!

Easter 2011

We had a wonderful Easter weekend, and I hope that you did too! We had lots of fun at our nephew's birthday party and then a sleepover with our favorite niece. I was so excited to see her in the dress that I made for her. We did her hair in sponge rollers for church on Sunday and she looked so pretty! She kept telling me to make her hair "poofy" Lol!

Bubba was able to capture a few pics of our cutie before we left for church (and we were even on time for the early service. Yay!)

 I think this is my new favorite of the girl. I love her to pieces!!!

 She really is the sweetest thing. I feel so blessed to be her NaNa!

 Silly, silly girl!

We totally improvised taking this picture ourselves by setting up our camera on top of a box which was on top of a bar stool. Note to self: buy a tripod.

 

Every year Chad and I have to color coordinate, and for fun, here is a look at some of our "Easter looks" from years past.  I couldn't find pictures from before 2006 but we've also done lavender, yellow and navy, kelly green and navy just to name a few others. My husband is such a good sport and puts up with this every year. This year, I even got him in a coral shirt. Lol!

Praying you all have a blessed week!

He Is Risen!

Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!

 Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Living He Loved Me

One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again

 

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

The Saturday of Silence

I was listening to the radio this morning on my drive into work and the radio hosts were doing an interview with Max Lucado. Max has written something like nine books on the subject of Easter. Although he said really all of his books will come back to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ because that's really what it's all about!

He mentioned that as we approach Easter weekend all people really talk about is Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, but what about that Saturday? The Saturday of Silence. A lot of us live our lives on that Saturday, he says. We've accepted Jesus and His salvation, but we're still waiting on our Sunday.

Maybe you're like me and you're living in between the offered prayer and the answered prayer; the experience of pain and the solution of pain. But you know what? Jesus knows! He breathed His last and then experienced that Saturday of silence, that Saturday of suffering before He was resurrected the next day.

I loved hearing this and then seeing Easter weekend in a new light. I'm so incredibly thankful for what Jesus did for me on the cross. I'm incredibly thankful that the Father raised Him from the grave on Sunday. And, I'm also incredibly thankful for a Savior that knows and has experienced the in between time as well.

"sorrow will last for the night
but hope is rising with the sun
(its rising with the sun)
there will be storms in this life
but I know You will overcome
but I know You will overcome" (fee)

How great is our God?!?!?

I pray that each of you have wonderful, worshipful Easter weekend!

He Is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Ours has been great, and busy. The choir sang for all three services this morning, so it was a VERY early start for me! I was so glad to have all of my family there at church this morning. We then went up to my parents for lunch. It was SO delicious! My mom made ham, horseradish deviled eggs (my fave!), and a few other sides. Yummy! Thanks mom and dad for cooking for all of us!

We took some pictures when we got to my parents house. They didn't turn out quite as good as I had hoped. We were looking into the sun and had squinty eyes...oh well!

E was not in the mood for a photo shoot either. She had fallen asleep in the car on the way up and desperately needed a nap! But she looked so cute in her dress that I made for her!

This was actually from Friday when I tried the dress on her at our house. She is such a mess!

Me and my sister

My brother and his girlfriend

E changed her tune a bit once we ate and were ready to go hunt for eggs! She's got her basket and she's ready to go!

Found one!

There's another one!

E with NaNa and Bubba

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of my mom and dad! You know, the ones taking the pictures hardly ever get their pictures taken! I'll have to make sure I get some next time!

I hope that you had a blessed Easter weekend! I hope that we can remember to celebrate the Resurrection each and every day. He's Alive!

"HAPPY" Easter!

That is something I have been hearing a lot of this weekend. I was talking to my friends on the way to Bible study the other night about how so many just say that in passing, but do they really know why it's "happy"? Is it because of the easter bunny, easter baskets, easter eggs filled with candy, shopping for an easter dress, getting together with family, etc.?

Tonight as I was studying God's Word and Psalm 130 (week 5 in Stepping Up Bible Study) He spoke to me about why we are to be happy this Easter.

"Lord, if You considered sins, LORD, who could stand?" I am a sinner, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I pray that I would have a repentant soul and remember that without grace, I could not stand. But praise God, He keeps no record of sins!

Colossians 3:13-14 says "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumsion of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

Father, I praise You that you loved me enough to send Your precious Son to die on the cross for me, for my sins. Thank you Jesus for going to the cross. Thank you that by Your sacrifice you have taken away my sins. We rejoice that You did not stay in the grave, but ROSE again and You are alive today! Glory to the Lamb!

"How HAPPY is the one whose transgression is forgiven!" I pray that you know the power of His forgiveness and that you live in the happiness that it brings this Easter, and every day you are given.