Easter Celebration

Easter did not come and go without significance for me this year.  I am sad to say that I believe it probably has in the past.  I was reflecting on the holidays that we as Christians celebrate, and it struck me in a new and refreshed way that Easter is the greatest of them all!  I love Christmas and all of the festivities that begin right after Thanksgiving and carry on throughout the whole month of December.  There is an excitement and anticipation that no one can deny surrounding Christmas.  I love celebrating birthdays and if you would have asked me before what my favorite holiday was, I would have told you without hesitation- Christmas.  But, this year it was really my prayer that Easter would resonate with my soul.  That it would not just come and go with the normalcy of any other weekend. 

We had a wonderful and meaningful Easter weekend.  Joey did not have class on Friday, and while I did not get the day off from work, I had some comp time to make up from events I have had lately, so only worked in the morning.  We spent the late afternoon and early evening at the Roush's.  They were babysitting their sweet niece, so we got to meet her and join them for dinner.  After that we came home to watch The Passion.  I have seen the movie a couple of times, but not very recently.  It really stirred up some emotion in me, and the awe of the sacrifice Christ made for me resonated strongly. 

Saturday was filled with some quality time for me and the hubs and we got to watch Tegan for the Roush's for the day.  Meg and Rich came over for dinner, and then Joey and I got our Easter eggs ready to hunt the next day.  We each bought a package of 12 eggs that we were going to fill with coupons and candy for each other to hunt on Easter.  I grew up with young siblings, so hunting eggs on Easter is a tradition that I don't plan to quit anytime soon.  Don't our eggs suit us perfectly?

Sunday morning we went to church and enjoyed a wonderful worship service.  I love to see everyone in their new Easter clothes squeezing into the full sanctuary.  The fresh Easter lilies lining the stage and the hymns that are so appropriate to celebrate a risen Savior fill me with excitement.  In Sunday School we studied in detail the death and Resurrection of our Lord.  I love the new things that jump off the page with meaning when we study scripture in a group with fellow believers.  It is such a cool thing when we are able to see a story we have studied for years with a new and refreshing wonder. 

Joey and I came home from church and hunted for the Easter eggs we had hidden around the house for each other.  It was pretty fun, and sometimes challenging to remember where we had hidden them when one of us needed a clue.  :)

Then, the Roush's came over and Meg and me cooked a big Easter lunch for us all.  Even the dogs got bones.  It was a meaningful and refreshing Easter weekend around here that made me thankful for many things, but especially for the holiday that reminds us to meditate and remember the price that was paid for our sins.  He is Risen and we are Free!  We sang, In Christ Alone, at church on Sunday.  It is one of my favorite hymns!  We sang it at our wedding as well.  The lyrics are a perfect way to worship our Risen Savior.

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless Babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

'Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From a life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

'Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand

Peter Cottontail Update

Well friends, our little Peter Cottontail bunny is no longer with us.  The next day we found him laying next to Harley in the yard again.  I shooed her into the house to make an assessment.  He was breathing, but this time, didn't look so good.  Poor guy got caught by our puppy again and didn't make it.  Within a few minutes he wasn't breathing anymore.  Joey scooped him up in a box and gave him a burial.  We are sad for the little guy, but happy he is at peace now.  No more trauma by a husky dog for him.

Our Visit from an Easter Bunny

This visit from the Easter Bunny came early and not with cute little eggs filled with candy.  Yesterday, right about the time I got home from work, I was on the phone with my mom, Joey was studying, and Harley was outside in the backyard.  Joey came out of the study and looked at Harley through the window.  He saw her playing with something, so he opened the door to get a better look.  She picked up the little fluffly thing she had been playing with and took off.  Joey yelled at me that she had an animal!  I screamed, told my mom I'd call her back, and joined the chase.  The animal in her mouth is making the most horrible sqeaking sound.  I thought I heard the squeaking from inside earlier, but in the distraction of getting home and being on the phone just wrote it off as a toy.  Harley is very fast and her favorite game is keep-away.  So, we are yelling all kind of things- "No!", "Sit!", "Bad Girl!", "Harley, Come!", "Wanna Treat?"... and she is just sprinting circles around the backyard.  Finally, we coordinated our efforts and got Harley cornered.  She didn't want to drop the new toy she'd found, but finally Joey pried her mouth open and this is what fell out...

OH MY GOSH, right?!  This sweet tiny little baby bunny was covered in slobber and so scared!  We shoved Harley inside the house and tried to figure out if the little guy was ok.  There was no blood and despite being shocked almost to death I'm sure, he was moving a little, so I was hopefull he would make it.

I wrapped him in a towel and left him alone in the shade on our porch to calm down.  We went and got on the internet to read about these little guys and it didn't look good for our little Peter Cotton Tail.  There were articles about how fragile life is for these little guys and about how they often don't make it through a traumatic experience because the stress overwhelms them, or that they can't make it on their own if they are too young to be separated from momma bunny.  But, we had no idea how old he was and hoped for the best!  After about an hour I could see he was moving around a bit and decided to take him back up on the hill in our back yard.  We looked around for a nest and didn't find one, but thought he must have come from under the fence up on top of the hill.  We checked on him periodically last night and he made it back under the fence, so I am hopefull he made it!  I felt so awful for this poor little guy.  I know Harley just thought he was a fun little toy.  I mean his squeak sounded exactly like the way her toys squeak!  But, this little Easter Bunny had no idea what he was in for when he ventured into our backyard.  I picture him making it back to his home and telling all his friends to steer clear of that backyard with the black and white furry beast.  

Joey was proud of his little hunter and I was horrified that our puppy could have been a murderer.  I realize now that she just thought little Peter Cotton Tail was a fun new toy and had no idea she was harming a live baby animal.  We are still hoping the Easter Bunny visits our house this weekend, but understand if he decides to stay away.  Happy Easter week! 

Go March for Babies!

It's that time of year again!  We have our Waco March for Babies walk coming up this weekend.  I have been super busy getting ready for it this week, but wanted to let you know I probably won't appear here again until next week.  I would appreciate your prayers for sanity, calm nerves, and a successful event.  This is my third year to run March for Babies and I can't believe how much I've learned and how much our event has grown.  I am fortunate to love my job (most of the time) and the organization I work for.  You know I enjoy putting on events, and my job allows me to do that for a great cause.  Helping ensure that all babies get a healthy start is what the March of Dimes is all about.  If you would like to donate to our team or join us, I have posted the link below.  Thanks for your support!

http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1500530

Go March for Babies!

Girl Weekend, Here I Come!

It's girl weekend, and I am headed out to enjoy some quality time with the girls!  I am picking Megan up in a little bit and we are driving to Shay's family lake house.  I've been there once before and it is serene.  I am looking forward to laying out, chatting, reading, and a memorable weekend with some girl friends.  Hope your weekend is filled with something great!  Happy Weekend!