Easter weekend

Easter weekend was full of fun and activity.

The Chef and I went to the noon service at our church on Friday. It was our church’s turn to host the community church service and the sermon was delivered by a pastor at a local Baptist church. I was eager to hear him preach because many of my friends attend this church and have spoken about what a dynamic preacher he is.

The sermon was wonderful and it was the perfect way to continue worship after Maundy Thursday the night before.

Saturday morning began with a pancake breakfast, pictures with the Easter bunny and an egg hunt at the church.

Now I must say that this year’s Easter bunny was unique for several reasons....

As you can see, this year’s Easter bunny had a unique sense of humor but perhaps the most unique thing about this year’s Easter bunny is the fact that.....

Grandma Sandy is his mother!!!

Yes, that’s right. Guitar Boy was the Easter bunny this year!

The events that preceded the picture above were hilarious and I wish I had them on video but since I don’t I’ll do my best to explain.

As we were walking into the front of Memorial Hall to have our picture made, Dogos took one look at the Easter Bunny and literally climbed up my leg and began to have a total freak attack.

It went something like this:

Dogos....no, no, No, NO, NO NONONONONOOOOOOOOO!!!

Me.....It’s ok, Dogos, it’s Guitar Boy, it’s Guitar Boy, it’s Guitar Boy!!!

Siblings......It’s ok, Dogos, it’s Guitar Boy, it’s Guitar Boy, it’s Guitar Boy!!!

Dogos.....NONONONONONO!!!!!!!!

Me.....QuickGuitarBoytakeoffyourbunnynose.

hurrytakeitofftakeitofftakeitoff

Guitar Boy, sans bunny nose......See, Dogos? It’s just me!

Cue Dogos’ brain explosion as she tries to process what is happening before falling out laughing.

Peanut is missing from the picture because she was off with a friend and we couldn’t find her.

Oh well, 4 out of 5 is pretty good, I’d say. ha

Next up? Egg Hunt!

The young children hunt eggs on the playground while big kids hunt out front. It’s safer that way!

And they’re off!

This sweet little girl is one of both my little girls' best friends.

Isn’t her outfit to die for?

So stinking cute.

I was also so proud of Dogos when she looked in her friend’s basket and upon the realization that her friend didn’t have many eggs, gave her some of her own.

If you’re like me, you want your children to be loving and kind towards others and when they actually are, unprompted, I’m always proud as well as more than a little surprised! Haha

Saturday afternoon, the younger 4 went to Lala’s house to dye Easter eggs while Grandma Sandy packed some boxes.

Middle Man can never resist an opportunity to be a little silly.

Sunday morning we got some treats in our Easter baskets.

(sorry no pics)

When Dogos woke up and walked into the den she said, “Hey, what are those baskets for?"

After church services we took some pictures of the kids.

Here are some of my favorites.

Easter weekend was fun.

Pancakes, egg hunts, Easter treats, good food and time with family.

We missed our Pawpaw but to think that he celebrated Easter at the feet of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Wow.

Happy Easter to you all.

Our Risen King

I saw a link to this clip on youtube early Saturday morning.

How Great Thou Art was one of my grandmother’s favorite hymns.

I listened with tears rolling down my cheeks and chills up and down my spine.

I haven’t listened to or sung this hymn in a while and I was struck by 3 things.

The words are simple yet amazingly beautiful.

This girl was singing to a God that she knows and loves deeply and I think the whole audience including me could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit as she sang.

This is our first Easter without our Pawpaw.

He is not with us but he IS with his risen Savior and Lord.

He IS at the feet of Jesus singing praises to the King of Kings.

We do serve a great and mighty God!

Jars of Clay - Worlds Apart

I heard Jars Of Clay at a Youth Specialties weekend “many moons” ago.

I recently found this more recent recording.

I think that the words speak volumes as we remember this night in which Jesus was betrayed.

I don’t know about you, but I am convicted at least a thousand times a day of the endless ways in which I fall short and I so often feel in my faith relationship I’m truly Worlds Apart.

I know that I’m forgiven.

However, tonight I think of how Jesus must have felt when He was betrayed and knowing all that was before Him.

How it must’ve have felt when He took all of MY sins upon Him.

How Jesus knew what it meant to be worlds apart in the truest sense.

And then to know that He would’ve died for me even if I was the only person on this Earth that needed to be forgiven....

Well, it just makes me want to sing Alleluia! like Jars of Clay!

I pray God’s peace, love and joy to you all.

Growth, barn plans, and good news

My little Kindergarten babies aren’t so little anymore. They are reading, adding, will soon be subtracting, and really growing.

Their academic growth is obvious. I see huge changes daily in what they can do. It’s so rewarding to see them have a “light bulb” moment. That very second when their developing brains make a connection, their eyes light up, and they see for themselves that they can DO what I’m telling them they have the ability to do!

Have I mentioned lately that I love Kindergarten?

Their physical growth has been harder to gauge.

That is, until this spring......

Their uniform skirts, which used to be way below their knees, are now several inches above!

Isn’t that so cute?!?

Gosh, they do grow fast, don’t they?

And to think that The Boss will be a Kindergartener herself next year!

lord help me

Now if you recall my last post, I stated that our new house has a barn.

I also stated that I had no idea what I would do with a barn but that I was sure I’d figure out something.

I think I know what I’m gonna do with said barn.......

That’s right...

CHICKENS!!

Free range chickens, to be more specific.

I figure, I’ve got a barn so why not use it?

and NO, I will not start going by Farmer Grandma Sandy.

The Grandma part is bad enough especially since I’m not even a Grandma.

Most people resist the title of Grandma even years after they have grandchildren and here I am starting a blog entitling myself Grandma Sandy, but whatever......

All last summer I was able to purchase fresh eggs from the Farmer’s Market here in West Tennessee.

Fresh eggs truly taste better and are so much better for you.

Fresh eggs have yolks that are a deep, rich orange color.

After you have fresh farm eggs a few times, cracking open a regular old egg from the store with its pale yellow yolk just kinda makes you feel....well....anemic or something.

Now don’t get me wrong. The first time I cracked open a farm fresh egg and saw that orange yolk it kinda grossed me out.

I wasn’t used to seeing that!

Eggs aren’t supposed to look like that, right?

Actually, they are.

So I’m gonna try my hand at chicken farming.

Maybe.

Not quite positive yet.

But pretty sure.

I’m at least researching it for next year.

I’ll let you know!

I also got some ridiculously exciting news this week from my cousin.

Take a look at this picture......

My cousin and her husband have been trying to have a family for several years. Recently they made the decision to undergo IVF.

She sent me this picture of the two beautiful embryos they transferred.

You can’t imagine how freaking excited I was when she told me a few short, yet looooooonnnng days later that she was pregnant!

I was hoping for twins, but so thrilled that it was one!

But wait.

It gets better.

This past week she texted me to say that she had just come from the Dr. and that they actually ARE expecting TWINS!!!

Originally, there were 2 sacs but 1 was measuring much smaller than the other and the Dr. anticipated that she would lose the small baby.

But her 10 week ultrasound showed two thriving, developing, beautiful babies with perfect heartbeats!!!

I’m so over the moon about her news that I literally have no words so I’ll just close with a few of my favorite scriptures.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my

mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully

and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the

depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

I waited patiently for the Lord;

He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

He set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord.

Psalm 40:1-3