Easter 2010

This year for Easter we did things a little differently and I must say it was fabulous.

Although I missed the coloring of Easter eggs and decorating cute little baskets for the kids I did enjoy the much less stressful version of Easter this year.

We surprised the kids last weekend by telling them we were going to go shopping and we were allowing each a certain amount of money to spend for Easter (and because they have been great kids with great grades). Nick went straight for the video games and assessories, and Les headed for the pet store to purchase her new college friend (Parrot fish named George) with assessories.

With these purchases already behind us there was not much left for the Easter bunny to bring. He was able to muster up a little candy Easter moring however.


My dad and Greg's mom joined us for Easter service at church and then following church we met up with Grandma Hoff, Jamie, Amy, Maya, Amy's brother Michael, and Greg's mom and dad for lunch at Cox Arboretum. We couldn't have asked for a better day to spend time outside.

We ate lunch, took walks.....

watched turtles.....


......and so did Zip, the goose dog on duty.

and apparently these turtles were not aware they were being watched... or they have no shame.

We watched fish.....


..... BIG fish.


Looked at the pretty flowers....



and pretty little girls...

and enjoyed time spent together in the sunshine......

Kids with uncle Jamie

The fishermen....

The Grandma's

The Cousins

Everyone checking out the HUGE fish....

Dad with his 3 beautiful grandkids..

Everyone wave....

Nick walked to the van to get water for everyone.....he had a lot to carry.

Then he became bored and sat in a chair all by himself while we all laughed at him... he loved it!


It was a great day for all....Thank you Lord for family, for a beautiful day, and for the ultimate sacrifice of your Son, Jesus.

Parched

Parched: 1. to make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat.

2. to become thirsty.

I have a weird thought process. One would think I would have enlightening, spiritual thoughts while at church (which I do sometimes) but God tends to speak to me mostly through my everyday activities. I have aha moments while rock climbing for the first time, or cleaning out my frig, or watering a plant ect...

The other day I was watering a very dry, very neglected plant we had forgotten about. I watched the water pour from the watering can onto the plant and within seconds it was pooling up at the bottom of the saucer the plant was sitting on. The water went straight through the plant without absorbing into the soil. Funny how a plant can be so dry (needing water ) yet when water is poured onto the plant it runs right through it.

I then watered one of our plants which had not been as neglected and noticed the soil was moist yet it held the water I was pouring into it. This is not a new revelation for me, I know dry plants cannot absorb water immediately but over time... but I was able to connect the dots with my spiritual life through this watering experience.

My spiritual aha moment of the day was currently I am like this plant in my spiritual walk. My life is so full of hustle bustle and the mental approach of "OK, whats next on the list to get done"(referring to the definition of parched... this would be the heat I am exposed to) I have not made time for my walk with God. Then I wonder why I am struggling with my faith. I know a person needs to spend time with God in order to strengthen your faith and your relationship.. it is told to me in scripture as well as weekly at Southbrook. Yet I still don't do it.

This plant and I are similar because I do go to church each week for my weekly watering, however because I am so dry it goes straight through me. I do not retain the watering nor do I receive any kind of nourishment from it. I need to be full (moist) of the Word, full of God's grace and love to receive and retain the nourishment. The only way for me to acquire this is to have a daily watering session with God. Why oh why do I not do this on a regular basis?.... I guess for the same reason I don't eat the foods I should eat or exercise the way I should. Note to self: start being better to yourself and do the things you know you should do on a regular basis.

I am thankful for my quirky thought processes, thankful God speaks to me in ways I can understand and thankful He is the well that won't run dry since apparently I am parched.

- John 7:37-38 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"