Dear Reader:

As I type these reflections on Easter this Sunday in April of 2017…I feel a sense of tiredness…but it is the good kind of tired…you know what I mean? I prepared everything ahead of time…overall everything went as planned… except… for what didn’t and those episodes always make for the “Remember when” stories in the family history.

*Things like poor Jakie falling down and busting his lip outside church- he quickly recovered!

We had good food, fun conversations, lots of laughter, pictures, and memory moments. Most importantly we were together and that is so powerful for children to see and feel.  We can’t really ask for more than that…I don’t think.

Wasn’t it a lot like the first Easter? Everything starting out as planned as the Marys’ went to visit Jesus’ tomb and then suddenly everything came unraveled…nothing went as planned from that moment on. There were mistaken identities, confusion, conflicting emotions, and finally joy. Joy had come in the morning…like it has done every Easter Sunday since.

Jesus’ resurrection definitely became the number one most favorite-told story in His family and then it spread to His friends and disciples and then followers and then strangers who had never met him. This “unplanned” family event took precedence over all the world. What an amazing surprise for God’s Creation!

For me…just watching the children put flowers on the cross for Jesus before the Easter Service fills me with emotion. I look forward to it every year and my hope is that the grandchildren will remember it and understand the significance of it as they grow older…and perhaps quieter! 🙂

At home while we are all trying to get lunch on the table, the grandchildren could care less about that…they want to see their Boo Boo Baskets, play with bubbles, check to see if Rutledge and Eva Cate grew a lollipop for kind deeds they performed. And of course they jump up and down until the Boo Hunt begins…

Easter, with little children, is fast and furious! So by the time it is over…it leaves one wondering ‘What happened?’ And we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Resurrection Day must have felt the same way for the family, disciples, and close friends of Jesus…“What Happened?” “Really? Could this really have happened?”

Today believers and the faithful answer “Yes” resoundingly! Christ the Lord is Risen Today!”

I have given you verbal images and now I will share some visual images of my Easter. I hope for all of you, Easter filled you with joy (and hopefully some chocolate bunnies!)

Getting the Easter platters out for the deviled eggs!

Saturday I spent a lot of time re-arranging flowers – throwing out the dead ones and sprucing up the ones who could ‘hang’ through Easter!

Success! Everyone is looking towards the camera! An Easter miracle!

Every egg hunter found a gold egg with 1$ in it! The Dingle boys celebrated their success!

Jakie and Lachlan just wanted to play in the fountain!

Thanks Tommy and Kaitlyn for hopping around hiding eggs!

Eva Cate and Rutledge told me their good deeds of kindness and lo and behold their seeds sprouted into lollipops ! Way to go!

Thanks for joining us for the Dingle-Turner’s Easter Party!

So until tomorrow let us always be open to surprises! It symbolized Easter at its best!

“Today is my favorite day!” Winnie the Pooh