Dear Reader:

My wish came true. I have been watching the Asiatic Red Lily for a couple of weeks now since Honey gave it to me as a gift. The buds have been growing  ‘red-er and red-er.’ Last night before I fell asleep I thought…“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were blooming in the morning…for Easter Sunday?”

 It wasn’t…but close!

I was so busy getting casseroles in the oven before church…hiding eggs and getting dressed that it completely slipped my mind to check again on its status. After everyone left yesterday afternoon…I went back out on the deck to clean up the children’s plates and pick up left-over Easter egg hunt bric-a brac. As I was cleaning up the deck table (that the lilies were on) there it was… one bud, mysteriously, during the day (without any of us seeing it) had popped open! I had gotten my Easter Surprise…my miracle! And how beautiful!

I think all the good luck started with my first sighting of the day while I was hiding eggs…Sammy, the cardinal, and his wife perched on the side fence and chirped away at me…as if wishing me a ‘Happy Easter.’ *And I remembered to say “Rabbit” first thing yesterday morning! :)April 1 !

A milestone at church …Jakie made it through the whole church service without having to leave. He announced to anyone interested (within hearing distance) that he was really “good” during the children’s sermon…and he was. He helped me decorate the flower cross with a flowery gift from Michele Jones… accompanied by Eva Cate.

Another “surprise”… all the grandchildren had done a good deed for someone in need and their magical seeds produced lollipops. Imagine!

I have decided little ones never eat Easter lunch…they are way too excited about opening Easter baskets, eating sweets, and waiting impatiently on the hunt. For the little little ones some directional markers helped the hunt move briskly along.

Rutledge was the first to find his “gold egg”…his $1 dollar bill.

*Marcia…the children loved the cookies…Jakie fell and dropped his on the steps… Lachlan found it later while leaving and finished it off…they might not be “kissing” cousins….just simply ‘dual time-share cookie eaters.’ (Mollie and I half’ed one…and then another one and so on.)

Kaitlyn sent some Easter pictures of their day in Chattanooga…I hope for one and all it was a glorious day! (Even three little doggies)

Poor little Jakie fell going down the porch steps and left with a puffy bruised eye…hated he left sad…he was so happy today and proud of his conduct! He will be fine…a bit of a shiner…but Jakie is tough…just ask him!

So until tomorrow…Father lead us safely though each day…helping us meet surprises head-on…the good and the not-so-good surprises…because sometimes, every once in a while,  a red lily blossom surprise can take one’s breath away.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh