My Easter!

I hope and pray everyone had a Blessed Easter.  There's always that discussion about which celebration is more important - Christmas, Christ's birth when wonderful gifts were given to Him or Easter, Christ's death when He gave a wonderful gift to each of us.  You decide.

My Easter started with my own personal sunrise service.  Emily, Brett and the children left Sunday morning at 7am (out of Detroit) for Arizona to visit Brett's family.  When they are gone, I am the goat feeder!  So as they boarded the plane, I was driving to their farm.  There was a very heavy fog and the daylight was barely peeking through.  As I got close to the pen, I saw the five goats standing right at the gate waiting for me.  There was also a rabbit sitting on the hay cage (I call it).  I think he was on his way home after a very busy night and needed to stop for a snack.  (For any little eyes)  The air was so peaceful, the goats were quiet and calm, and together we thanked God for His incredible gift to us.  We all have more than we need and are guaranteed even more after death.  Blessings abound!

A dear "up-north" friend, Kathy, invited me to attend her church with her for Easter Sunday morning.  So there I was at the Oden Community Church.  There were 22 of us (includes 3 visitors) and we sang the Easter hymns we all love so much - Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Because He Lives, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus, and He Lives.  Pastor Marv's message focused on the "doubting" Thomas in all of us.  I'm so used to "big" church, I had forgotten many of the "little" touches of small church.  Early in the service a man in the congregation got up and walked to the pulpit.  He told everyone who was in need of prayers, some due to illness, family problems, and "just plain needed hope".  He mentioned a man named Raoul who is in Syria and asked that we pray that he would find a way to escape.  Once he competed his list, he asked if there were any last minute requests he was unaware of.  Something else that touched my heart, just before the offering was collected, Pastor Marv told the visitors that just because the offering plate came to you, don't feel obligated to make a contribution.  "We're just glad you're here."  (I did and I was!)  The entire service reminded me that on any given morning, so many different groups of people gather together to praise the Lord!  Amen and Amen!

By mid-afternoon the snow had begun.  Yes...snow.  And also by mid-afternoon, the cable tv and internet "went out".  OH NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  University of Michigan vs Florida and U of L vs Duke!  TR Baker was beside himself.  He called the customer service number and spoke with a woman who said she was aware and that the whole area was "out"!  She had no idea when service would be restored.  TR Baker immediately decided he would go to Breakers, our neighborhood bar and grill!  And guess what?  It's Easter Sunday, and it was closed.  He drove into Indian River to the Brass Rail, another local haunt.  Closed!!!!!!  How can this happen????????  I turned on the radio and found the game so we could at least listen to it.  And then we heard it, the accident that rocked the Center.  Oh my goodness.  How can THAT happen????????

TR Baker and I left to go to my friend Kathy's home.  She had invited us to join her family for Easter dinner.  TR Baker is friends with her son and his family (Matt, Angie, and Cole and Cassidy) and her daughter and her family (Samantha, Dan and Norah).  On the drive to dinner TR Baker said it was over, the team was too upset to come back and defeat Duke.  I told him U of L would get into the locker room for the half and the coaches and players would pray and clam each other down and would come back and defeat Duke.  Just believe!  (My own Doubting Thomas!)  And I hoped the family dinner experience would ease TR Baker's "pain".  When we arrived we discovered Kathy has satellite TV!  TR Baker was able to see the second half and HUGE win!  Kathy's dinner was delicious and the family time was incredibly special for TR Baker and me.  In the meantime, Emily and her family arrived safely in AZ, Libby and her family had a special day and TR Baker and I are blessed with wonderful friends.

So here I am on Monday morning.  Internet is back up, don't know about the TV as I haven't turned it on, the goats have been fed their breakfast, and it's still snowing!  Happy April and I wish I was "fooling" you, but I'm not.

Requesting prayers this morning for "Munner" in Henderson, KY, Kevin Ware in Indianapolis, Sue in Atlanta, and Raoul in Syria.

Christ is risen...He is risen indeed!  xxoo