Easter started for us with Friday off for Chris, Katya & Grandma! So we had Grandma around noon, and she supervised our cooking and entertained her grand kids with her new Ipad...
We napped, had a nice dinner, and very moving Good Friday service, at Grace Church of Roseville.
We finished off the night with more cooking in quiet as the kids went to bed quietly after our service.
Sat we had my two brothers over, but unfortunately little Owen was sick throwing up, so Scott came with his 2 girls. We had an egg hunt for them. And Matt surprised us by coming with his girlfriend, so we had a nice time all together, talking and playing games. First time we have spent 4 hours together in a long time, all of us. Was moved to tears one time out of the blue missing Dad, but didn't let on. We've been together for this and that, and even Dad's funeral in December, but we have had things going, or someone else has and it has been shorter visits. It was just a nice visit.
Mom left us as we had Jonathan's end of the year celebration for his hockey team. They all took home trophies, such a wonderful surprise. Wonderful time with friends and parents from the hockey team, and again it was 4 hours. Honestly, I can't remember spending 4 hours in one place with one group and not needing to rush off for a long time. It was just plain fun and relaxing. It was, simply put, a wonderful hockey year.
Today we slept in! WOW! Kids had a little egg hunt with "just enough candy" and a nice little sermon from Dad about the real meaning of Easter. We headed to church almost cheerfully, except for the hurry up make dough for rolls with the mixer that's a bit broken! HE IS RISEN...just can't stop smiling from the celebration at church today. Mostly, it just a blessing to see hearts moved and changed, and for me anytime in our church it's like time stops, and I can rest in Him. I was talking with a young man from Jonathan's team, and it's kind of like golf & fishing too...everything stops, and there are no worries. He loves golfing in the summer. Anyway, when we are there all together as a family, I know at least for that hour+ my children are not getting hurt or hurting anyone, and I can rest in him, and today was just the same, but a reminder of why we even have church....because Jesus rose from the dead. The Messiah did come, and He does live, and that's why we even have that safe place to go each week. I cry most times I go out of relief. We have a good God!
We went to Chris' folks to celebrate Easter. I had told a friend Sat night that it was nice that we were going, because we were "banned" from Christmas. And I really had high hopes for the day, but it didn't go so well. We did have about 3 hours, but it was tense. I did enjoy playing scrabble and 500, and we had a wonderful meal. But it could have been bitter herbs for what filled the atmosphere. I am not angry, only sad for my husband.
He was accused for saying something completely unlike him, and completely untrue, and shortly later we left quickly as a family while verbal trash was projected our way....
But we redeemed the day with baseball, another nap...and my favorite movie. I hope to put a link up to it. It is actually a children's movie, The Miracle Maker (about Jesus), but I watch it every year as a reminder of His nature and love for us, and to secure the scriptures for our children. It is full of them, in His words.
I'd have to say my favorite part of the day was talking with Sophia about the video clip of the woman at church today who never wanted to go to Church, but how she let God meet her where she was at. Sophia said it was such a relief to hear her talk, because the woman had such a horrible past. It was such a true, honest, meaningful conversation. My other favorite part was watching Jaclyn play with her little cousins rolling down the hill, and making dandelion crowns, and the boys playing baseball up in the field. The cousins knew how to make the most of a day off!
God is Good...He loves us, and there is nothing we can do to earn His love, or push it away, it's the same and more than we can imagine. We just need to let it in and believe it. Love from Alesia & Chris
We napped, had a nice dinner, and very moving Good Friday service, at Grace Church of Roseville.
We finished off the night with more cooking in quiet as the kids went to bed quietly after our service.
Sat we had my two brothers over, but unfortunately little Owen was sick throwing up, so Scott came with his 2 girls. We had an egg hunt for them. And Matt surprised us by coming with his girlfriend, so we had a nice time all together, talking and playing games. First time we have spent 4 hours together in a long time, all of us. Was moved to tears one time out of the blue missing Dad, but didn't let on. We've been together for this and that, and even Dad's funeral in December, but we have had things going, or someone else has and it has been shorter visits. It was just a nice visit.
Mom left us as we had Jonathan's end of the year celebration for his hockey team. They all took home trophies, such a wonderful surprise. Wonderful time with friends and parents from the hockey team, and again it was 4 hours. Honestly, I can't remember spending 4 hours in one place with one group and not needing to rush off for a long time. It was just plain fun and relaxing. It was, simply put, a wonderful hockey year.
Today we slept in! WOW! Kids had a little egg hunt with "just enough candy" and a nice little sermon from Dad about the real meaning of Easter. We headed to church almost cheerfully, except for the hurry up make dough for rolls with the mixer that's a bit broken! HE IS RISEN...just can't stop smiling from the celebration at church today. Mostly, it just a blessing to see hearts moved and changed, and for me anytime in our church it's like time stops, and I can rest in Him. I was talking with a young man from Jonathan's team, and it's kind of like golf & fishing too...everything stops, and there are no worries. He loves golfing in the summer. Anyway, when we are there all together as a family, I know at least for that hour+ my children are not getting hurt or hurting anyone, and I can rest in him, and today was just the same, but a reminder of why we even have church....because Jesus rose from the dead. The Messiah did come, and He does live, and that's why we even have that safe place to go each week. I cry most times I go out of relief. We have a good God!
We went to Chris' folks to celebrate Easter. I had told a friend Sat night that it was nice that we were going, because we were "banned" from Christmas. And I really had high hopes for the day, but it didn't go so well. We did have about 3 hours, but it was tense. I did enjoy playing scrabble and 500, and we had a wonderful meal. But it could have been bitter herbs for what filled the atmosphere. I am not angry, only sad for my husband.
He was accused for saying something completely unlike him, and completely untrue, and shortly later we left quickly as a family while verbal trash was projected our way....
But we redeemed the day with baseball, another nap...and my favorite movie. I hope to put a link up to it. It is actually a children's movie, The Miracle Maker (about Jesus), but I watch it every year as a reminder of His nature and love for us, and to secure the scriptures for our children. It is full of them, in His words.
I'd have to say my favorite part of the day was talking with Sophia about the video clip of the woman at church today who never wanted to go to Church, but how she let God meet her where she was at. Sophia said it was such a relief to hear her talk, because the woman had such a horrible past. It was such a true, honest, meaningful conversation. My other favorite part was watching Jaclyn play with her little cousins rolling down the hill, and making dandelion crowns, and the boys playing baseball up in the field. The cousins knew how to make the most of a day off!
God is Good...He loves us, and there is nothing we can do to earn His love, or push it away, it's the same and more than we can imagine. We just need to let it in and believe it. Love from Alesia & Chris
PS...last year this time, we were putting in new wood, floors and moving. What a relief to actually be resting a bit! We are grateful, but know there is still much to do!
