We had a great time at Easter! We actually got to head down to dad and mom's sooner than we had planned. After a trip to the beauty shop on Thursday night (which was slightly traumatizing), we picked up Jessica and Ryan and headed to OK. We didn't get to leave until 8:30 and got to Poteau about 12:30 a.m. We were very thankful for the Lord's protection on they way down there. I always dread traveling at night and being responsible for someone else children, but He was there with us every step of the way!!
We woke up Friday morning and we just stayed at dad and moms and waited for everyone else to come in. Dad came up with some games for the kids to play. This one below was fun. It was a gun that he brought from Peru. You blew into the end of it and a little sharp stick came out and so we all took turns popping balloons. Even yours truly got in on the action and I'm proud to report I didn't hurt anyone and I actually popped a balloon.
On Saturday we got all the eggs prepared to hide. We hid 2.5 dozen of hard boiled eggs and 60 dozen filled plastic eggs. We only had 8 kids hunting eggs so they each got to hunt almost 100 eggs a piece. CRAZY!!! We always hide that many though. And it is so much fun.
Here we are waiting for the kids to arrive. We always make them go to the park and play while we hide eggs. It takes a while to hide that many.
And here are the kids coming in.
Trinity had to climb up on a ladder to find one of her eggs!
And here's Papa helping McKenna with all her eggs. She didn't have time to get a new carton!
Saturday night we were all sitting in mom and dad's living room. Talking and having a great time. We were playing games that Grandma Murray had taught my mom and aunts. They were so much fun. We didn't need video games, board games, card games, etc. We didn't have to be entertained by t.v. We had a great time just being together and playing "old" games. Then we sent the kids outside to play flash light tag and run some of their sugar high off. The "adults" stayed inside and my aunt went to the keyboard and started playing every hymn she could think of. We laughed, cried, reminisced, and cried some more. It was such a great moment. I couldn't help but think of my Grandma Murray in heaven. I know she would've been so proud to have her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids singing about the TRUE reason behind Easter. Don't get me wrong, she loved the Easter egg hunt just as much as the kids, but she made sure we always knew the true meaning of Easter.
Sunday morning I got up early, and Ron, Mom and I were the only ones up. We were teasing mom about her useless potato peeler. She said it was a great peeler and that she loved it. Ron told her it was worthless and that it wouldn't cut anything. So mom said that she could peel her potato with her peeler faster than Ron could with his peeler he liked. So the race was on.
And the winner was RON!! ha!! Mom about died!!!!!! She couldn't believe that Ron beat her and her precious peeler!! Priceless!!
We had a wonderful Easter Service. Jessica, McKenna, Ryan, Zach, Trinity, Sabrina, and Hunter got up at the beginning of the service and sang "He Knows My Name". It was so sweet and KK was so proud of them. They sound great together. Then our whole family that was there (22 of us) got up and sang "Ten Thousand Angels" and the presence of the Lord was very overwhelming. There were more tears. Then Dad, Mom, Ron and I sang "Carried Away". Dad had said that this church was kind of low key and they didn't get very excited. Well, apparently they wanted to make my dad a liar because they were clapping and waving their hands and smiling. Mom said you could have knocked her over with a feather, she was so shocked. My dad then preached a wonderful messages about choices. He said that the biggest choice he had made that day was what way to part his hair this morning. Um.. yeah, my dad doesn't have any hair. He's so silly. But then he talked about making the choice to accept Christ as Personal Savior. And talked about
GRACE! G-God's R-Riches A-At C-Christ's E-Expense. It was a wonderful service.
We got home and took some pictures. Here's Ron's Family.
And here is Jessica and Ryan
And Boyd and I
And then 3 out of 4 of us kids. Rob had to go back Saturday night.
Then we all got ready to head home. Here is Trinity, Uncle Darrel (holding Mr. Quacker) and Papa.
And our ride home was a little noisier than coming down. Boyd bought 2 ducks, and 10 chicks. This is Sunshine the duck.
I hope you all had a very blessed Easter. Thank you God for sending your Son to die on the cross for me. During the times I feel alone and I am not sure that You are there, help me to remember that I am on Your mind, even when You were on the cross, I was on Your mind.
One last thing, I've been noticing a sign at a church that I drive by every day on my way to work. I noticed last week that it said, Funeral for Jesus April 4th. Then Sunday I noticed that in BIG red letter it said, CANCELED, HE'S ALIVE!!! AMEN!!!
Sounds like you had a great Easter Day! Oh how I wish I could have heard your family sing Ten Thousand Angels! I know you've heard me say it before and I think I've worn everybody at church out talking about it, but I remember when your mom and dad were dating, when I was around 10 or 11 maybe? Anyway, I thought they were just so great, they got up there and sang a song! That in itself impressed me, but then that song really got to me too! Maybe not right at that moment, although I do remember thinking, "Wow! Jesus could have had angels to come get Him and He didn't!" But then later (like years) I would think of that song and that message and it was like a revelation! I thank God every time I think of them singing that song, they planted a seed of hope in me that day that finally sprouted and grew! Thank God for your family! Love Ya all! P.S. Sorry this is so long,it's almost a blog itself!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this! I LOVED reading it. You've blessed with a wonderful, close family. By the way, you look so beautiful! Are those heels????????? :)
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