Dell Express: March 2013

My windows are open, the birds are chirping, and the sun is shining this afternoon after a wonderful rain in the middle of the night. It has been a special family day together, with some productivity in the yard and special Easter celebrations in the morning. I’ll post several pictures from this morning in a moment.

I’ve been reminiscing a bit these last days. My mom always made Easter (and every holiday) so special with many little touches. I walked into a store the other day to pick a little craft up for Dellen’s class party, and suddenly realized I had nothing planned for the boys. I decided I better get in gear and buy some eggs and dye and something for a little basket for each of them. Since our move, we’ve not even participated in any community egg hunts, etc. These years are fleeting and I better be a little more intentional in making some memories. Memories like the ones my mom made. I have a picture in my head of us girls with Mom on our grandparents’ farm wearing our Easter best, including new Easter hats. Big egg hunts. Mom hiding the colored eggs from the day before. Dad hiding plastic eggs with hidden chocolates and delicious candy. I got out a plastic table cloth to use today and it reminded me of the decorative plastic table cloths my grandma always had on her table. The thunder woke me last night, reminding me of the storms my other grandma and I used to watch looking out across the prairie while we sat on the picnic table eating popcorn. I miss my grandmas. But, I am happy picturing them celebrating Easter with our Risen Lord.

I love Easter’s hope. I’m so thankful for Jesus’ sacrificial death for my sins, and celebrate His resurrection. What would life be without Easter? I hope each of us can be intentional in pointing others to the cross and sharing the hope of our Risen Savior.

As for this morning, our sweet neighbor brought over a fresh warm loaf of bread that she had just made, greeting us with “Happy Easter”! I decided I wanted our family to celebrate communion using this beautiful loaf of bread. We ran to the store and bought some grape juice. And so after coloring our eggs, Russ read aloud the story of the Last Supper and we ate and we drank, celebrating the body and blood of our Redeemer, His death and His resurrection.

I’m so very thankful, and the list goes on and on.

The palm branches are from the children’s processional into church on Palm Sunday last week. Dellen wanted Strider in the picture. Believe me, I’m strongly debating whether to include the following picture. It’s not like they were posing for me. Rather, they are being silly boys, and I caught them goofing off as I was taking sentimental pictures. Just after snapping the picture, Sam poured grape juice all over the table. Good thing for that plastic table cloth like Grandma’s. “Oops,” he said, “I didn’t know anything was in the cup!” I hope we can be intentional knowing what its all about.

My brother, Ryan, and his fiancé, Amanda, came for a visit last week. I’ve (we’ve) all missed them so much since they left. With Ryan being 16 years younger than myself and having spent many summers with us in Oklahoma, I find my love for him mixed between a love for a brother and love for a child. It is fierce, and after Ryan and Amanda left, I truly felt I had a small taste of what the empty nest will be like when my boys leave home.

We played lots of games, went bowling, walked on the trails, did an engagement photo shoot (I was strongly discouraged from sharing those pictures quite yet), and finished Amanda’s wedding bouquet. A good mix of time spent together and some adult time when the boys were at school. Of course, Russ was working but benefitted from some flexibility to his days.

Hope they can return soon. Thanks for coming and love you both so very much!