Easter Festivities

We had such a nice Easter weekend! Eli and I started it off on Friday morning by making hot cross buns. This picture cracks me up. When I tell him to smile, he pokes out his chin and makes this open-mouthed wierd smile. So I said, "Put your chin down," and this is what I got. :) He loved making the buns with me, and I love the symbolism behind them. Plus they're tasty, too! :)



Next up was egg-dyeing. Eli loved this too.



On Saturday I drove to Waco to meet up with my dear friend Jenn, who was my roommate in college for a couple years and who is still such a precious friend to me! We got coffee, had deluxe pedicures, and ate a yummy lunch, complete with watermelon mojitos. :) It was so much fun to be together and just talk and laugh like always. I am so thankful for her and for this little break our husbands gave us to get away for a few hours together!

In the late afternoon my mom did the egg hunt for the kids, which they, of course loved! And after they all went to bed we had our annual "Easter egg relay" for us big kids. :) A good time was had by all. :)



On Easter morning Eli woke up and was thrilled to find that the Easter bunny did indeed fill his basket. He was most excited about this little green chick. He got a blue one last Easter that he carries around everywhere. The green one has joined his slew of beloved stuffed animals now, too, taking his place with Blue Chick, Lobster Bear, and Barney. :)



Our church had Easter brunch during the Sunday School hour, which was wonderful. Chuch was amazing, too, just so full of emotion and gratitude for what this day means.



Our best attempt at a photo with all the kids together- in church before they were all herded to their classes, extremely distracted by candy being offered nearby... :)




After church we had Easter dinner at my parents' house and then just spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and resting. It was a wonderful weekend.



We are overwhelmed with thankfulness for our Risen Savior, whose death and resurrection tore the veil in two and secured our access to God.

Victory Remains with Love

"O break, o break hard heart of mine!
My weak self-love and guilty pride
His Pilate and His Judas were.

Jesus our Lord is crucified.

O love of God, o sin of man,
In this dread act your strength was tried.
And victory remains with LOVE!
Jesus our Lord is crucified."

(from "O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile," lyrics originally by Frederick Faber)

Happy Easter to all of you! May you rejoice today that the victory is with the love of God, triumphant over all of our sin.

He is risen!

Jesus' House

I am so excited to see in Eli lately a real love for Jesus! I think I give him too little credit for how much he understands, just because his vocabulary isn't big enough to accomodate what he knows. :)

On Sunday in his children's church class they made a project that showed the kids' houses on one side and "Jesus' House" on the other side (cotton balls glued on a cloud). Since then, Eli has been saying so often, "Eli want to go to Jesus' house!" "Jesus come Eli's house!" It melts my heart! We've been talking about the fact that we can't see Jesus right now, but He can be with us always when He lives in our hearts.

Last night I was reading him a book about Easter, and Eli asked again when Jesus would come to our house. I told him that we can't see Jesus now, but we can talk to Him any time we want to, to tell Him when we're sad or happy or need help. Eli picked up the book, looked right at Jesus's picture, and said to it, "Jesus, come to Eli's house! I need help!" :)

He also said that he wants Jesus to live in his heart just like He lives in Mommy's heart and Daddy's heart, and those words brought tears to my eyes. I realize that he doesn't yet have a grasp on what "salvation" is, or what heaven or hell are, or even what "sin" is. But I love that my little boy loves Jesus, because that's a pretty great place to start.

My sweet Eli, may you always, always love Jesus with the simple purity you have now.

This Week

Spring is always so busy for us (trips, birthdays, events, etc.), and it feels like I'm always running hard just to keep up! We've been out of town for most weekends this spring, and so the weeks are just condensed forms of to-do lists and work! I've hated that feeling, and it all caught up with me this week.



But after some good times with the Lord and some wise encouragement from Eric and Sarah, I was able to whittle down my to-do list, get a little more sleep, and spend some much-needed quality time with Eli. Friday morning was one of the most relaxing and fun times Eli and I have had in a long time, and I'm so thankful! And then on Friday afternoon Eric stayed home with Eli and while I checked off a bunch of random errands. Top that off with an awesome at-home date on Friday night, and I felt like a new woman by the end of the week. :)



The weekend was nice, too. I helped host a baby shower for my dear friend Libby on Saturday morning. It turned out really well, and I was blown away once again by how awesome these ladies are that I get to share life with! We are so blessed to be in the church we're in, and I'm so thankful for the friendships we have there!

We spent the rest of the day working outside in the gardens (also very therapeutic for us!), and then today church was soooo good. It was honestly one of the best sermons I've ever heard! The afternoon was spent outside again, since the weather has perfect.

This is a terribly boring post, but I'm committed to posting semi-regulary for the sake of out-of-town family, so there you go. :) I hope everyone is doing well!

Martin Creek

We spent the long weekend at Martin Creek Lake State Park with my whole side of the family. We've been camping as a family for as long as I can remember, and the tradition has carried on now that we all have families of our own. We go once in the spring and once in the fall, and these weekends are always some of our favorite of the whole year. I just love being all together, outside, laughing and playing the weekend away.

A few pictures...

First, my nephew Charlie (the youngest). This boy loves being dirty like no kid I have ever seen. He's the sweetest, happiest, muddiest little kid you'll ever meet. :)



Next, my neice Jacey with Eli, digging in the dirt.



Our little family.



A little closer.



Of course, there was lots of fishing. (Eric caught some decent-sized bass, and Eli caught a ton of little perch and catfish, which is his dream come true!)



Eli and Cooper.



Flying a kite.



There was lots of swinging, fisbee-throwing, digging in the dirt, eating, playing in the lake, fishing, and watching the kids have the time of their lives. And it was ended each evening with Shiners around the fire after the kids were sound asleep, talking and laughing and feeling filled with gratitude for the family God has given us!

Tractors!

Friday was a big, exciting day for Eli. First, Eli and I got to go have breakfast at our favorite spot with our dear friend Susie. She (and her husband and kids!) were such big influences on us as we were growing up, and I'm so thankful for her continued impact in my life and now in Eli's as well! After breakfast we rode the trolley all around the Uptown area of Dallas, which we've never done before. Eli loved it- it was a "little train" to him, and he was so excited.

Then, after his nap, we went to visit another dear couple from our church who have been so important in our lives for so many years now. The Yarbroughs have a little farm out east of here, and they invited Eli to come and ride around on their tractor, as his potty-training present. I don't think Eli has been more excited about anything in his life!

Riding the tractor with Mr. Bob.... (Notice that Mr. Bob's hands are not even on the wheel- he let Eli drive all around the farm!)



The Yarbroughs' neighbors breed race horses, so we got to go over and see a 2-week old baby horse, up close and personal!



After chasing the goats all around in an attempt to pet them, Eli rode the four-wheeler all around with Mr. Bob, another first for him.



And after dinner we fished in the pond. Eli caught a couple baby catfish, which was good enough for him! :)



We are so very thankful for the Yarbroughs and their impact in our lives. We had such a fun evening with them, and I don't think Eli will ever forget his first tractor ride!