The Backyard Gang: Christ Has Risen!

He has risen, indeed!!! Happy Easter! We've had a very long weekend celebrating our Risen Christ, but I couldn't let the day go by without a few words of thanks and, you know me, a handful of pictures of some gorgeous kids that I happen to call my own!

Thank you to the Hoffman Family for inviting us to their lovely home on Saturday! We were all treated to a family favorite, Cecil Whittaker's Pizza as well as my kids' favorite, fresh fruit and cookies! Nathan was especially excited because Shannon (Momma of the Hoffman Crowd) ordered an entire gluten-free pizza for him! After an afternoon of playing with the Hoffman boys, a fun game of football, and a few brief games of hoops, we all packed up and headed out to Windsor Crossing Community Church http://www.wcrossing.org/home.asp. This is the most Spirit-filled church! We have been before, and couldn't wait to go again. All of "the littles" went to Sunday School while Anita and Nathan got to go to the church service with the mom and dad crowd. The music hit a chord with me (pun intended) and had me really rejoicing at all of the miracles God has brought my way. I loved watching Nathan sing along with the congregation while pretending to play the drums and guitars with the instrumentalists and praise band singers on the stage. You can hear the song he was singing/rocking to at youtube ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2KNvuscKRA .

Today we had a great family day. The kids and I got up with good intentions of going to church again, but opted for a day of hanging out together in jammies until it was time to head to Grandpa's for dinner. We all made angel food cake, sliced strawberries, devilled eggs, and special gluten-free cupcakes for Nathan. We all piled onto the couch and watched Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" until it was time to dress up in our Easter best and head to Papa's house for an Easter Egg Hunt and our family's traditional Easter Dinner.

My kids asked me to send a special thank you to their grandfather, Papa, their "special grandparents" Grandma and Zedo, as well as their "Florida Grandma W and Grandpa W" for the wonderful Easter gifts. They are working on thank you cards to let you know how they have decided to spend their Easter money! Grandma, Zedo, and Florida Grandma "W" and Florida Grandpa "W", I would also like to thank you for loving my children like you do. Your generosity, and the love that you show us means the world to me. My children have learned that it isn't about biological ties, but ties of the heart, that make people a part of your family. My children don't have the biological ties that so many children are blessed to have, and there are times they hurt because they feel like a part of them is missing. But, your love and kindness step in and fill them with a "belonging". There is never any question in their minds that they are loved by some very special people who love them not because they are family and they have to, but simply because they are who they are. Thank you for giving that to my little angels. (Well, MOST of the time I call them my angels, but you know what I mean!)

I have been blessed to have this Easter, and pray that I have many many more with my children, family and friends. I couldn't ask for anything more.

May the love of our Risen Jesus Christ fill you, not just this holiday, but all year through!