Easter Sunday

Jackson, Brianna, and Jonathan

What a blessing to celebrate Easter Sunday, the remembrance of Christ's resurrection, with a roomful of people that I deeply love.  As we stood in the circle to pray I was truly overcome with love for these people; my family, all.  As Daddy gave thanks for the eternal meaning of the day, I silently added my thanks for the gift of seeing even a portion of the love our Heavenly Father has for us reflected in the faces of those around that circle.

We all met at Julie's house after church for our Easter celebration.  By the time everyone brought in their dishes of food, we had a true feast!  We all found a place at a table and enjoyed a yummy lunch and engaging conversation.   It was a joy to have not only the B family with us this year, but also Shonda's parents, Peggie and Earl.

Brianna, Jackson and Brenda

Cody, Alaina, Peggie, and Earl

Jeremy

Sylvia and Brenda

Julie and Betty

Marvin and Matt

Diane, Daddy, Mama, Julie, Sylvia, Betty, Brenda

Brianna, Jackson, Jeff, Megan, Jonathan, Melina

Alaina, Peggie, Earl, Shonda, Marvin

Julie was excited that Peggie loves hot tea!

Brenda checking out the dessert table!  :)

Anna and Brenda

Beautiful Sylvia

Julie, Sylvia, and Laura

After lunch the 'kids' headed outside for various activities including kite flying.  What an absolutely lovely day we were blessed with!  The wind was a bit fierce, but that made for more interesting kite flying!  :)

Cody, Anna, and Matthew chalk drawing

flying kites

Brianna with her Grandpa Earl

Jeremy

Laura, Marvin, Jonathan, Jackson, Brianna, Alaina, Cody, Shonda, Peggie, Jeremy, Earl

Daddy, Matt and I hid the eggs for the traditional Easter egg hunt.  Brianna found all 12 of her eggs (purple, of course!) first.  She then slyly smiled and pulled 2 of Jackson's blue eggs out of her pocket. :)  She had grabbed a couple of his so that he couldn't beat her.  ha!!  This truly made me laugh out loud.  :)

Jeff, Megan, Rojina, Jonathan, Jackson, Brianna, Alaina, Melina, Matthew, and Cody in front.   :)

and they're off!!!

on the hunt for eggs...

Alaina and Brianna

Rojina

You never know what you will find in a plastic egg!  :)

onlookers   :)

Megan and Brianna -
#2 and #1 finishers of the day!

Matthew and Cody

Rojina

Anna wasn't feeling well so Matthew was tasked with finding all 24 of their eggs.  He made an impressive showing and gathered them all in record time.  :)

Matthew

Alaina

Cody

Matthew was giving hints to Melina about where to find an egg...

Melina

Rojina, Megan, Melina, Jeff, Jonathan, Alaina, Matthew, and Cody
(Jackson and Brianna were back at Julie's by this time)

By the time I got around to taking a group photo, several of our group were gone!  But, thankful I got a photo with these fine folks.  I love them all!!

Not even our whole crew!  front row - Brenda, Jeff, Megan, Melina, Jonathan.  2nd row - Alaina, Cody, Jackson, Brianna, Shonda.  Standing - Daddy, Rojina, Marvin, Jeremy, Julie, Earl, Peggie.

 front row - Brenda, Jeff, Megan, Melina, Jonathan.  2nd row - Alaina, Cody, Jackson, Brianna, Shonda.
Standing - Rojina, Marvin, Jeremy, Julie, Laura, Earl, Peggie.

Poor Jeff never could find his 12th egg. But, with the way the wind was howling and the fact that we had a couple of 'helper' doggies (Declan and Scooter), that egg could be just about anywhere.  I loaded him up with some extra jelly beans back at Julie's house so help soothe the pain.  ;)

UPDATE!!  We located Jeff's 12th egg on Monday!  It was under Julie's bed, empty!  (that is the room where we stuffed all the eggs on Sunday.  It must have rolled under there.)  We presented it to him as a memento.  :D

You can see an entire album of photos from the day by clicking here.