Easter Saturday!

This year we had our Easter "feast" on Saturday night before Easter and I have to say that I think we might have started a new tradition! It was an amazing night and what I liked most about it was that it didn't feel rushed and overwhelming. (You know how Easter Sunday can feel with church, cooking and running here and there) It was perfect! We had some of our friends up to the house. We started of the evening with the guys running to the store (it seems that something is always forgotten) and then the meal. We found out during the prayer for the meal that our friends, Adam and Arissa, are expecting there first child. Adam "threw us all off" when he mentioned God blessing the baby that was growing in Arissa. We all thought that he had meant to say Casey, which is our other friend that is due at the beginning of July but as we all processed what he had said, we all were soooo excited for them!!!! The dinner was a yummy ham dinner with all the fixings. (Thank you everyone for pitching in and bringing your part!)

After dinner, we sat around and chatted about different things. It is always fun to get together with friends and just hang out and catch up on life. After awhile, we had an Easter egg hunt. (Jonathan and I had hidden some eggs in the house). Once all the eggs were found (there were 12), we sat around and opened them one by one. These were special eggs. Each plastic egg had something in it to represent the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ. For instance, one had a piece of leather that represented the whip that He was beaten with...another one had three nails in it to represent the nails that were used to nail Him to the Cross...another had 30 cents in it to represent the 30 pieces of silver that was given to Judas...and so on. As each person opened their egg they talked about what was in their egg and what it meant to them. We opened eleven of the eggs and the eleventh egg was a piece of bread. At this time, we all took communion together. It was really powerful. Adam started singing this beautiful song as we were all sitting there. It was incredible. After we were done praying (and singing), Jonathan opened the twelfth egg. It was empty...to represent the Empty Tomb and the Risen King. It was amazing. The power of God was very powerful.

I know that Jonathan and I have started a new tradition that will carry on in the years to come. We are very thankful for all of our friends that were able to spend that special night with us. We are thankful for each and everyone of you. We are also thankful for our friends and family that live too far away for us to get together. We are blessed that God has put each and every one of you in our lives. Thank you for making our lives "richer". :o) We love you all!!!!!

(Pictures to come!!!)