Easter Weekend

Way back at Christmas we were all supposed to go out and visit our California family. However, a plague swept the house and we were all too sick to travel. To help ease the disappointment of our absence, we promised to try again at Easter. And we did!

We like to celebrate Holy Week, the week before Easter. So we decorate our wall and do a little lesson every night. Townshend was all into it this year; anticipating what we'd do each night which made it even more fun.

It was a pretty quick visit, just a few days.. but these are my favorite people to travel with. So, we flew out and it was a beautiful day.

There was actually a little extra excitement as they were loading up the luggage for the flight. We happened to be at a gate at the end of the terminal, so we got a good view of the whole process. So it was that we happened to be watching as our stuff was going up the little ramp and one of the car seats fell off!

You can see it underneath, by the wheels. Happily, it was the light one and there was no damage done. However, there were a few harrowing minutes when we weren't sure if anyone had noticed (beside the crowd inside watching). A couple people walked past without grabbing it, but it got picked up and tucked safely inside, and all was well.

Turns out, this airline has little screens on the back of each seat so each passenger gets to select whatever they want to watch. We brought headphones for the kids and they were pretty entertained. Looks like, if we fly with them again, I won't have to pack so many toys!

The folks we were visiting live a little ways from the airport, but the views were lovely! Southern California is a pretty place, it was greener than I expected. Eventually we made our way to meet up with family. It was so fun to watch the cousins playing; kids always do well together.

Entertaininly, it was warmer back in the Midwest than it was in southern California that weekend. Happily, that meant it was lovely and not scorching. So, we made the most of it and spent a good deal of time outdoors.

At parks:

And a cool duck pond:

Sadly, all good things must end and back home we went.

We tried to keep on our schedule, to stay in the Central time while out on the west coast however, in the end, all the travel took its toll..

Still, while not always without its difficulties, visiting family is good stuff!

Why Seek Ye the Living Among the Dead?

Can you imagine the utter joy Mary must've felt to hear the angels say: He is not here, He is risen.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

How frustrating it must have been for them when, to most of the apostles, their words seemed as idle tales, and they believed them not. But Peter (after the rough night he'd just passed), I imagine him filled with hope and unutterable yearning for their words to be true, ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Hopefully I can keep in my heart a similar hope and yearning to know Christ better, and to really follow His example; in the way described by Madeleine L'Engle:

"We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it."