Easter Weekend at a Glance

Over Easter, our family met up with my parents and siblings in the Smokey Mountains.  We kids had put this surprise together a long time ago for my parents, who both turned 60 last year.  We gave them clues to the vacation at both of their birthdays, Christmas and on their anniversary in January.  It was a wonderful way to honor and celebrate them.  Here are a few of my favorite snapshots of our weekend in Townsend, Tennessee.  

These girlies were ready for bed before we ate supper.  All of the kids were excited to share the bunk bed in the basement.

Henry meets Uncle Lyndon.

 The pause for prayer before meal time. 

Luca!  What a great kid.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of her with her pajamas on backwards.  Her mama knows how to keep her from taking them off!

Terror in the dark, slippery cave.  OK, only my terror!  I was afraid one of the kids would slip and fall to death or dismemberment.  Here we were throwing coins into a wishing well, and it was safe to release my death grip on the railing in order to use the camera.

But doesn't it look just a little creepy? Cool, but creepy.

It took Jack a few days to warm up to cousins he doesn't see very often.  By Sunday morning, he was inviting them into his inner sanctum to play with his tractors.

Three little princesses.

Well, hello there, Handsome!!

Grandpa loving on his grandbabies.  

The girls.  We missed you, Sarah!

My Mommy!

Mom and Dad.

Jack minding his own personal space before church.

Sweet little Deacon.

The Easter egg hunt in Cade's Cove.  Who gets to do THAT?!  How incredible!

Me and my honey.

And the grandkids getting their surprises from Grandpa and Grandma--Easter candy!!  Who doesn't smile for Easter candy?

Happy Easter

I couldn't post my Easter greetings on the actual day, since I was tucked away in a cabin in the Smokies, unplugged from the electronic world and surrounded by family--parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews--and having a wonderful, relaxing time of it, although I did fear for the lives of my children while we toured a dark and slippery cave.

Here's a recurring theme:  when our family takes a vacation, I don't realize how badly we need it until it's almost time to pack up and come home.  Right now, the last load of laundry is in the washer, but my heart is still watching the sunrise in Tennessee.  The kids are low-key today too, which is such an undeniable blessing.  Owen ran through the house in his underwear, looking for his uniform.  Helen spent a good twenty minutes quietly fussing at her footwear to feel right, and in between adjustments of her socks, she played with a comb.  Jack played alone in and around the farm's semi parked outside (with permission.)  Henry napped and is napping.

Busy day or lazy day, may you experience the power of Christ's resurrection in your lives!  That is the reminder of Easter--the hope of real and glorious new life in spite of our circumstances.