Day 49

Easter Sunday. Easter is my most all-time favorite holiday. Christmas is good, but Easter holds the promise of expectation, renewal, redemption, and victory. I used to love going to the Sunrise Services when we were attending other churches because starting in darkness and ending the worship in the sunlight only heightened the celebration of praise. 
I took lots of pictures of our church this morning, but they are currently floating around in the air between my cell phone and my computer. I'll add them to the blog when I finally receive them.  (They arrived and I added two here and the rest on my facebook page, as well as a brief video of the choir singing)

We had a great Sunday School this morning. Peggy Hardacre mentioned how much she enjoys Wade's email updates. People still comment how surprised they are that Wade can write funny things! Also Sherry Shively asked about Wade too. 

Mike Parks taught a great class on the death and resurrec-tion of Christ. He showed a video clip of Steve Harvey speaking on how he would introduce Jesus if he was given the opportunity. It's on youtube, I believe - look it up. Then at the end of the time he showed another youtube video about Rick and Dick Hoyt. Dick is the dad - his son, Rick is a disabled quadraplegic. On a request from Rick, Dick started running races pushing his son in a wheelchair. His son felt a wonderful freedom from the experience, so his dad continued racing with him going on to marathons, and finally the ironman triathalon. He has participated in over 6 ironmans. Such an inspiring story. Lots of sniffling going on in the class this morning. 

@ 1985

Church was great this morning too. Andrew Angles was in church as well. He came home from the hospital on Good Friday and attended church. He is still in a wheelchair and he will be for quite a while, but he looks great. At the end of the service, the choir sang Handel's "Messiah". 

Pastor Mark said that most people associate that song with Christmas, but it was originally written to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. So he requested we all stand and experience this wonderful song at the proper time with the proper reverence. The choir did an awesome job. 

We had a nice Easter lunch - dinner after church today: roasted leg of lamb, turkey roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, potatoes au gratin, asparagus, rolls, deviled eggs, and for dessert we had a Cold Stone Creamery Cookie Dough Ice Cream Pie. So good. After dinner the kids went out hunting Easter Eggs. This year there were also eggs hidden down below and one held a coupon that could be redeemed for $10 but it hasn't been found yet. 
Wade had a good Easter too. He actually got mail today and received an Easter card from a friend of Tiffany's. This lady is wonderful and her ministry is sending cards and letters to uplift and encourage so many people. She is such a blessing. Wade appreciated it very much. He also received Starbucks mocha coffee packets so he can truly enjoy his coffee in the mornings now. He wrote that he feels he accomplished a lot today and is satisfied right now.
This afternoon I did a lot of nothing and that's partly because I know I have sooo much to do this week and I'm catching my breath before I have to take off "running" tomorrow morning. 

Happy Easter to all. 

He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!