I got joy...

...paused at the top of the steps this morning ~ listened to the melody of 3 voices downstairs (sigh)


...the sun is shining bright


...the air feels cool & clean today


...my morning detour took me over Lake Johnson ~ memories (sigh)


...the forecast for the weekend looks AWESOME


...saw my favorite license plate ever this morning "I got joy!" ~ thought to myself, "me too!"


Happy WACDD :)

Easter 2011

A lil' video from the weekend :)

Redeeming things about the weekend...Easter edition

Then Jesus said,
“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 17:40

We hope that everyone had a blessed and redeeming Easter weekend. Ours was full of blessings and joyful reminders that we serve a living God. As John told us several times last week, "Jesus pushed that stone away" ~ he certainly did :)

Although it took till Saturday afternoon for the sun to finally break through the clouds there was a peace and warmth that filled our home this weekend. Adding a day to the weekend, being together, anticipating the arrival of the Easter bunny - all things culminating Sunday morning, sitting in church, hearing the familiar scriptures & singing the hymns about our risen Saviour - our Easter was very blessed.

The camera didn't find it's way into our hands a whole lot this weekend, but we did capture some "fun things" here & there...

Putting on our "game face" at the Easter egg hunt



Being the ring leader of NOT paying attention to "Bun Bun's" Easter story (truth be told, I'd have rather been jumping around kicking dirt too)...even leading Pastor Jeremy's kid "astray"



Destination "Egg Hunt"



On your mark...ready...set...



Post egg hunt, John's bucket was +1 egg...he didn't care about picking up eggs :) actually took some out of his bucket...geez



post egg-hunt, babies asleep, commencement of "waiting on the sun to shine saturday" on the back porch...

waiting games ~ rummy



waiting beverages ~ typical BL smooth and mama's "egg hunt survival quick-grab at the lowe's food", aka Miller Chill (and you have to say it real cool-like for maximum effect)



Lo & behold, here's comes the sun :)



Sun's out, babies are up...commence family-style porchin'



New dinosaurs :)



Belly surfin' ~ sweet Ella Bella dressed in yella' :)



Fresh corn & salad greens (shucking and tossing right there on the back porch)...bring on those fresh summer veggies :)



Mr. Independent completing his big dinosaur puzzle ALL BY HIMSELF :)



Easter Bunny surprises :)



"The Easter bunny came to our house...he went home to see his mommy & daddy!"



Enjoyin' the Easter mornin' view while enjoyin' my freshly ground (thanks darlin') coffee...



1st Easter ~ 1st time at church ~ 1st dress, "Be Happy"



A delicious fried food, tea-filled Easter lunch courtesy of Smithfield's after church ~ John excitedly, "we going to the big rescont?!" :)



A yummy Easter supper, mostly for Deddy, courtesy of Mama - told him if anybody asks what the Easter Bunny brought him, he could say meat loaf :)
**at the time of this post, he's yet to be asked...there's still time, ha**

Ending our day with a walk around the neighborhood and a little meandering before bath time - basking in the blessings of a wonderful Easter Sunday. Finding peace and hope because of our Saviour's redeeming love.

On my drive in this morning, passing the devastation that came through our town just a short week ago...I could see "light". The signs of rebuilding - the air of hope & moving forward. I noticed a laundry line full of clothes, blowing in the wind behind a house that was less than intact. I could almost hear, "life goes on" being echoed...

It's a beautiful Easter Monday here in the Oak City :). Feeling renewed and at peace today. On my way back from my Monday lunch w.Seth, couldn't help but smile at the song playin' ~ I couldn't have said it better...

It's such a pretty world today - look at the sunshine...

Have a blessed week!

Blessed things about the weekend...

First & foremost - we are ok...

We are all safe...our house is still standing...our lil' existence was unscathed by the storm that wreaked havoc in parts of our city & in neighboring counties.

Since our TV's not on much, I chance turned it on Saturday afternoon. I heard the all too familiar emergency beeping. I listened and the fear entered. I went upstairs to get Seth. We started "preparing" - we closed blinds, we got stuff down outside, we stayed glued to the TV. As we heard familiar roads/areas announced, saw colors on the radar we'd never seen, saw where our home is on the map - storms coming towards us on either side...we waited...and we waited. We got the flashlights, we put some pillows in the bathroom, John cuddled on my lap (not saying a word), Seth brought Ella downstairs. We watched and we waited. It passed right by us...we were fortunate...so many were not.

So the blessed part of the weekend - that our family & our home were spared, that's what is heavy in my heart this morning. Driving into work, seeing the devastation as you come into town...looking like a war zone - traffic slowed to a funeral procession pace, taking it all in...I'm just further thankful. I'm thankful and horrified all in the same breath...devastation and destruction so close to home - very hard to process. Hard not to ask "why" - "why them and not us"...

In looking through pictures from the weekend - ones taken in moments where we weren't fearing for our safety, in one way I feel they are mundane and maybe a lil' indulgent. But by and large I feel they are "us". They capture details of moments...they capture the essence of how we live...appreciating the small things - the nuances - the time spent together. It's our token way of counting and capturing the lil' blessings all around...

Our "small things" looked a lil' like this...

A reason to smile just by the return address



Having appropriate "mail reading beverage" on hand



"Our kinda people" (amen to that) ~ there's not many of us around...thanks Margaret for reminding me what a special breed we are :) love you bunches!



TGIF Mama ~ yes dear, it sure is ~ happy faces all around :)



Some of us celebrate by slathering our face with food :)



Skipping the normal weekly jaunt to the grocery store for a "date night" spread via the Fresh Market (swoon)...starting with a "real" bottle of wine...no "2 buck chuck" to be found :)



Enjoyin' a lovely candle-lit dinner for two



just for the occasion playlist ~ "bLu"



A most yummy dessert ~ a too many ingredients to name slice of cheesecake



Finishin' off the evening w.some porchin', a 2nd bottle of wine (had to get out the 2 buck chuck) and a swisher sweet...parts 2 & 3 of that were hindsight stupid :)



Saturday morning egg hunts at church



Enjoyin' our spoils as we moved "stations"



After a wonderful lunch at Smithfield's, enjoyin' the balloon weight Teddy Grahams at home...balloon was also thoroughly enjoyed (although popping of said balloon was threatened a number of times)



Proudly displaying John's Easter craft from the hunt...my lil' buddy was a rock star at craft time (sigh)...by his account, "I made a purty flower!"



New shoes! That we even want to wear to bed :)



Big Brother/Lil' Sister bonding :)



Wanting to enjoy the calm after the storm ~ getting out for a Sunday morning stroll



The whole family :)



Outdoor dining :)



Boo boo icing...quite comical :)



Soakin' up bright as sunshine smiles via our sweet Ella Bella :)





"Ribbittt"



A boy & a toad...the boy was certainly having a good time :)



FINALLY hangin' some pics of our lil' sweet pea ~ yes, it was level



Deddy ~ he's more fun than you know :)



Re-purposed flowers being demoted, I mean relocated to bask in the sunlight & enjoyed on the porch :)



Glorious sunshine ~ a beautiful calm after the storm



Awesome temps ~ instigated a lot of time well wasted :)



More outdoor dining, a last minute, but good decision



Welcome...Relax...Serenity ~ sure earmarks to a beautiful Sunday spent enjoying the day & each other



Peace ~ a feeling in our hearts as we went to bed last night...safe & sound in our home, our babies sleeping footsteps away, having each other to hold there in the dark - the value of peace is immeasurable...

Continuing to count our blessings today. Saddened by the imagery that is sure to haunt us for many weeks and months to come. Praying for those less fortunate - hoping they find peace amidst their despair.

Reminded once again how precious each day and moment are. In a moments time - everything could be lost...our shelter, our loved ones. Days and moments aren't meant to be wasted...by and large, they are really all we have. The intangibles - those are life's real gifts.

Riding on the roller coaster of life as of late, I ventured into The Little Art Gallery in Cameron Village a couple of weeks ago. Plopped down all too familiarly on the stool and took to flipping through the prints. The one I walked away with was "Invitation"...

It is not what you think, this reaching across the generations. There is no effort of will, no fierce glare in the face of the sideways dance of everyday. There is only the quiet house each morning, filled with soft breathing while you hold your tea in the cool air & always that moment when your love spreads a cloth upon the table & invites the whole day in again.

A good, loving reminder to "invite" each day in...to revel in the "dance of everyday"...to bask in the "quiet"...it really is that simple.

Again, just counting blessings today and every day.

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Have a blessed week.