Easter Weekend at home and at Deeda's old home place 4/4/10

Easter morning, April 4th, 2010... everything is ready for our "adventure" filled day!
"See Em, just take out one of the "e"s in the Reisen and you have it... "RISEN"...
THAT'S what this day is all about...
HE IS RISEN!
"I assure you!" how many times did He tell us that in Matthew 25-26?
The good Father prepares His children... "I ASSURE YOU"... you will be ready,
listen and KNOW that you are not orphans,
I am the good Shepherd and I care for my "sheep"!
We have some help as we start our trek to the prayer chapel this bright beautiful morning!
We find the markers and then the little tupperware cups with the "memories" inside.
Could there be one in here Poppy?... no there are no floating boxes!
They will all be on your "right".
Don't worry, you won't have to look in disgusting places to find the surprises!
There will be a blue cross to mark the area where you will find a surprise box.
Not only were there the markers, there was a path of wildflowers spread across the road
like rose petals on the bridal walk.
Everyone got to find a box... some had more help than they wanted!
The redbuds were bowers to the end of our journey...
ever in front of us like rosy fire in the skies.
After some family pics, we began the final two parts of our morning...
"do this in remembrance of ME"... Oh Jesus....
lest we ever forget... keep YOUR words on the hearts of our children who KNEW
the truth their parents speak always to them.
Your story of sacrifice was clear in each of their little hearts as we walked and talked
and opened each box.
Blessed are the feet of the one who brings good news...
YOUR WORD, OH GOD is the gospel we want written on our hearts.
I am thankful for the priests YOU'VE placed in my life. This one I love LORD,
and thank YOU most sincerely for the anchor he is to my life.
... and then for YOU to add these two... we are richly blessed with such diverse and
complimentary gifts! Thank YOU Father!

And now... LUNCH!
EE picked the cake.... PINK with "prinkles" all over the top!
ummmmm good.... but not so much the "prinkles"... just the cake!
Poppy thinks so too!
.... Playing in the sand is a universally fun activity... whether you are 9 or 2 years old!
Then off to Deeda's.... (Jiji and Bobo's family ranch)...
"I can see your place over there Em....you can see for MILES on a clear day!"
..."and that was once an old school house boys... moved to this valley"
... about 50 lbs of rocks were found and carried off the mountain on that hike!
Thanks PopT for carrying them for me!
This is certainly the way a boy would dress for an Easter hike up the mountain!
... and when the coals are just right... all the skewers go onto the grill...
KG made the most wonderful fruit salad...
and Hannah had the same idea as I with the veggies!

... just like the sand pile... make a bonfire and ALL the kids are happy!
... What a way to finish... SMORES... by the campfire!
.... and sweet sweet family time!
Thank YOU LORD for HOLY FIRE in our lives...
in our hearts....
and before our eyes!
You are the ONE WHO shows us the way and
ASSURES us of our place in this world.
You are the ONE WHO paid the price and gave us the right to be called sons.
THANK YOU LORD! YOU ALONE ARE GOD!
and YOU are good!