Easter is here

Leavin' on a jet plane...

This was my "travel to Fairbanks" outfit. Oh, so comfortable. My favorite white button up, a scarf that doubles as a neck rest on the plane, boots with an actual working zipper (because on my last flight the zipper zipped right off the back of the boot in TSA and I had to walk around Seattle flopping), and my glasses, that are glaring like crazy from the window. But hey, that means we have sunshine. And I am 100% ok with that.

Easter weekend with the Walls was short, but splendid :) We got into town just in time for dinner... Calzones. Go figure. Stephen's favorite. Have I mentioned he's a bit of a momma's boy? ;) After, the four of us enjoyed a walk down to the island to see the new plane! It was such a beautiful evening! And it's a pretty spiffy plane, Jeff! (There may or may not have been snow ball fights on the way back to the house.... There may.)

Saturday was our "let's be lazy and enjoy each other" day. So we did just that :) We took our time getting up and around, talk, talk, talking the whole time. Jeff and Stephen went out for a flight in the new plane, while Sherri and I boiled 36 eggs (24 too many) and chatted away like girls. When the boys got back we put our art skills to the test! All 36 were complete and beautiful! Though mine were maybe slightly more beautiful than the others ;) When Jeff went off to preach at Saturday night service, the three of us headed to the movie theater to see The Hunger Games! I know I'm a few weeks behind everyone else saying this... But it was so good! Obviously a little different from the book, but I thought it was just about as good as it could get. Sherri miiiight have screamed (and I mean screamed!) when the dogs came out! I was laughing too hard to be scared :) Thai food for dinner (of course), an Easter basket scavenger hunt, and catch phrase with the parents to end the day.

And finally, Easter...

Stephen and I cuddled in bed Saturday night to read the Easter story from the book of John, the perfect way to fall asleep, then got to wake up next to my love with the sun shining through the window on the day Jesus rose from the dead... The perfect morning :) After a yummy breakfast we headed off to church! Can I just say, I think I would live in Fairbanks for the people alone. We loved getting to see everyone! The whole Sanders clan, Kathie, Brian, Floyd, the Cory's... What a great group of people :) The church was packed! And Jeff delivered an amazing sermon on joy and Ben and the worship team blew us all away (as usual!) So many people to see and hug and talk with, it took us awhile to get out of there! But we made our way back to the Walls for lunch with the Barneys and Sanders and I loved the extra time with sweet baby Emmett :) After our not so sad goodbyes (it's hard to be sad on such a beautiful day with such an amazing thing to celebrate! ...Knowing we'll be back in a month may have helped, too), we headed off to the airport and on our way home! (Thank you, Ben and Amanda, for picking us up!) It was the perfect weekend away :)

I am so happy to be here, celebrating this special day! It was exactly one year ago today that I nervously and excitedly, with tears in my eyes, handed Stephen a piece of paper in church while listening to Death in His Grave that read, "I believe He died for us." A belief I continue to give thanks for... Thank you, Jesus, for carrying our sins, my sins, on the cross. Thank you for coming and showing us grace, grace we don't deserve. Thank you for saving us from the death you had to endure. Thank you, thank you, thank you...

"So three days in darkness slept, The Morning Sun of righteousness, but rose to shame the throes of death and over turn his rule. Now daughters and the sons of men would pay not their dues again. The debt of blood they owed was rent when the day rolled a new.
On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King. Laid down in grief, but awoke holding keys to Hell on that day. The first born of the slain, the Man Jesus Christ, laid death in his grave.
He has cheated Hell and seated us above the fall. In desperate places He paid our wages. One time once and for all"