Happy Easter!

"I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." ~Matthew 28:5-6

Easter cake

This year, Tim and I decided to host Easter celebrations at our place.  We were blessed to have some of my family join us (which was great, because otherwise we would have been eating the food for the next few months).  My Dad, Aunt Judy, Uncle Jerry, Cousin Jeff, Cousin Christy, her husband Jason, and their kids Sadie and Titus came to celebrate and eat an awesome lunch (I'm not biased) of lamb, brisket, parmesan risotto, garlic green beans, butter muffins, salad, and my family recipe cookies and cake.  So now that all of your mouths are watering, maybe those of you that missed this year will come next year ;).

Our pretty table

The Chefs :)

After eating our scrumptious meal, we flocked to the grassy area behind our apartment building where my cousin Jeff and I slaughtered proceeded to cream the rest of our family at bocce ball.

It was a blessing to share this amazing day with my family.

He is risen!!!

Happy Birthday Lailey!

My Lailey-bug turned 2 years old on April 7th.  Her adoring fans friends and family showed up at the playground (where else?) to celebrate with her.  She enjoyed her second year of cupcakes and the many lovely gifts.

Driving Miss Birthday Girl on her scooter

Lailey sitting in her very own camping chair courtesy of Uncle Tim and Aunt Amy

Woody sitting in "Woody's seat"

Camping at Red Top Mountain

We brought in the month of April with a family camping trip to Red Top Mountain in Cartersville, GA!

Tim, Amy, Lailey, Sarah, and Davey

We settled into our campsite overlooking the lake after Tim walked around and scoped out all the other sites to make sure we had the best one...and we did. The picture doesn't really do the view justice, but we were up on a hill over-looking the lake. It was beautiful.

The lakeside view from our campsite

We set up Sarah's monstrosity of a tent, built a fire, and ate a very yummy dinner, courtesy of my very gracious sister, of Protestant chili & Catholic chili.

Catholic Chili = meatless, for a Friday during Lent of course! :)

We all hunkered down in the giant tent to sleep. Lailey had a blast playing in the tent, but when it came to sleeping in the tent, she wasn't so sure. It took some convincing, but when her head hit the pillow, she was gone. There is no sleeping in when a toddler is around, so we kept her entertained as long as we could from our warm sleeping bags.

Lailey playing with my headlamp

The weekend was filled with good food, good company, and good fun. Here are some pics.

Around the campfire

Mommy and Aunt Amy took Lailey to the playground

Lailey rode (and wore out) the "horsey"

Orienteering

We ended the weekend with some orienteering.

For more pics and details of the weekend, check out Sarah's blog.

No More Guilt

I have found myself, in recent years, shying away from gushing about my husband (could be that I didn't have a husband until recent years, but I digress).  There are those moments that EVERYONE wants to know about whether it's your family member or the waitress who just took your order...you know those moments...how you met...how you started dating...how you got engaged.  But then nobody seems to want to know what happens after that.  Is it because for a lot of people those moments end?

I've had this scenario happen to me several times:  I'm having a conversation with a group of women and our conversation sparks my memory about something wonderful my husband did for me.  So I proceed to tell the story that just popped into my head...and then it happens...I watch as their faces change to disappointment (or some other expression)...and slowly they disengage from the conversation and return back to their work or whatever they can to show they're done talking.  Several times it has seemed like they're disappointed with their own husbands so they just aren't interested in hearing about a great husband.  (I can say this because women are pretty verbal when it comes to...well, everything...and the subject of husbands comes up pretty easily, so you generally know when a husband is slacking in the romance department).  So what normally follows is that I feel guilty.....WHY???

Why should I feel guilty for  having such a wonderful husband?  I DON'T think I SHOULD.  I no longer want to feel guilty that I picked a good...excuse me...ROCKIN' husband.  God knows I prayed for a good one since...I don't know...I played with Barbie and Ken?  So no more.  My husband is an amazing man who has continued to give me several wonderful moments since we were married, and I WANNA SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP (I'm not gonna, cuz I live in a top floor apartment and the roof is a little high).

So here is my latest favorite from the wonderful things my hubby has done for me...story, sans guilt:

Words and love notes mean A LOT to me.  I recently wrote a couple of quotes on my side of the mirror for inspiration.  Over the past couple weeks my side of the mirror has completely filled up with messages from my husband (I had to move to his side to do my makeup).  Every couple days I've walked in to the bathroom to find another message that completely warms my heart and makes my eyes tear up.  I don't think he knew just how much it meant.

SO, ALL YOU (3) PEOPLE THAT READ MY BLOG!  I want to know some of your moments since you've been married...or started dating...or fell in love with Jesus (for the singles, oh wait, I don't think any of you read my blog, oh well).  I would love to hear about something wonderful your significant other did for you in the comments section....sans guilt.