Easter - April 8, 2012 - with family at my house -
the house where I was supposed to move to with my husband when he retired - but instead our children and I will be moving to because of the death of my husband and their father -
the house where my mom's family and we have celebrated a total of 6 Easter Sundays together starting in 2006 - I always drove from wherever our parsonage was at the time because Rob was always sleepy from getting up to do the Sunrise Service (okay - who are we kidding - I always drove anyway because Rob was ALWAYS sleepy no matter when he got up :)
2012 made the 7th Easter Sunday celebration at that house -
it was the first one since Rob's death.
but as the day progressed and memories persisted, I kept thinking that for Rob, this was his first Resurrection Sunday with our Jesus
those thoughts made it so much more of a glorious Sunday in my mind that matched what was a glorious day it was outside
it was a beautiful day and I walked around my property that day as I was preparing for and watching all of the activities and thanked God again for His sovereignty and His provision
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we gathered and we ate
my aunt wore the necklace she wore in my wedding. it matched mine exactly except each bridesmaid had a pendant to hook onto hers that matched the color of her dress. It reminded me of my "Precious Pearls" post from March (i need to learn how to link them)
we celebrated my Wesley's April 21st birthday a little early (cannot believe he will be 12 tomorrow)
My son is so, so very handsome!
we dyed Easter eggs
we had an Easter egg hunt and someone found a lizard while turning over things to hunt for eggs (i was very happy it wasn't a snake!)
the boys spent a lot of time playing with beyblades spinners (or whatever they're called)
cousins - born 3 months apart - Heidi (who shares a Dec. 2nd birthday with my Luke) is 3 months older than I am - we've always been close and I always wanted to live closer to her while growing up
(notice we are both holding our Mt. Dews)
cousins - next generation - born 3 months apart - Casey is 3 months older than Anna - they've always been close and now they will live close to each other for the last of their growing up
brothers - born almost 19 years apart - both are very important in my life - Bryan is deaf and his high school sign language interpreter was my roommate back in the day and Bryan spent SO much time at my house "studying." My sign language got so strong during those years. I missed Bryan so much when he graduated and went off to college. Caleb was born when I was almost 22 and I only lived 1 mile from him - I've always called him my first son - he even had his own room at my house - he was the ring bearer in my wedding. When he was 9, I moved with my preacher husband 4 hours away from him. It felt like I lost a son and Anna thought she lost a brother - watching him standing in the road waving good-bye to us is a memory that will always be etched into my memory.
(additional fact - Bryan shares a birthday with Wesley - his birthday is tomorrow too!)
and, as life tends to do, our family continues to grow. my cousin, Wendy (who is already a mother to Leah) will give birth - any day now - to her son. We pray for a safe delivery for mom and for a healthy son to join this world and our family!
That was our Easter Day (make sure you read all 5 Easter posts for the complete day - yes, it took 5 posts to get it all in!). I missed my Rob on Easter. But I will tell you that not ever has a Resurrection Sunday had more meaning to me than it did this year. Even though I've had grandparents and great friends enter Heaven, knowing Rob is in Heaven is the closest I've ever felt to "being there" - like a part of me - the part that was Rob's is already there. It's almost as if I'm now
"only 1 degree of separation from there."
The forgiveness of all of our sins (if we ask) by Jesus' blood
and the hope of the Resurrection are both so real -
I've always known that - for as far back as I can remember
- but now I FEEL it in a way that I never have before!
(2010)
He is Risen! Indeed!
