Easter Celebrations...

 

What a wonderful Easter celebration we had on Sunday! I hope it’s okay to tell you all about it!

                We woke up extra extra early so we could start cooking breakfast casseroles and get to church for the baptism service. On our way to church, we were greeted by the most beautiful sunrise, which felt like a perfect start to Easter Sunday.

                I told Ryan we should get our official Easter photo bright and early before everything got busy and/or one of us spilled coffee on ourselves. Big thanks to our friend, Esther, for being our photographer. Check out that perfect sunrise she caught in the stained glass!

                Our church looked just beautiful for the baptism service!

                The congregation sang a couple of songs, and I just have to tell you right now before I get any farther into this story, that we are blessed with a host of talented musicians. So. Many. Talented. Musicians. So many instruments. It’s mind-blowing. Julie and Ryan (not my Ryan) led the singing for the baptism service and did a fantastic job.

                I’d been invited to share some thoughts before the baptism, and I loved learning from what God put on my heart to share!

                We had two baptisms this year, and I also had the privilege of meeting with one of them a few weeks ago to hear his story and talk with him about the significance of baptism. I was so proud of him for his courage and commitment!

                I love witnessing baptisms and remembering my own. (I challenged the congregation to do the same!)

                After the beautiful baptism service, I was on my way to greet people when I saw my friend Michelle waving at me from the center aisle. GUESS WHAT? WE MATCHED! I’ll twin with her any day!

                I tried to spend the breakfast hour meeting and welcoming people, and then it was time for church!

                Julie and I did a responsive reading at the beginning, and Ryan said it looked like we were about to sing a duet. (I’ve told the church multiple times how I cannot sing, so I wonder how many of them were terrified to look up and see us standing there holding microphones?)

                You know who can sing? Ryan! And he was looking quite handsome up there with the worship team, don’t you think?

                I love listening to all the people who play the piano at our church, but Brad’s solo today was goose-bump inducing. I think he used every key on the piano…100 times.

                We also had a special song that featured a great ensemble of singers and some of our teens dancing. I loved watching and listening.

                Jonathan preached a great message, as he always does, and I have a dozen new notes to keep in my Bible now!

                After church, we went to Swiss Village to share Easter lunch with Mom and Dad. The food was so good, and we enjoyed our time with them.

                The MOMENT we got home, we shed heels and suits for much more comfortable clothing and exchanged Easter baskets! Lexi was our #1 assistant.

                And then…with the Lenten fast behind me, I enjoyed a ridiculously delicious apple dumpling Ryan brought home to me from the Easter egg hunt. Not all apple dumplings are created equal, and this one was…amazing. I savored it oh so slowly with great appreciation.

                What a wonderful day it was! Grateful for the significance of Easter and the chance to spend it with so many great people!