Friday Favorites - Easter Weekend!

 

This is just the most special time of the year for me.  Growing up we did the "Easter Sunday thing" and did egg hunts and baskets and Easter outfits and such but I never knew the depth and breadth of this miraculous day until I was an adult.  Now I get so overwhelmed by it all - the story, the sacrifice, the life we get to lead because of it - what an incredible thing to get to know and be a part of!  

Guess that is my first FRIDAY FAVORITE - a LIFE favorite, right??

Linking up with Andrea and Erika today. . .it's been a few weeks :)

Last weekend Tom and I went to Ohio for a quick visit.  We planned it last-minute - saw we didn't have much on the calendar so decided to run up there to see my parents AND my sister was in town too (she's been gone a lot lately) so we were able to plan a few things together.  

We were on the pickleball court with my dad at 9 a.m. Saturday morning!  Eighty-two and he still beat us!!  Tom was with us - we went from the Y (where we were playing) to brunch then to his house to check out his yard and see his wife.  They have a beautiful yard and spend tons of time working on it throughout the seasons.  He lives a little over an hour away from my sister so we don't get to see him as much as my mom (she lives down the street from her) so it's always good to find the time to get to his neck of the woods.  PICKLEBALL and FAMILY - I could stop there. . .those are my favorite favorites :)

A trip is successful when some tasks get done, in my opinion (it's not necessarily a popular or shared opinion - ha!). My mom's car wasn't starting every time you put the key in (!!!) so Tom was able to investigate and fix that problem.  Mom also wanted some mulching done and Tom, Brian, Jodi, and I got that knocked out in an hour or so (from picking it up to getting it spread and done):

Ok, I realize one picture is of the side yard and one of the back - didn't take too many pictures I guess.  We bought 20 bags and used 18.5 - a huge difference too!  Her HOA will do the front next month.  So a FAVORITE for me - checking something off a list :)

Another favorite is always seeing Barb.  

When I posted this picture on FB I think I said, "we have known her longer than we have known our husbands"!  She was our high school unit secretary, the mom of one of Jodi's boyfriends in college, the mom of one of my best friends as a young mother, and she and her husband were huge into YoungLife, which we were too growing up.  Her husband died in November so we try to get up to see her when we're in the area.  We picked her up for church with us and then had lunch at Panera.  

Like I said, a quick trip up-and-back - so happy we were able to do it.  Barb is a FAVORITE person in my life.

These two are a FAVORITE - this was mid-day, mid-week. . .we move the one bed in front of the door (at the end of the stairs) during the day so they can both see out the door throughout the day.  There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to who gets which bed. . .neither seems especially attached to one or the other.

Wednesday this came up in my FB memories - six years ago Sam Polson baptized Laura.

I shared this with her that afternoon.

That evening, she sent Tom and me three videos of three baptisms that she did that evening with some of "her" girls at APSU.  

Six years to the day.  Can you imagine, if six years from now, those three girls baptize three more??  This is how the Kingdom grows!!!  I'm so happy to have a seat at the table, praying, supporting, and encouraging this mighty girl doing great things for our King :)

That can't really be topped but this was a FAVORITE of the week also - our monthly Birthday Dinner.  I happen to be standing between the two birthday girls!!  When we left last night I said to the coordinator (the birthday girl in shorts) that I hope I don't miss any of these dinners this year.  From getting to shop for gifts, the good meals together, the things we learn about one another. . .it's such a bright spot in my month.  I'm thankful Lisa thought of it and puts all the effort into coordinating it each month.  There are two more birthday girls next month!

This post took all day to write - having a houseful of kids (yay!!), a tennis match, plus work today it's been a busy one.  I finished Easter Basket shopping and now need to put them together since we have to deliver one tomorrow to the kid who can't be here with us Sunday. 

Happy Resurrection Weekend!  The worst day in history had to happen so the promise could be fulfilled - He came back to life and lives forever!!!  

Love,

Jenni