Easter

Wednesday
Jones' kindergarten class went to Austin to Zilker Botanical Gardens. Lindsey and I followed the bus and took the tour with them. After the Gardens, everyone went to the playground area and to eat our sack lunches. We signed the girls out with their teachers and they rode home with us. We just happened to pass SAM MOON, so we stopped and quickly shopped then headed home.


















































Thursday
Georgia had a school Easter egg hunt. Jones had an Easter egg hunt(had to find eggs with her name on it) and party. Our neighbor brought his snow cone truck for four of the six kindergarten classes. I took both out of school early and we went to Amarillo.


































Friday
My mom and I took the kids to Jumpin Jive. My dear friend Lisa, who currently lives in Alaska, brought her son Sam to play (and Bethany came too). My friend Shara and her three kids, and Kyleen and Colby and their two kids came to play too. Lisa and I went out Friday night after all our kiddos went to bed. It was a great night to stay out til almost midnight and catch up with each other. I think it has been close to five years since I have seen her in person. I hope it is not that long again! (Lisa is the tallest in the pictures)
















































Saturday
We slept in, went to visit my Papaw (so sad, no pics) and took him to lunch. He sat beside West in the suburban and I think he really enjoyed watching West on the way to the restaurant. Papaw would hold his fingers out by Wests foot and West would wrap his toes around his Great Papaw fingers.














EASTER Sunday
Church in the morning. West took a nap during class time. Colby, Kyleen, Kaiden and Conner came over for lunch, egg hunt and confetti eggs. Church again in the evening. Dinner with Jamie and Cindy Gray, Hollee Gray, Lisa Noble, Pat Neusch and kids. Kids to bed. I packed and got ready to leave.

























































Monday
On the road again, headed home. We made an early lunch stop in Lubbock and to see some dear friends. Missy and Carrie. Thanks for taking time to meet us. Our stops are always too short, but it's so good to see you! We were able to see Rashell and Grant one more time, as they stopped by too. West misses Grant! (Check FB for a video.)




Then on to Abilene, to see Aunt Sheila and cousin Hank. Thanks for the snack stop!




Justin was home to greet us when we arrived back home! And he had surprises for all the girls......Francesca Battistelli t-shirts for her Sea World concert!

Easter Sunday and Song of the Week

Leslie and the kids went to Amarillo for Easter.  I ended up having the weekend off.  To make the best of a lonely situation, I decided to rent the movie “Crazy Heart”.  Nathan has been telling me to see it since it came out.  I’m sorry now that I was so slow getting around to it.  
I won’t give away the plot of the movie, but I it is a story of the redemption of a broken country singer songwriter.  
The idea of redemption has been on my mind a lot lately.  Isn’t that what Easter is all about?
Best line I heard from the preacher this morning was, “The resurrection didn’t undo what happened on the cross.  It redeemed the cross.”  We all stand in need of redemption.  I thank God “that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
A redemption story is why St. Paul was such a great evangelist.  It’s why the story of Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is so inspiring.  It’s why Hank Williams’  “I Saw the Light” will always be one of my favorite songs.
This week’s song is Kris Kristofferson’s “Why Me Lord”.  In this video he tells the story of how he came to write it.  A real life “Crazy Heart”.  A powerful testimony and a powerful song.


p.s.  As a fan of biscuits, my favorite line in “Crazy Heart” was... “Whole worlds have be tamed by men who ate biscuits.”

Georgia's 5th Birthday

The Thursday before Georgia's birthday, she took cupcakes to school to celebrate with her school friends.
































Justin's Aunt Rashell and cousins, Grant and Molly, came to Temple to stay with us for a few days as they were waiting for clearance to return to Japan. We had a fantastic time with them here. They were such a blessing to have in our home. Such a huge help with the kids and with Georgia's party. We let Jones skip school to enjoy time with our family. Georgia's party was at 3. It was super windy at Jaycee "Rocket" park. Georgia chose a Tangled theme this year. Rashell made the jello (water) cut the oranges (boat) and attached the flag to the pole. Thank you to everyone who came, called, FB messaged, and/or mailed something to Georgia. We love our Sweet Georgia May Brown.





































































William Hayden Northrup was born on Georgia's birthday too. Thanks to Rashell being here, after the kids went to bed, I was able to go see him and Kirsten and stay awhile while Jason went home to grab a few things. So sweet!