This week was spring break for the kids so, unhandily, they didn't have school for the week while Shaun and I were in the end-of-tax-season crunch. We got through it and made it work!
April 11
Even though the "Welcome" sign never made it out, people came in droves anyway. The phone, the door were constant all day and it was relieving to finally lock the door.
Amanda discovered eggs in our front door wreath.
In wandering the house, I happened upon these two separate groups, one reading together, one working out/talking about the issues of life.
April 14
April 13
Avery got up early and went to serve at our church's food pantry.
Classic April....blooms, soccer equipment in the car or on the floor (very occasionally in the closet where it belongs) and The Passion at our church.
April 15
Normally I do a little yard work at a time in the weeks leading up to us hosting Easter. This year I wasn't physically able to so, just like that we had a crew for several hours on this Good Friday. Our friend Jason came with his equipment and son and Amy came with several kids (and the dogs, too :). The kids worked hard and horsed around and somehow we got leaves removed and mulch laid. What a blessing it was to have the help!!
Amy took Amanda and Aiden home with her and they got to decorate eggs.
The kids ended up serving at church during the final show of The Passion and Shaun and I stayed home with a sick Dakota.
P.S. It was Shaun's birthday, which is how his birthdays often go, poor guy.
April 16
Another day, another scan, this one on a Saturday. My dad drove me down to New York and the traffic was heavy....the 90 minute trip took three hours, but we got back in good time. He dropped me off at church and I snuck in to sit next to my family for the last half of our Saturday evening Easter service.
April 17
Easter Sunday...He is risen!! If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our faith would be useless. Instead, he provided, our for the receiving, the gift of grace, pardon, salvation.
Earlier in the week when we'd gotten the news that another spot of cancer had been found, Amy suggested that we pivot from hosting Easter, thinking maybe cancer and the end of tax season was enough on its own. But I insisted on leaving things as they were. There are few things that give me more joy than having my house full of people. And we were wonderfully FULL, with 50 people! Everyone brought something and several pitched in to do clean up. The younger kids did an egg hunt and the bigger kids did a photo challenge around the neighborhood. It was chilly out so we mostly stayed inside, with the fireplace going. It was a wonderful day!
