A wonderful Easter weekend

I will admit it. Easter has turned out to be a hard weekend for me. For some reason it is the one holiday in which I really miss my family. Every year I long to take my kids to the huge Easter Eggstravaganza at my old church. I want to go to the Easter Cantata like I did for so many years and I want to go to my Mom's house for her wonderful Easter lunch after an inspiring morning of worship at my former church.

For so many years I would get to my church (I used to be on staff there) at 6:30am on Sunday mornings. Then for 6 hours I would be in the trenches with all of our wonderful volunteers working as hard as we could to make the services special and meaningful for all of the members and visitors to our church.

After church we always went to my parent's home and I would invite people who didn't have anywhere to go for Easter. Every year the guest list changed, but it was so nice to collapse after a long morning in my Mom and Dad's cozy house and visit with friends. My grandmothers always came and we got lovely pictures and if there were kids there that year, I would organize an egg hunt.

I miss it. And though we have had wonderful friends in Kansas City who have welcomed us into their homes over the years on Easter Sunday, I still get very homesick. So, honestly, I am kind of glad it is over. But we did have a wonderful weekend as the million pictures that you are about to see can attest.

Here are the little ones getting ready to attend an Egg Hunt that my Building Better Moms group held on Good Friday.

Bennett and Will with their friends, Crosby, Levi, and Rachel.

I made this cake for the party. It was supposed to look like spring flowers, but I am not sure what it really turned out to look like. Rob called it my Willy Wonka cake. I'm cool with that.

Bennett and I made this bunny cupcakes together. Sure, they would have looked better if I had made them by myself, but I love the fact that she helps me in the kitchen. Whenever I get out my mixing bowl, she runs into the kitchen and hops on her stool to help. I love that.

Easter basket cupcakes.

Some wonderful ladies I have gotten to know in KC.

Bennett with her bestest buddy, Levi. These two are such a trip together.

That night some girls from my book club snuck away for an evening to go see Robert Pattins......ummm.... I mean, Water for Elephants. Great movie. Check it out if you have time.

The next morning we took our kids to a local children's farmstead called Deanna Rose's. We love it there and already have our family pass for the season. Here I am trying to make my kids act happy to be in a picture.

They would rather be hanging out with the goats.

Hey, goat. It's good to see you. I like your beard. Say hi to your mother for me, okay? (Sorry. Random Andy Samberg/Mark Wahlberg Saturday Night Live reference. If you got it, then you're pretty cool. If not, move on to the next picture. No harm done.)

Getting ready for an evening worship service at our church.

Afterwards we went over to our friends, the Haines, house for dinner. We love this family. We all went to the same church in Alabama and I have been in numerous plays with Mary. Her husband, Terry, volunteered on my tech teams for years, I baby-sat their youngest son when he was a baby, and they were at our wedding. We helped throw then a going away party when they moved to Overland Park having no idea that we would join them here 3 years later. But, we are so grateful that we all ended up in the same town. Their friendship has meant the world to us.

My family.

Our kids with Josh and Caleb Haines.

I was so thankful that Mary had made a resurrection cake. I had fully intended to make one, but I had baked so much for my Mom's group, that I just didn't have it in me to bake any more. Fortunately she had one waiting on us. She made this cake on Good Friday. She hollows out the cake and lays a miniature Jesus in there and then seals it up with a cookie.

On Easter Sunday the "stone" is rolled away and Jesus isn't there anymore. What a wonderful way to teach kids the story of Easter.

Bennett was fascinated.

The next morning we got dressed and went to church. My Dad says that this may be his all time favorite picture of Will. I might agree.

An Easter Egg hunt on the lawn of the church after services.

A bird flew into the window of the church and was injured. He was hiding underneath our car. Leave it to the Websters to spend Easter Sunday luring a bird out from behind our tire.

I didn't get any pictures of the kids with their baskets from the Easter bunny, but Aunt Lisa (or Aunt Weee-sa) sent these adorable baskets and we handed them to the kids after church.

They loved them!

Clearly.

After naps we went down to our park to get some photos of the kids.

Me and my baby....

..... who is growing up to be a beautiful big girl.

The three loves of my life.

Okay, so this is my favorite shot of the whole bunch. Isn't it fantastic? It's got a great journalistic feel to it. This could be in a catalog for Easter. I just love it.

Teaching little brother the art of hunting for eggs.

Anyone remember this fantastic shot from last Easter?

We tried to recreate it this year. It didn't work out nearly as well.

Bennett thought it was funny. She was game for trying.

Absolutely beautiful.

My family


Although we had a wonderful weekend filled with fun adventures, good times with friends, and much needed family time, we were so mindful of the reason we were celebrating.

'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ