Dale's Birthday & Easter x 2

  We were blessed to be home for Easter, and enjoyed each of our families for this celebration of a Risen Saviour!

​  Dale's 36th birthday fell on Good Friday.....
  We didn't have anything big planned, but as is tradition, the birthday boy gets to pick what we do that day, what we eat, or where we GO eat, if they want to eat out.

  First stop was headed up to his momma's restaurant for lunch.  While we were there, he noticed a guitar case in the corner.....  

  "Whose guitar?"  he asks his mom.
  "I don't know!" she says perplexed.
  "Guess you better open it and see....." the kids and I chime in.

  Oh the look on his face when he realized HIS.  Love it! He kept sputtering,

"But - but - but I don't know how to play it...."

 WELL buddy, then owning one is a GOOD FIRST STEP! Right?! :) hahahaha
 
  Destiny, Avery and I had snuck down to the guitar shop on the guise of "shopping to use a certificate" Destiny had won at a downtown boutique....got a heck of a deal, and slipped the gift into the corner while Dale was in the kitchen visiting with his chef brother.

  We picked that gorgeous multi colored one they called sunrise or something, you can see it about 5 guitars back.  The nice guy at Sparks music, Todd, threw in a case, a strap, pick and some instruction to boot!  YAY! :)

   As long as I have known Dale, he has wished he could play!  Well, now is as good a time as any, since he is retired and has TIME on his hands!  Besides, how amazing will this be, when we can all sit around a fire at an RV park, some quiet starry evening, and have worship time.  (chills already!)
 He is already doing a good job using you tube to teach himself some chords.....

   He sure must love us, because he picked MY favorite sushi place for supper, Freddy's for their amazing ice cream sandwiches for dessert, and Lego Batman movie for the kids afterwards.
​  We have a cool domed screen movie theater in town that shows full length movies at a lower price. I love that you feel like you are moving because of the dome shape, pretty stinking cool!

   Love the first Lego movie, I wouldn't waste my money on the Batman one, unless you need a nice place to nap!  Dale and I both had a nice siesta.  Shh, don't tell!

  The next day was our first Easter celebration with Gigi and Nana.....they had been hard at work preparing a two house egg hunt for the kids.  
​  They were SO excited I was actually going to let them EAT whatever was in those eggs!!!!

  Some had gourmet jelly beans (supposedly dye free), some had marshmallow eggs, some had chocolate pb, some had money, some had slips of paper that said book or movie.  I unearthed a bin of gifts, New Testament Jesus movies and the Christian Bearnstein Bear books.  PERFECT!

  We played Hand & Foot, the awesome card game with Skipo cards, and then ate Ham sandwiches, veggies, chips and all kinds of yummy stuff.  We headed home by 7, for pie making, showers and early bedtime.
  It was going to be a busy Easter Sunday with Destiny singing in all 3 services with the youth, and Dale's big side of the family getting together after.

  The Easter service was fantastic and the worship had me in tears many many times.  It just hits you at times, how incredible the gift we were given.  The gift of VICTORY, the power of the BLOOD OF THE LAMB, the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  The sacrifice.  Wow.

  We headed the 40 minutes out to the farm to spend the day with Dale's side of the family....I used to try to coordinate our outfits every year.  This year, I was just happy to dig in our storage and find things that were warm enough for everyone on this coolish day! Hahah! Priorities have changed :)

  Lunch was incredibly delicious, and as soon as they were allowed, the kids changed out of their nice clothes and headed out to see the animals and play with their cousins.

  I have to show you, Avery and Pax made the CUTEST carrot dip....it was 2 things of cream cheese softened, green onions, a couple tablespoons dill and ranch dressing powder.  Shape like a carrot, pat with cheddar cheese and allow to harden. Before serving, carefully lift top of carrot to add washed parsley.  Serve with crackers.

 IT WAS DELICIOUS and darling!

  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a really happy Easter celebration!  HE IS RISEN!  Death had no hold on our Saviour.....Hallelujah!

Hugs, T