He Is Risen!

 ~ Happy Easter ~

We're all spending Easter differently this year, but cloistered inside our homes with a lot more time on our hands, we have opportunity to reflect on with more appreciation than ever the significance and blessing of Easter Sunday.  

There were wonderful worship opportunities on the Internet today.  My son always says 'the church' is more than a building, and we've been learning that firsthand during this time of lock down.

One method our family has initiated to stay in touch [besides Zoom] is an ongoing group text amongst 15 of us.  Since I've been using this down time to scan old photos, I posted an Easter photo from 1999 in one of my texts.  There were only four grandchildren then [now there are eight].

Our oldest grandson, Brandon, has been delivering groceries during the Coronavirus, and unbeknownst to us, he stopped by this afternoon to take a picture on our front porch when he was delivering groceries down the street from us.  He labeled the two pictures "Then and Now".  Who could have ever imagined 21 years later the entire world would be experiencing a deadly pandemic.  In spite of it all, God is Good!

During some of their down time, our daughter-in-law, Samantha, and granddaughters, Isabella and Ellie, have been making hospital approved isolation gowns sponsored by 'Angels Wear Gowns'.  The organization provides the plastic material and a template for the gowns.  Sam said one roll makes 24 gowns.  She sent us a picture of Izzy modeling one of the gowns.

Grandson, Landon, wiped out on his bike Thursday while biking with the family on a nearby trail.  He didn't have his helmet on and scraped his face pretty bad.  I'll spare you the photos.  ;-)  He's healing, feeling better, and participated in an Easter egg hunt his parents had for him and his sisters on their property.  They live on a large lot in a wooded area with plenty of hiding places.   

Granddaughter, Tiffany, posted this cute pic of Evie and Juliette [they call her Jules] on Facebook today.

Love the family pic.

My church doesn't stress giving something up for Lent, but this year I felt impressed to deny myself of something I really enjoy. Anything would pale in comparison to Christ's sacrifice, but I really like chocolate.  Hardly a day would go by when I wouldn't have a piece - so I decided to give it up, contemplating daily what Christ did for me.  It was a new and meaningful experience.  I had my first piece of chocolate today since Ash Wednesday [February 26th], and I have to admit I've never savored a piece of chocolate like I did today!  ;-)

I receive weekly e-mails from The Cultured Cup tea shop in Farmers Branch, Texas.  Last Thursday [April 9th] their theme was Tea in Times of Crisis.  Hopefully it can be accessed from their website: TheCulturedCup.com. They sell Mariage Freres tea, and my favorite is Marco Polo.  Whatever tea is your favorite, may it strengthen and comfort you during this present-day Coronavirus crisis.

DTE, our area energy provider, issued a weather advisory that metro Detroit will experience severe weather with strong damaging winds beginning around 10:00 a.m. tomorrow through 8:00 p.m.  A significant number of power outages may occur.  Another potential dilemma to add to the Coronavirus quarantine. ;-) Sigh... tribulation worketh patience as the Scripture says.

Be safe and stay well!