Easter weekend this year brought with it the realization that family functions will no longer be the same for my mom's side of the family as Grandpa will no longer be sitting at the head of the table.  But as it was Easter we were given the reminder that Christ paid the ultimate price so that we can have Eternal life and in that there is hope in death...the comfort in knowing that we will one day see our loved ones again.  This particular weekend also brought with it the opportunity to spend time with family and to laugh amidst the pain.

 That morning at church we sang several songs that spoke the words of HOPE we have in a risen Christ and of the deep LOVE our Heavenly Father showers upon us...to give His life so that we may live...what love!  So I found it a true blessing to see an earthly example of the love of a father!  These pictures just make me smile...make me proud that I am surrounded by such wonderful men in my life!

My older brother and his family were unable to make it to the dinner and my niece Jessie was up spending time with my in-laws so I decided that since it was nice out and there weren't so many little kids to keep track of, Rachel and I were going to enjoy some time in the sunshine...the wind made things interesting but we had a blast.  Uncle Jamie and I entertained her for a while but she soon wanted Daddy to come out and play...and being the gracious, loving father he his, he complied.

 The things daddy's let their daughters do...oh, Papa Smurf, I can only imagine the things I put you through!

Peek-a-boo!!

 These smiles just...mmmm, melt my heart.

But these 2 pictures really make my heart sing!

Crazy girl just wouldn't give a serious smile, but I love that she's impulsive and doesn't take life too seriously.

While we were out enjoying the weather, Uncle Randy and Caleb were soaking up some quality time together.  When we first got to my Grandma's we found Caleb contentedly perched on Randy's lap and I think Randy is all too thrilled he will have a little buddy to pal around with now.  It was so fun to watch them interact together!

Although the empty place setting at the table this year was tough to process, we had much to be thankful for!  We have the joy and comfort of eternal life our loving Father provided by GIVING His One and Only Son to pay the penalty for our sins and this year I especially praise Him for the family I have to spend this earthly life beside!  I pray your Easter was a blessed and happy one!

Part 2 of our crazy, wonderful weekend with my nieces is now hot off the press or shall I say splashed across this blog as the following pictures may require a raincoat and a warm cup of hot chocolate to follow.  On our walk back from the chicken coup, the large puddle that always settles on our patio following any significant accumulation of rain was just too great a temptation for the girls and as I walked across the strategically placed mats for just such a wet occasion, the girls thought it was more fun to slosh around them.  I groaned inwardly and in a stern...yet loving, I am Aunt of course...voice I told them to get the sam hill outta the puddle!!...and then I looked up at Jamie....shrugged my shoulders...and said if ya can't get wet or muddy when staying with Uncle Jamie and Aunt Jess, where can you...splash away girls!!  AND splash they did!!!

(This is my personal favorite...love the look of anticipation on Rachel's face)

1...2...3...

With the assistance of Uncle Jamie...again, PLEASE...I'm begging you...don't let on that I know he enjoys being a kid again!

(As fast as my shutter button may be, this was the only picture that remotely caught all 3 off the ground at the same time...although that may have been more to due to premature lift off by a 3 year old than an issue hitting the shutter button :))

 The girls had an absolute blast...along with both Jamie and I.  Thank you, Lord, for the incompetent person who poured the patio and left us with a puddle to slosh through on just such an occasion.

And thank you for blessing me with these 3 people...especially a husband who loves children!  We may not blessed with our own...yet...but the ones we hold close to us know that Uncle Jamie is by far one of the coolest Uncles out there!!

You know saying goodbye to someone you love always makes you reevaluate life and the important things... and I've come to the conclusion that life isn't about attaining perfection but about finding the joy in the imperfections, like those that create puddles to jump in.  What imperfections are you thankful for today?

*Disclaimer: While puddle jumping on a rainy, wet March day at our house is always fun, there was an immediate warm bath that followed and of course some snuggling under blankets on the couch later that evening...just to put aside any who had concerns of sinus infections following this joyous occasion.

A recent weekend brought with it two little visitors in the form of my nieces, Rachel and Jessie.  This visit had been long overdue as every time I visit them they are begging for me to bring them home.  I was up their way that week (then again when am I not up there lately?!) and stopped by to drop something off and Rachel had it in her little head that she was going home with me.  Unfortunately it wasn't possible that day as I had work and plans for the following day, so we tentatively made plans for them to come that weekend and lo and behold the plans finally worked out.  I went up Saturday (after finally passing my EMT practical on this road to obtain my PHRN certification) and picked them up.  They were standing inside the door waiting for me...bags packed and shoes on!  Rachel loudly yelled, "We're weady An Jess!!"  I'm always slightly amazed that they never look back or think twice about leaving mommy and daddy for the night.  I asked Rachel when we got in the car if she was hungry and had eaten lunch.  She said no to being hungry and then wanted to know, "An Jess, did you eat lunch?"  To which I replied with a no.  And she said, "Well then we need to stop before we get home so you can eat."  How very thoughtful she is...when she wants to be.

Uncle Jamie was just as excited as the girls, although don't let on that I know that.  I wouldn't want to spoil the fun for him in pretending that he's the grown up amongst them.  The following documents our interesting time with these 2 crazy, wild, fun little girls...life is DEFINITELY not dull with them around!

I do believe the highlight of the weekend for them was the prospect at helping Uncle Jamie collect eggs.  There was finally a small break in the rain and clouds and we took our chance at getting out before it let go again.  So buckets in hand...

...we headed out to Uncle Jamie's chicken coup.

Rachel has no fear when it comes to animals, a trait she gets from her mother...and her daddy who generally has no fear of anything really, and in true form she just plucked those chickens right off their roosting bottoms so she could collect the eggs from underneath.  (I promise dear chickens they are only here for a short stay...bear with us!)

Sadly this was the state of most of the eggs after their "help".  I was thankful for the shutter button distracting me from hearing the "crack" every time they literally dropped one in the bucket.  But hey it's the experience that matters in the end, chickens lay more eggs every day, right?!

Of course the work wasn't done after the collecting was completed, they had to feed the chickens as well...eat up buttercups, we're gonna need you to lay double time tomorrow since we have little to show for your efforts today, we promise they'll only be here until tomorrow!

Ever the chicken whisperer, Rachel finds it her mission to wrestle chickens every time she's around them and then carry them around, kissing their heads and proclaiming she's taking THIS ONE home with her!

And this was the expression on her face as she attempted to convince Uncle Jamie that she needed to take one home...gotta love the girl for trying.

 A successful egg collection...if you count a dozen unbroken a success...but if the smiles on their faces count towards the broken eggs then we will mark this as a success!  Stay tuned for part 2 of this exciting weekend...