Easter 2011

We had a great time celebrating Easter this year!  We talked with Ella and Brayden for weeks leading up to Easter about the "real" meaning of the day.  We wanted to make sure that they did not just focus on the Easter Bunny and finding eggs.  We wanted them to know the celebration was because Christ was no longer dead but ALIVE!  The Easter Bunny even left them a note that said "Have fun finding the eggs and eating your candy, but don't forget to celebrate that Jesus is alive!" 

So first, the kids woke up to see what the Easter Bunny had brought. 


They were excited to get the movies they had wanted

Then we went hunting for eggs in the back yard!


Ella found one



Brayden was so excited to find them all that he wouldn't even turn around for a pic!

 After all of that fun, we went and celebrated the Resurrection with our church family at First Pima.  This year we chose not to spend money on buying new Easter clothes, but to put that money towards meeting needs.  They were still the cutest kids around though!


Side note: The bush/tree behind them was the prettiest thing around to take a pic in front of.  When you live in the desert you don't have much of a choice. :)

Then, we went out to Cockleburr that evening for our church service there.  It was the first Easter service to take place in that village for many years.  Most of the children had never even heard of Jesus, much less that He died on a cross and rose again 3 days later.  It was a very special time!  After everything was over, we had Easter lunch with some of the families.


Getting ready to start the Bible story



This is Jasmine. She listened to the Bible story very intently.  Please pray for her!

 After leaving Cockleburr, we went to the home of two girls from our youth group.  Their family had invited us to come over to eat Easter dinner with them.  We had a great time! 


Brayden played so hard that he was covered with dirt from head to toe.  Somedays I wonder what is the point of giving him a bath!

 When we were getting ready for bed that night, Ella looked at me and said, "This has been the best day ever because Jesus rose again!" 

We had a busy, fun-filled day!  We didn't get to spend the day with our families back in KY, but we did spend it with church family and new friends.  According to Brayden, our friend Doug isn't really our friend but our family! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter as well and truly got to celebrate the Resurrection!

Brittany