Easter Weekend 2011

Wow, what a blessed weekend we had! Zach's parents came into town and we got to spend the day with them Friday, while the kids made up a snow day at school. Zach and his dad got a round of golf in, while Mom and I did some Easter Dinner shopping, and then waited for the kids to come home. They were thrilled  to come home to their Farmor (Swedish for father's mother, and what they call Zach's mom), and were also happy that I suggested Shaved Ice for an afternoon snack. (This was such a hug hit, Farmor and I repeated the trip Saturday afternoon after stopping at HEB for some dinner groceries)

Saturday Farmor, with the help of Branden, made plattar, small thin Swedish Pancakes.  They were delicious, and I perfected my ability to flip the pancakes... These particular ones are quite tricky!  Then we ventured to downtown Abilene.

The first stop was the Grace Museum... The children's section was a huge success!

The kids got in touch with the Fine Arts!

Kristyn definitely has a flare for the dramatic... I have no idea where she gets that from (wink, wink)

Branden enjoyed playing this fun musical instrument... He wanted to play it all on his own! After The Grace we enjoyed some terrific art at the NCCIL, walked through the 12th Armored Division Museum and tried to take a look at Relics, but it was closed for the Easter weekend.

After walking around downtown we enjoyed lunch at Cypress Street Station.

Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at home and terrific company. Then rested up to celebrate our risen Savior at church Sunday morning.  Zach woke up extra early to help out for breakfast at our church. After a great service we headed home and took a few family photos.

After our photo shoot we had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

They were very eager to find the eggs... Zach hid them really well.

And of course you know this South Texas girl has to keep the tradition of cascarones going with her own kiddos!

We even got the Georgia boy in on our fun! :)

I'm pretty sure I was finding confetti in my hair Monday morning!

After the "egg"citement (sorry I couldn't resist) we finished preparing our Easter dinner and: Leg of Lamb, Au Gratin Potatoes (They were extra cheesy), Pineapple Casserole, Spinach and Strawberry Salad, Cherry Pie & Strawberry Pie with homemade whipped cream. It was a delicious feast! After our dinner we watched as the clouds rolled in. We were a bit skeptical, since we have seen the clouds and lightning, and heard the thunder, but have not seen rain in quite a long time... In fact, we have probably seen snow more recently than we have seen rain.  It did indeed rain however, and it didn't stop there. We were treated to a hail storm. We watched, entertained from the safety of our kitchen window as the golf ball sized hail fell onto the trampoline and bounced really high... But you know what they say about hail, "it's all fun and games until someone loses a back windshield." Well, I don't think it's really a saying, but it is now in the Fulton house! :)

It's better than one of our house windows, and no one was hurt. Praise the Lord for the much needed rain.

After dinner, the weather excitement and bath time the kids treated us to a puppet show.

All in all we had an amazing Easter weekend. We were so grateful and blessed to have our family here to celebrate with us!

Rejoice, rejoice oh Christians lift up your voice and sing

Eternal Hallelujah to Jesus Christ the King

The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find

None other is so loving, so good and kind

He lives!

He lives!

Christ Jesus lives today!...

You ask me how I know He lives

He lives within my heart!

First Day at a new school

Here are the precious duo. They love each other and stick together. Here they are on their first day of school. Branden was so brave and excited as he walked straight into school, no looking back. He gave us each a quick hug and didn't even turn around! Kristyn was a little more nervous, but she put on a brave front and sat with her classmates as they all waited patiently in the gym. I can't wait to hear the stories of first day of school when I pick them up.

We found a church home

One of my least favorite things about moving to a new town is church "shopping."  Especially since I had was leaving a church that had been such a blessing to me and my family, Yorktown Baptist. I had made great friends and watched my children grow exponentially in God's Word through AWANA.  So Zach and I began the search and seemed to find every extreme, but not quite what we were looking for, except for one church. 

This particular church was the first one we tried, but my Lutheran husband was hesitant because Baptist was in it's name, :). We tried a Methodist church, it was a United Methodist church gone rogue! Then we tried a Lutheran church and there weren't many under AARP age. So, Zach and I agreed that maybe this Baptist church should get another look. I was excited because this particular church had a a string of "signs" (for lack of a better word) that led us there.
1. A dear friend of mine from high school, Rachel, whom I have not had a close relationship with since I was married and a mother by 19, lived in Abilene, so I reached out to her so I would have a friend in my new hometown. She told me about her church and I was eager to try it on her recommendation.

2. After I left BAF I began going to Yorktown and was plugged in, and through that church God grew me during a tough year away from Zach. During my last Sunday School class before I left for Abilene, another couple said I must try a particular church with a pastor who had a heart for speaking God's truth and not necessarily speaking popular messages and filling seats. He had also been their college pastor. This church in Abilene was the church Rachel called her church home.

3. A friend from Yorktown, had made friends with an Air Force wife who had gone to Yorktown while in training at NAS-CC. Leah had e-mailed her friend telling her I was coming to Abilene and would she pray for a swift and easy transition because of our turbulent year. She had been praying, when Rachel asked her bible study group to pray for us, turns out Leah's friend was a part of Rachel's bible study, so I had another connection to this church.


Zach and I visited the church earlier in the summer, but the pastor was on vacation so the college pastor was guest speaking. It was not as traditional as Zach is used to, but he was willing to try it again once the pastor was back and make his final decision.
Well, we went back this Sunday, and all of the eggs for this church were in this sermon basket. Without knowledge to us, the pastor spoke a message directed by God, to us, to our hearts, to our life. It was on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, and he spoke on the command for forgiveness. I cannot tell you the last time I felt God speaking so directly to my heart. Zach and I have found ourselves in a place of bitterness and resentment towards the kids' dad, unwilling to offer forgiveness (even if he hasn't asked for it). The truth this pastor spoke was amazing. Before we left the sanctuary, Zach affirmed what I knew, we had found our church home.

We are excited to start finding ways to get connected and minster through this church, especially starting with AWANA again this fall with the kids. A number of guys in our Sunday School group also work in Zach's squadron, so it will be a great group we will be getting to know!