Easter Weekend --He Has Risen!

What a long and amazing weekend! It all started with the girls sleepover on Friday night; great time for eating junk food, and watching "Ella Enchanted." We all crashed around 2am. Besides Renee I was the first one awake Saturday morning, so I decided to make the cinnamon rolls Cassie had planned for us to eat. By the time they were done the majority of the girls were up and wandering around. Cassie, April, Jenni, and I took our cinnamon rolls, cereal, and oranges outside by the jacuzzi to eat. It was an awesome morning with some special friends. =D

I left around 9:30am to head to my churches annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year I was given the opportunity to face-paint. Lemme tell ya, I got really good at bunnies, Easter eggs, and flowers! Of course we had to have the skulls and snakes for the boys ;-p It was a great morning, the skit was so funny it captured the children's attention, and it brought the good news that He has risen!

My mom made the decision a few years ago to forgo the Easter baskets and simply take my sister and I shopping. With Alexis being in Spain for her spring break, it made this afternoon a really nice mother/daughter experience. She bought me some new tanks, shoes, shorts, skirts, a swim suit, and other essentials. It truly was a fun bonding time!

Around 5:30pm my LLT (long lost twin), Ashley showed up. It was time to get ready for Ladies Night Out. Back story: Ladies Night Out is an annual event the Chi Alpha guys put together to show us girls how special we truly are. How to be loved, served, and doted upon in a Christian-brotherly way. Each year peoples lives are touched and transformed. This year was no different.

LNO '08 took place at Desert Life Church in Scottsdale, AZ. As soon as we arrived our cars were valet parked and we were promptly given tickets to claim our cars at the end of the evening (of course I lost it within the first 5min). We were each escorted into the building, where the first picture of the night was taken, red carpet style! (Thank you Kurtis for escorting me in). We were then taken to a table, our chair was pulled out, and we were seated. The decorations were beautiful, each table had a bowl with marbles, blue water, and a live beta fish. Surrounding this were 3 candles, glitter, and table settings complete with an amazing letter written by our brothers and a business card for us to utilize if we ever get a flat tire, need someone to walk us to our car, help move something etc.

The night was full of humor, entertainment, and uplifting testimonies directed at us girls. The food was absolutely delicious, Kent and Waylon are amazing chefs whether they admit it or not. The appetizers included spinach and crab dips accompanied by fresh bread. My meal consisted of talapia, steamed veggies, and rice. For dessert I chose the homemade biscuit with strawberries and cream. Needless to say, I was extremely full and happy (physically and spiritually) by the end of the evening.

Throughout the event there were many things the guys said to us that made an impact. For myself it was Eric's statement on a person's value that stuck with me. "Everyone on this earth has a value, just remember you are worth one Jesus." Me? Worth one Jesus... most of the time I don't feel like I'm worth much. It's so amazing to think that my heavenly father used his son to pardon all of our sins, showing how much we truly mean to him as his daughter/son. The hardest realization of all is that even if I were the only person here on earth God would have still sent His son to die for ME. Pretty powerful, right?

Guys, the food was amazing, the service impeccable, the testimonies extremely thoughtful, and the love shown unbeatable! Any guy in our future has a lot to live up too! =]

Ladies Night Out '08 Photo Album

Easter Sunday started off with Sunrise Service at 7am, we had great music and an awesome message delivered by JD. It dealt with the weeds that infect the wheat. In order to save the wheat for harvest the weeds must be allowed to manifest and grow within the wheat, otherwise picking it out could damage the entire wheat crop. We cannot go through the future "harvest" and determine the wheat from the weeds, that is not our place. We are to welcome, encourage, and grow strong Christians, so at the time of the harvest...we and they will not end up being deemed weeds. The pancake breakfast served afterwards was absolutely delicious, thanks goes out to all the men who started cooking the day before. After Sunday School we headed to contemporary service, where yet again we experienced great music and an awesome message (this time delivered by Pastor Orr). I never knew all the things Jesus had to take care of during the time between his death and resurrection...if you're interested, ask me! =D That evening Alexis returned from Spain, she bought me this really cool leather bracelet from Madrid. Her boyfriend Barry and Pastor Orr joined us for Easter dinner around 6pm, overall it was a very enjoyable time. He is risen. He is risen indeed!

So this weekend was AWESOME, I am not looking forward to the ticket that will come in the mail later this month (speed camera on the 101), but there's nothing I can do about that now.