HE is RISEN Indeed!

 Easter morning came quickly after yesterday's long drive. There was no coffee waiting as when I set the clock last night on the coffee maker I didn't see it was am instead of pm. We were each able to have at least one cup before needing to get ready for the sunrise service at the Fellowship hall. That was well attended. Rene Endress catered the delicious meal. After the meal the tables were taken down and the chair set up. Dave and Chase led the singing and when I looked back the fellowship hall was full of so many people praising our Risen Lord is song. After the congregational singing the group named The Last Resorts came up to sing one song, then the group named An Arrangement of Men and they sang 2 songs. Then came Dean Thomas.  His mother Lucille is a second to our mom and we knew them very well. Dean was always so quiet and shy I was actually shocked but thrilled when he started speaking this morning. The video below contains both of the singing groups and Dean giving the wonderful message. 

After the service Mark helped put away chairs then we left for church and arrived just in time. Tim Funk had our Easter message. Click HERE if you would like to watch that. It was hard to leave as there were so many people to visit with. Once home I needed to run up to the apartment to change the washer and dryer. The guest left a message that her son had an accident on the futon and she had the sheets in the dryer and the comforter in the washer and she was so sorry. She left the apartment very clean and she didn't have anything to be sorry about accidents happen. While waiting for the dryer I decided to move Lily, her colt, Cookie and Tatiana into the pond pasture as the grass is growing so well. Lily's colt was taking a nap, Cookie was drowsing in the shade and Lily and Tatiana were busy grazing. 

When I called Lily she started walking toward me, her colt jumped up to follow.

Tatiana who was busy grazing lifted her head then ran over to Evan and started showing. While she was busy with Evan I took the other 3 to the paddock.  They ignored the hay and went straight for the back gate to go grazing.

Tatiana was waiting at the gate to be taken over but since she was in season she was taken to the breeding stand and Valiant brought out. He was very well behaved and didn't jump or rush her until he was given permission by me. Tatiana stood well. Once she was successfully covered she was put in the field with Lily.  Evan was put out in the back field. This way tomorrow if the weather holds Mark can clean his paddock. He was excited to be out there but also worried that the mares were moved so kept running back into his paddock.

I quit working with the horses and went into the house to finish cooking. Today we skipped lunch then had an early dinner eating at 3:00 pm. Mark had purchased a 13 pound spiral sliced ham that was put in the oven at noon at 275. At 2:15 pm the glaze was made and put on then the ham went back into the oven for a half an hour.  While that was finishing cooking the new potatoes were cooked, the asparagus cooked, a salad made and Avanti's bread was sliced and fried in butter. All of the food was taken over to the new barn and all of it was delicious. We had brownies and ice cream for dessert. After supper Sarah and Nolan's girls had so much fun playing with all of the toys. They had an entire week with just a few toys and now home all of these toys are like new.

After they left we brought the left overs back to the house, put the food away and only then did I see Lily come running up to the back of Valiant's paddock and start showing. Lily and her colt brought out. The colt was put in the front of the breeding shed paddock and Lily tied at the breeding stand and then it was time to bring Evan. He saw her there and couldn't arrive fast enough. 

This is the first time we have ever used Evan for Lily but since I've been out of town I don't know if Lily is coming in, has been in, or going out so it was important to get her covered. I've always used Valiant with her as Lily is 17 hands and Valiant a better fit as he is a solid 16.2 but Valiant was just used on Tatiana.  Evan is 16 hands and had no trouble covering her. If she conceives the foal will still be tall and will more than likely inherit the mega hair. I could hear the sound of distant thunder as that job was getting done but made it easily into the house before the rain started up. This rain will bring new life and I'm praying both mares will conceive and also bring forth new life. We have had a wonderful Resurrection Day and can't help but be thankful. 

Home

 We planned on getting up around 2:00 am to leave for home but that didn't quite turn out. We all went to bed around 7:30 pm but phone call, after phone call and text after text happened on my phone. I think I finally fell asleep around 11:00 pm. Then came the sirens, loud police sirens starting up right at our condo. That woke up everyone and by 1:45 am we were on the road. Sarah started driving and while she drove we dozed or slept in the car. She stopped at 5:30 am, I took over and drove until after 10:00 when we finally stopped at a Loves gas station for gas and to get some breakfast. They didn't have much hot food for sale but I bought a hot dog. That was the toughest hotdog ever. I guess I've never had a gas station hot dog before but sure thought they would be better. Nolan took over and around 1:00 pm  we were driving through St. Louis. 

We were going over the bridge into Peoria at 3:08 pm and made it Nolan and Sarah's by 3:15 pm. It took 13 and a half hours. We had just 2 stops for gas (and that awful hotdog). My car had been left at their house so as soon as my stuff was unloaded from their car and into mine I was on the final leg of the journey. I'm glad to be home. It was a very relaxing vacation. Sarah cooked all of the meals and even did most of the clean up. We had good walks on the beach, sitting around the pool, enjoying the hot tub and just being together. All of the pictures and videos were moved from the laptop to the desktop this evening and a video is now in the works from day one to the last day. That is posted below.  All of the travelers are now safe at home. 

Last Day

 It was a little cooler this morning, Rhoda and Lee decided to go to the zoo and I chose to go with them. David and Steph's family along with Sarah and Zion went to the beach they used during the pandemic. That beach is a mile and a half walk but very private and lots of shells. Zion brought back a sack full. We had fun at the zoo and of course the favorite was the lions and the alligators. 

We are currently packing to head home so not all of the pictures of the zoo is posted but if you want to see the what I got done click HERE. Iris and Zeke really enjoyed the playground

They also enjoyed the carousal.

We stopped for a quick lunch on the way home. When we arrived we went right down to the pool. The hikers were not yet back.

When the hikers arrived they were excited about how nice and private the beach was and so many shells. They were glad to jump in the pool and then made waves.

As today is our last day they hiked to Pier 33 for slushies then back to the pool area until quite late. We are not packing and plan on pulling out around 2:00 am. 

 

Another Beach Day

 I left the condo around 6:20 am to document the sunrise this morning. There was a lightening of the sky and the moon was out as I was walking across to the beach. Those are the townhomes below the moon where a couple of my siblings have units. 

It wasn't long before the sky turned red and gold.

A couple of Osprey flew over head fishing and then came a couple of pelicans just skimming over the water.

As the glow started to lighten I took the picture below and then a video of the sun rising out of the water.

It was so beautiful I wasn't ready to head back so started hiking to the pier. By the time I got back to the condo they were ready to head down to the pool and hot tub.

It was still early, before 8:30 am and the temperature was only 59 degrees outside but these grand children seem to be impervious to the cold and played in the water of that unheated pool.

They were having so much fun it was hard to convince them the beach would be even more fun but we adults were able to convince them. This time Nolan brought the fishing cart filled with chairs, toys, snacks and drinks and that made it easier to walk across the street to the beach. Rhoda saw a big ray so they all went running over to watch.

After 4 or 5 hours it was time to use the hot tub, indoor/outdoor pool and the new kiddie pool at Island Royale.

They made their own lazy river. We pretty much had the entire facility to ourselves for most of the time as everyone else was out on the beach. 

After a couple hours though we were back on the beach. We tried to line up the 7 on this trip for a picture.

Above is the best I got below they were acting silly.

IF you would like to see the rest of the pictures from today click HERE. 

We stayed out until it seemed we were all fried to a crisp then headed back to the condo. Almost all the kids went swimming again or used the hot tub at the condos we are staying in although Zeke needed a nap. David and Stephanie had their date day today so Rhoda watched their two then this evening Rhoda and Lee had their date night and Stephanie watched their two. Sarah made a fantastic dinner for us. Today is my youngest sister's birthday and the other sisters decided to surprise her with a fancy tea. They sent back some pictures.

Everyone dressed up fancy.

Mark took the picture below then sent the message, you are really missing out on a party!

Even Ruby came all dressed up.

It looks like they are having too much fun without me. 

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Beach Day

 Our Wednesday dawned without a cloud in the sky and stayed that way all day. Amazing how hot it gets down here with bright sunshine. We started early, right after breakfast, by going down to the pool and hot tub.

I think it was around 9:30 am when we walked over to the beach. This was the most crowded I've seen the beach. 

I only stayed out for a couple hours. The sun was just too hot. By the time I was leaving there were a lot of people swimming and boogie boarding in the waves. I went back to the condo and sat outside in the shade with a good book. In the afternoon the rest were also done with the beach and came to cool off in the pool.

Nolan's friend Jason brought down the slingshot he rented and gave rides. Below he and Nolan are taking off for an adventure.

At 4:30 pm we all met at the corner to walk to the Hang Out for supper. That place has so many fun things for kids to do including a tunnel and a foam pit.

They had such a good time but soon it was time to go in for our dinner.

While we were eating our food we watched a helicopter hovering over the water. Someone told us the rescue squad was practicing their jumps.

Just as we finished a fire engine pulled up and the firemen came right to where we were sitting. On the other side of the wall someone needed help.

After we finished we walked to a nearby park and let the kids have fun climbing.

IF you would like to see the rest of the pictures from today click HERE.

From there we walked to Cherry Top ice cream store and finally as it was getting dark walked home. All of the children and almost all of us adults are exhausted from our long day in the sun.

News from home is Mark moved a bale in for Evan and Evan is now out on pasture.  Diane has guests at the cabin so Lily, her colt and Cookie are now in the cabin field. They have had a lot of rain there.  Phil and Anna picked up the now fixed motorhome. The check engine light was because a wire came off of one of the coils. Mark put on new windshield wipers. That will be ready for Phil and Anna to bring down here to Gulf Shores. 

Rainy Tuesday

 As the weather forecast was not good today and it was raining when we awoke we planned to go to Souvenir City then to the Factory (trampoline park) as soon as it opened at 11:00 am. It was still raining when we arrived so no pictures of the shark front door or the pirate boat back door. The grandchildren were fascinated with the many shells and of course the sharks floating above. 

Thankfully we made it out of there without buying OR breaking anything. We made it to the factory 10 minutes before it was supposed to open and there was already a line. We didn't actually make it to the trampoline floor until close to 11:30 am. Our passes were for 2 hours and by the time those 2 hours passed everyone was exhausted, hot and ready to leave. I took lots of videos as it was too hard for the phone to focus with so much jumping going on. Those videos will be made into 1 big one and posted after we get home but below are a few pictures.

The rain was supposed to stop and the sun come out this afternoon and it was sunny when we walked out of the door of the trampoline park but by the time we got back to the condo the clouds were back and it started sprinkling. That meant the hot tub instead of the beach.

The sun finally broke through the clouds and that made it plenty warm enough to swim.

Sarah went in to make supper for our condo while we enjoyed sitting in the sun visiting. After supper we all went to Rhoda and Lee's condo for games.

The adults played 2 different games while the kids played UNO.

Even though it started out rainy we still got some sunshine and we were all thankful. The kids are exhausted and everyone is going to have an early night.