Minutes to Memories

It has been a really nice Easter, in spite of the much colder weather (there was actually some sleet last night on the Mississippi Gulf Coast!).

The picture above is of the Smith family from last November. Hillary and I ran into Bud last week at Wal-Mart, and he invited our family over today for Easter dinner. We shared a feast with their impressive family and really had a blast. We enjoyed hanging out with the Smiths, their close friends, the Medinas, and their priest, Father Farrell. Father Farrell couldn't stay away from the Masters on television, and before I left he invited me along for a round at St. Andrew's sometime! Erica came in late last night (actually early this morning) just to spend Easter Sunday at church with us, and it was extra special to spend the afternoon at the Smiths with our entire family.

Our Sunday morning worship was extra special today, too. First of all, Awesome Dawson made his first appearance at church! For those who remember, Dawson weighed in at 1lb, 15oz when he was born just before Thanksgiving. He now weighs in at over 9 pounds and it was very neat for everyone to see whom they have been praying for for so long now. Second, I asked my friend, Al, to get up and tell his story. After a life filled with addictions to drugs and alcohol, he turned his life around by giving it to Jesus at the Home of Grace treatment facility. When he finished his story, he actually received a standing ovation! And we just don't do standing ovations in the Church of Christ, you know! :-)

Between Dawson's public appearance and Al's testimony, I didn't have to add much to display today what Easter is all about - God making everything new.