HAPPY EASTER!!!

I LOVE THIS HOLIDAY!

It's just the greatest!

The best news? I'm feeling lots better! I'd forgotten how much I truly love Easter!!! It's part lycloudy today, which is kind of nice, but it's still beautiful outside!

Yesterday I was so incredibly tired I literally couldn't move, but today, I have much more energy, I think my Rx's are finally starting to kick in and do their job! I'm not going to overdo it, but I did help mama with dinner!

Actually, it's one of the simplest Easter dinners we've ever made! I'm so glad she got it off, I enjoyed helping prepare the meal with her, and JoJo's here, so that makes it all the better! Colin's at work today, and he doesn't like anything we're making anyway, so it's kind of a girls' day, but that's cool! I'll see him Tuesday!

Anyway, mama and I made her famous Deviled Eggs, so delicious! I made a simply tantalizing glaze for the ham out of apricot jam, brown sugar, dijon mustard, a teeny bit of garlic and fresh orange juice! Oh my gosh, I impressed myself! I also fixed some asparagus the way my friend, Tessa, taught me. You put it in foil packets on the grill with butter, garlic, salt and pepper inside. So yummy! And of course, it isn't a real meal without potatoes, so for that, I'm making my simple warm potato salad. I really don't like potato salad, it's yucky, so one day many years ago, I decided to make my own. I take new red potatoes and put them in butter, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, salt and pepper! It's really good! At least, I hope this all turns out good, because it sounds delicious to me! We'll see! LOL!

I love cooking, I really miss it. I watched TV Food Network all day yesterday and it dawned on me how much I actually miss cooking. I used to cook all the time, but now I don't have the resources to do it as much as I'd like. I need to get back into it, I enjoy the heck out of it! I got some great ideas for recipies yesterday, although I've never been a real recipe person. I'm more like Rachel Ray, add a handful of this, a handful of that, and taste it 'till it comes out right! That's my kind of cooking! Anyway, I'm really looking foward to this meal--it'll be great!

Obviously, today is Easter and I feel it's important to remember the reason for the season! We hear that so much around Christmastime, and to me, Easter has always been just as important as Christmas--if not more. Easter is my kind of holiday because it's like Christmas in Spring--which is much more 'my' season!

I love the Easter Eggs and the bunnies and the food and all of that; however, the real reason for Easter is Jesus Christ. I absolutely love and adore the belief that Jesus rose from the dead and was resurected and reborn! Ascension is such a vital part of my own faith! I truly believe that all of us have the capacity to gain a greater understanding of Ascension. It's such a glorious thing! I think a lot of times Christians, as a whole, forget about it, and to me, it's so important. Jesus was a truly miraculous man, created in the image of God, by God, and for God. But, if he hadn't ascended like He did, He would've been just another disciple of God. It was Jesus' Ascension that made him a Christ. And that is beyond awesome!

(Obviously, I don't believe in the Trinity as I'm not Catholic, but I have nothing against them!)

By the way, I know I use the words "incredible, awesome, fabulous, terrific, cool, beuatiful, etc" all the time, but, the Ascension of Jesus Christ truly encompases all of those words. I was in the shower this morning thinking about it, and while I do wish I had gotten up early enough to go to church this morning, I know that my faith and my belief is in my heart.

Easter is in the heart!

And today, my heart could not be any fuller!!! The happiness, gratitude and sheer joy I'm feeling this Easter Sunday is just amazing! My mother's here, my good friend is here, all of my other family and friends are alive and healthy, I'm surrounded by great food and I'm even feeling better myself!

This is truly one very happy Easter for me! I hope it is for all of you too! Remember to let the reason for the season inspire you! Even if you're not Christian, there's still something pretty special about Springtime; the birth, the renewal, the flowers in bloom, everything turning green, great food, family and friends! This is indeed a day for celebration!

God has so richly blessed each and everyone of us. By sending His Son to die for our sins and then raising Him from the dead so we could all believe in the chance of re-birth! It just doesn't get any better than that!

I'd like to particularly thank my Grandma Elizabeth, as I'm thinking a lot about her today. She was the one who taught me about the real meaning of Easter! It is she who brought out the faith I already had in my heart! It is she who sparked it for me. It is she who taught me what I now know and believe about faith, God and spirituality. My grandma's my biggest spiritual mentor, and although I love everyone in my life, the spirituality that she and I share is something I truly cherrish in my life! More than anyone else in my life, mine and my grandma's relationship is based on faith and mutual spiritual beliefs! So many times, I'd feel lost if it weren't for her. So, thank you grandma, for teaching me the reason for every season and then being there for every one of them! I love you more than you will ever know!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

In Light N' Love,

-Sarah Liz :)

P.S. Nothing against my mother, Linda, here. She too is a great Christian woman who always put God in my heart and my head. Grandma just fostered it along! But, mama's the one who told me I was a child of God, first, and then hers. She's just a lot quiter about her faith than me and Grandma. But mama inspires me too, and she's the one who always taught me to feel grateful, despite whatever life handed us! And let's face it, all of my happy, bright and meaningful Easter memories and traditions come from my mother! She always made this such a special holiday for me; with the food, easter egg dying, everything! So, thank you mama, you're the best too!!! :) -SL

7:32pm--the dinner was terrific! Simple and delicious! It was really good! Oh, and I had to drive to Colin's earlier just to get out of my house. Being boarded up in my home (thank God I have one to be boarded up in), was seriously getting on my nerves. I only stayed for about 90 mins, but it was so nice to look at some different walls! I'd forgotten what a long drive it is over there, but he's worth it! I miss him and I'm looking foward to Tuesday!!! :) Anyway, dinner was great and JoJo's leaving tonight :(....hey, I'm happy for her and I'm glad we both enjoyed her stay here! It was nice to have the company! Gotta run!

Great video about Easter and its origins!
http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=795F6C42-D211-40DF-815A-018058BEDBE1&t=c3438&f=06/64&p=hotvideo_easter&fg=&GT1=9246

Easter Articles:
http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter