Playing Catch Up.

The month of April was filled with much heartache and tragedy for our surrounding communities. On April 16, 2011,  a massive tornado ripped through our neighboring towns of Colerain and Askewville, killing many in it's path. The destruction was simply unbelievable. I had the opportunity to assist Samaritan's Purse with clean up one day following the storm, and what I saw before my eyes was simply unbelievable. However, the strength and love I saw through so many was just as powerful! I have never witnessed the power of God like I witnessed it as I stood amidst the crumbled houses and entire woods where all of the trees were snapped in half. I saw Him in the eyes of the survivors as they explained to me how the only room left standing in their home was the one they were standing in! It was as if God had cupped his hand around each of these survivors as the powerful storm destroyed everything around them. It is a time I will never forget!
Tragedy struck again on Easter Sunday as a friend and coworker of mine lost her brother and two year old nephew to a tragic accident. This family will be in my prayers for many days to come as they have a long road ahead of them, but I am so thankful they turn to the only One who can bring beauty from ashes!

Sometimes it seems like tragedies ,as those our communites have faced recently, cause us to step back and remember those things that our most important in our lives. We so often get caught up in all the busyness of caring for our homes and families that we sometimes take for granted all we have been blessed with and just how precious the ones we love are to us.

Despite so much heartbreak we heard of in April, there was also joy, and I would like to share with you some of the joy we experienced this past month....

ALS walk in Greenville in honor of our dear friend Cathy!

 Jaden's Fifth Grade class trip to the VA aquarium...

Fifth Grade boys are so silly!

Counting down the days until HE IS RISEN!!!!

Homecoming Festival at our church, Open Door Church!

Easter morning......

Annual Easter Egg Hunt at T and Papa's.... in the Collard Patch!!!

You know you are Southern if you hold your egg hunts in your collards!

Slip and Sliding has become an Easter Day tradition!

Trying to get a pretty Easter Pic of my boys....

April was a very full month! We welcomed the warmer temps, the budding trees, and the blooming flowers... Spring is my favorite time of year!