Easter layouts to share

These are two layouts I did of our Easter this year. One is an Easter egg hunt and bbq at a family from our church. The other is from my family Easter get together. The Easter poems were written by my husband. Papers and tags are from Crossed Paths Easter Collection. Creative Memories cutting system used for egg shapes.

(Click on images for larger view)

Easter

I am going on vacation soon and want to publish the next issue of the Faithfully Yours ezine before I leave. The theme of this issue is Easter. I keep putting it off and I only have a couple days left. You see, I'm in denial. Before I go on, if you knew me, you would know that this is very hard for me and isn't me. I'm one of those goody two shoes nice girls who likes everyone to think everything is all right. I'm opening my heart here...

Last weekend we got together with my family to celebrate Easter. Everything was going along fine. We just finished dinner and opening presents. (we were celebrating birthdays too) Not quite ready for dessert yet, we were just sitting around talking and spending time together. Well, a friend of ours that came along, brought up church. My sil very abruptly said, "Can we not talk about religion today?" Well, this didn't sit well with my husband as he got up and started rounding up the kids. I was confused. She is a devout Catholic and goes to church regularly. My brother on the other hand does not and my mom stopped going after the kids left home. And I can't remember a time my dad has been to church, even for one of our "programs". I have been wanting to witness to my family and we have been trying slowly. (I suppose) I kind of got up slowly pretending I didn't know what was going on around me. My sil said to me, "I hope you are not leaving because of what I said." I said I think we are. And then she started to tell me that she didn't like the letter I wrote my brother at Christmas(I wrote him a letter telling him my feelings and I how I wanted him to come to know the Lord, etc. and that I wasn't sure if my sil was saved) She felt I was judging her. I felt like I had just been punched in the stomach, I didn't know what to say. I was completely caught off guard and was well -shocked! I just got my stuff and left! I sat in the back of van, mad at my husband for leaving so suddenly, mad at my sil, mad at my brother and mad at myself. My head was pounding, I was fighting not to throw up and I was so upset! I feel like I have lost my family-like I have to choose between my family now and my parents and brother! We rarely talk or get together just holidays. All I can think of is how the next holiday is Mother's Day and I don't think we will be getting together. I feel soo alone in this because my dh doesn't understand. I know he will just quote scripture and say the verse about "losing your family over me". So I guess I'm a little mad at God too. I'm sorry! I know this probably doesn't make much sense. I keep trying to pretend it didn't happen, yet I cry myself to sleep every night. I know what I need to do, I just can't though. I haven't opened my Bible and only read a couple devotionals, my prayers are "routine". I'm scared.

We are now only two days from leaving for vacation. We will be gone for 10 days. My mom Idid call to wish us a safe trip and she babbled on for awhile, but nothing was said about our Easter get together. I just couldn't bring it up. So I'm not sure what to think. I'm hoping to go away on vacation, "get away from everything" for awhile and come back ready to face reality. She did mention she is off work the first week of May and her and my dad want to spend a day with the kids. So maybe then.

Anyway, thanks for "listening". I appreciate everyone. I will be returning on April 29 and hope to catch up on emails soon after. Take care...

Faithfully,

Dawn

The Storm

I want to talk about a recent experience here in the Stegall house. A storm blew through the area and we had lost power for several hours. Our family plus several friends were over. We sat in the basement by candlelight talking, playing and enjoying each others company while waiting for the storm to pass. Once it did, we still had no power. We moved back upstairs and all sat by a picture window in our front rooom where it was very brightly lit and played handclapping games! With four girls and two female friends, the two males in the house were starting to get pretty competitive with this handclapping game "Down by the banks". But the girls prevailed! Then we switched to playing Uno. I think we should change the name to "Sorry!" Everytime we played a "bad" card we said, "I'm sorry, but it was all I had!" Too funny! We moved to the family room, cuddled up on couches and starting discussing the sermon and Bible study from earlier that morning. Although we were under watch until 11:30, our friend felt it was safe enough to leave. Katlynn, my oldest daughter, didn't agree. She wrote a poem about the entire experience. Together we turned it into a scrapbook page.

Journaling:

The Storm
The storm hit the city, it didn't look pretty. We were all so worried. Then we all hurried to safety... But lately it didn't sound good, then it started to clear up. But abruptly we started to have fun. While we were playing it went away. It sarted to look good, it would be okay. We started to pray, the sky looked gray. Til 11:30 we were on watch, but then she botched and went home. The phone wasn't wroking, but the cell started ringing. She told us when it would occur. We were all talking about how much we loved God. And how we spread his Word because we love Him. He saved us from the storm, even though it was raining it is better. God saved her, she is okay. Hallelujah! April 2, 2006

Scripture on tag:
The Lord is my strength... Exodus 15:2

Materials used:
*Reminders of Faith Hope collection blue leaves, blue reversible cardstock, tag sheet
*Crossed Paths Praise collection-Give Praise
*American Traditional stickers
Title: computer font "chiller"
Circle punch, stamped with button

*Available in the Faithfully Yours store.