Easter in Mississippi 2011

This Easter we did not go to my sister's house in Alabama like we usually do. She worked (nurse) all Easter weekend so we went to Mississippi instead. We were there for a very short trip, but thankful to have gone. We stayed about 3 days, but David was traveling for work 1.5 of those days, so he was pretty busy still.

We left Good Friday and took a different than usual route on a mostly two lane highway through Arkansas. It was nice to see new scenery and to be in the country. We read a few readings from our church's Easter family worship guide called "The Longest Week". We read and discussed the Last Supper and the Crucifixon together and the joy that the gospel does not end there, but that our Savior after dying in our place rose again so that we could have life in Him. It was a sweet time to reflect as a family. We were trying to make it to the Mississippi Delta before sun-down to do two work sites for David, but alas we did not make it quite early enough for picture taking. David had gotten tied up at work that morning (on his holiday). So we drove on to his parents house in Maben getting there about 11:00pm. After talking for a bit, we slept our 6 hours.

David and Nathaniel got up early the next morning to go back to Belzoni and Leland for work while the Bug and I stayed with the rest of the Willers family. Speaking of waking up early (which Brieleigh rarely does because she is more of a night owl), as David was leaving, the chickens outside were going crazy. The rooster crowed, then Brieleigh sat straight up in bed, said "cock-a-dooo", then laid back down and fell back asleep. Sadly, she only slept about 5 more minutes before sitting up, climbing out of the bed, and running to the window to see the chickens. She and I got up (while most everyone else was still asleep) and paid our dues to the chickens, dogs, goat, and horse. Brieleigh LOVED it though she was a little more scared to actually touch the animals this time. Granted, they are alot bigger than in her books.

Anna, Brieleigh, and I went to the Cotton District Arts Festival for about an hour in Starkville. I ended up seeing about 10 people I knew from college! Small world- the holiday brings everyone together I guess. At one point I was standing there talking to half of my high school graduating class! (Ok, so that is 3 people, but still!) When David got back, we all walked around the farm and just hung out before heading to Louisville.

We ate supper at the new Market Cafe with Mom, Madeline, and Cal. Yummy! It is so fun that Louisville now has a fancy-ish, fun restaurant. Of course we saw alot of long-lost friends there too- it is Smalltown, USA- that is why I love it! Uncle Cal and Aunt Maddy gave Brieleigh a little Easter basket since Madeline never got one herself. It consisted of hairbows, a bunny balloon, a bug net, and sunglasses- she loved playing with it and it has all been very useful!

Sunday we went to church with my family. It was a packed house so I sat in between David's chair and Mom's chair on top of a heat/air grate. Yes, my heels got stuck. It was worth it though- the sermon was from Revelations when John saw the vision of God. We were reminded that what do we have to fear but God when he is so much bigger and greater than any minute thing here in earth? And He tells John, "Do not fear" when He sees God in His glory. I am not a preacher obviously, but it was a good sermon! We ate lunch at home, took a nap, visited Grandaddy, then had the Willers over for supper. We walked around Mom's yard alot, ate, watched the Braves, played Family, and called a tow truck (see below). It was a fun and adventerous night! It was great to celebrate the Resurrection with family!

This is the little car which used to be my mom's and which we got from my grandfather's house. We have pictures of all of us grandkids riding in it when we were young, so it was so fun to let Brieleigh have her turn!

Brieleigh, her car, and her bestest bud, Tiger

She loved all the attention from both sides of the family watching her ride the car.



This is the tow truck incedent. When the Willers were leaving that night, the driver (who shall remain nameless lest I get in big trouble) drove off the driveway in the ditch and got stuck on the culvert. The boys attempted to get the car unstuck by pulling it with another truck but did not have success. They could have gotten it out fine with a little more effort and deliberating, but they have towing insurance so decided to go that route instead of risking it.
 The boys who were watching and waiting for the tow truck.



Some other members of the party enjoying the late night entertainment and getting texts from friends reporting sightings of the tow truck driving through town headed our way.

Anna, Maddy, Me, and Ethan (and Brieleigh some of the time) decided to lay on the road and star-gaze. (Don't worry, we live on a dead end).

The after effect

The massive tow truck

 Monday morning I went to the dentist to get my crown for my root canal I had in March (one of the top reasons for coming home even for a short time). Mom drove me, David worked, and Brieleigh stayed with Aunt Maddy. They went to McDonalds for breakfast then went to hang out with Grandaddy. We planned to leave Monday and visit more work sites in route to Dallas, but David thought of a good idea to keep Brieleigh out of the car. He decided to go alone and do the sites because it would take about the same amount of time, Brieleigh and I could stay with Mom and Maddy, and we could spend the night and leave the next morning. We girls walked around downtown, ate lunch at Market Cafe again, then visited Maddy at work, and walked around the block. David got home late, then we left early the next morning. It was such a fast but fun trip!

Brieleigh "ordering" a snow cone from her Aunt Maddy at Brain Freeze. We all shared a birthday cake and wedding cake snow cone and a Blue Bell cookies and cream milkshake. Yum! I wished I lived closer (or maybe it is good I do not).

Visiting Grandaddy

Maddy holding Brieleigh and the gigantic stuffed bunny.
(But not the Easter Bunny because he is not real. Jesus is... we don't want Brieleigh to grow up confused so we told her this often. Yes, we are those parents who ruin the "fun" for everyone.)