Easter Sunday 2019

Purple columbine blooms at Barn at Wildwood Spring

Easter Sunday

April 21, 2019

Kenny & Dana Koogler

John and Debbie Wilbourn

Lydia, Jared and Gabe Koogler

Adam, Crystal, Michael and Tessa Lindsey

Liz McClanahan and Jonas Carrigan

Plus many more.

   We had a particularly joyful Easter this year.    We have come a long way in a year's time
thanks to the wonder working power and grace of our Lord to heal and restore.   Last year our Easter was a joyful occasion as well. We spent it with our son and grandson at Miracle Lake Christian Training Center.   Jared was on track getting his life turned around with the help of the counselors, and the Holy Spirit's transforming power.   Yet our happiness was incomplete.  We still had division
and separation in the mixture.   We celebrated this year's Easter holiday as a united family who both loves one another as well as LIKES one another. 

    We attended church at Rocky Branch Missionary Baptist, our regular home church. 
We had the distinct pleasure of enjoying meeting and listening to our newly hired pastor, Rev.
Chad Morrison.  He is an energetic, bright young man with a lovely family.   Everyone was dressed up in their Easter frocks.   Gabriel was  in his suit and tie now age 2 1/2.  He was up singing with the other kids and running around the church happily.   Service was beautiful.  It felt so good to be there.
A member of our church family, Ms. Joy Beth Walters was there and is getting up and around again! This alone is an answer to prayer.   Having a new pastor and a fresh start is another answered prayer.

     We were also invited to a potluck lunch at the Barn at Wildwood Spring.  It is owned and run by our near neighbors Mike and Michelle Roach.   We were delighted to be asked and I let them know we would attend.   I prepared a fresh berry salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, a carrot cake,
barbecued pork tender loin, sweet tea, and homemade macaroni and cheese.

    Church service was beautiful and our new pastor has an incredibly good singing voice!
He treated us to a special song during worship.   We changed clothes and got ready to head to Mike and Michelle's. It is less than a mile from our home. Lunch was great. 
We had quite a spread.  I was flattered that I did not have a lot of stuff to bring home! 
We met some nice people. We enjoyed one another's company.  It was a perfect day.
We have come a long way since last year with the Lord's help.  He is transforming our family and our lives for the better. Debbie pointed out something I have also said. While our family is healing and doing much better there are still lots of folks who are not there yet.  It is important to remember this and reach a hand back to help the next person or family who needs help.   Pray for them. Be there for them. That is what it is all about.

I took precious few photos today.  Here is one of "Slick" driving my jeep.  Gabe dressed up  for church. He's good looking and he knows it.

 Gabe rolling in the grass outside the barn.

 Jared and Lydia

 Nana Debbie

 friends

 Gabe and Papaw hunt eggs

 Tessa in purple, Kenny and Gabe and others

 Tessa, Pawpaw and Gabe above and below. finding a golden egg!

 Daughter in law Lydia

 Son in law Adam

 Jared and Gabe

 Papa John Wilbourn and Michael making a deal on eggs

 Mike Roach and Adam

 Mike Roach driving, Kenny in back, Papa and Adam along side

 Two little girls petting the angora bunny

 View of the blue skies past the silo

 everyone having fun

 Above: Two views of the grounds and waterfall.

 Spring fed creek flowing on .. this eventually flows into Little River

 Flowers above the falls/pond.

Lydia, Gabe and our neighbor and friend Roy.