My Mom and Brother's Visit

Last week was so much fun. My mom and brother Bobby came to visit me for my birthday. They were able to spend four days here. We mostly just relaxed at our house, but we also enjoyed a Friday morning breakfast Mike cooked for us, the beautiful weather at the park, a cookout at Mike's parents' house, and great services and fellowship at church on Sunday. I feel like the Lord really blessed our time together in a special way. I received some nice gifts, but I think the best was that Mom and Bobby wanted to spend time with me and my family. I couldn't have asked for anything more!
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Great Grandpa Gard's Legacy

My Great Grandpa Gard went home to be with the Lord Thursday. Pictured above are Mike and myself with Grandpa a couple years ago.

Here are some thoughts and memories I have of my Great Grandpa Gard:

When Grandpa and Grandma lived in the high rise in Pekin, they babysat me. I remember them feeding me oatmeal with raisins (I never thought it had enough sugar) and Grandpa letting me put barrettes in his hair. Grandpa was the first one to take me to church. I couldn't have been more than 4 years old.

Later on he moved into Grandpa and Grandma Gard's basement where he took care of Grandma until she went home to be with the Lord. I would sometimes go with Mom to visit him there. More often than that, though, he would come over to our house and just hang out. He was usually pretty quiet but made no qualms about speaking his mind if he felt the need. He subscribed to Reader's Digest and bought me many books from them because he knew that I loved to read. Some of my favorites were series like Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, The Sugar Creek Gang, and Winnie the Pooh.

In the last few years, I remember him talking a lot about the Return of his Savior Jesus Christ. He really wanted to still be alive when Christ came back, but now he is with Jesus, beholding His face.

Here are some verses that I love to think of in regard to Grandpa's going to Heaven.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8:18
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." - Psalm 116:15
"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." - Psalm 16:11

Praise the Lord, Grandpa had a strong Christian testimony. I'm thankful for the good influence he had on my life and my family's life, and for the good many good memories I have of him. It is comforting to know that I will see him again in Heaven some day.

Resurrection Sunday

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. As you can see from the picture, it was a bright sunny day. Our church calls Easter Resurrection Sunday. Mike taught the adult Sunday school class and his dad preached the morning message, and both were about the resurrection of Christ. I couldn't imagine spending Easter morning anywhere besides the church house. I'm so thankful for the assurance that Christ is alive today, for if Christ had not risen, my faith would be in vain and I would be "yet in my sins" (I Corinthians 15:13-21). Praise the Lord, I'm saved from my sins and God has given me a great family and church family with whom to celebrate this truth.
"For since my man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." - I Corinthians 15:21,22