This Easter Sunday we were up early enough to go to the first mass.

I thought of the Easter gifts from our Lord:
Courage to endure suffering, sacrifice, or difficult circumstances.
Redemption for our sins, or recovery from disorder.
Hope of eternal life to overcome the face of death.

At midday my extended family gathered at our home for Easter feast.  I got to say grace.

In the afternoon I took the kids to the park while my wife napped.  I was very concerned about keeping my younger son safe as he darted out in front of a car the last time we went on a bike ride.  As we were preparing to leave I became preoccupied with strapping the girls in their trailer.  When I looked up, my older son and his cousin had left (with permission) and the younger one was nowhere to be seen.  I looked around the corner down the street and didn't see him so it was clear that he was gone and had followed the other boys. I got worried sick as I thought of the traffic on the major road near the park.  I said a little prayer for him and set out with the girls.  It turns out that the older boys went to the wrong park down the street and when they noticed the younger one following they told him to go back and left him alone.  When I got to the park, he was making his way along the trail ahead of me.  I was thankful that he was ok but then I was worried about the other two boys.  I imagined the dangerous, steep drainage culvert where my son likes to ride.  I imagined the cousin having a wreck and breaking his arm and my son trying to help him.  After about 15 minutes they came to the park where we were at.  Thanks be to God.

We had a great time throwing the football at the park.  The cousin loved it and asked me where we learned this game.  When we got home I made the two boys write sentences.

We got to watch the opening day game between the Yankees and the Red Socks and we talked about what my son learned.

Thanks be to God.