After spending a few days in Palm Springs with my family, my mom came back to Bakersfield with us. It was our first time to have an overnight visitor to our house since we've moved, and it was really fun to show Nana around our new town.
After a delicious country breakfast at 24th Street Cafe in downtown Bakersfield, we spent a morning at the Kern County Museum, which was quite interesting. It has a large outdoor area with about 50 old buildings that have been moved from their original location, showing how people lived in Kern County in the 1800s. The girls loved looking at the pioneer town. It also has exhibits on the impact of WWII on Kern, the history of oil drilling in Kern, and the Bakersfield sound. Leaving the museum, I thought, "who knew Bakersfield was so interesting?!"
On Friday, Mom agreed to keep the kids overnight while Brian and I escaped to Paso Robles for our yearly planning and prayer time. It was so great! Paso is only about a 2 hour drive from here. We went straight to Justin Vineyards for lunch and a wine tasting and it was delicious! Their wines are outstanding! We spent the rest of our time talking, planning, setting goals for the year, praying, and more eating. It was just what we needed to come together and make sure we are one in heart and mind. We appreciate Nana so much! I think she and the girls had a great time at home too, dying eggs and going to see Zootopia.
Easter was a fun family day, starting with our traditional search for the hidden Easter baskets. Sarah was a little tired and not into playing the search game (too babyish), so she laid on the couch until I told her where her basket was hidden. She also informed me that this is going to be her last year to get an Easter basket. I wonder if she'll feel the same way next March...
We attended an outdoor Easter service at the Bakersfield Amphitheater. It was very sunny, and a little warmer than I expected (I should have worn my Easter sundress instead of jeans!) but the service was great. Twenty-eight people were baptized in the lake after the service!
After church, we came home and fixed an Easter dinner: grilled salmon, sautéed chard, citrus salad, and pear frangipane tart for dessert. It was delicious and so nice to have Leigh and Mom with us for our Easter celebration. Then the girls had an egg hunt in the yard, which was quite amusing. Sarah is traditionally not very good at finding things, unless it involves candy. Then she has an eagle eye! The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing by the pool, watching the girls swim. It was a beautiful, blessed weekend.But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28:5-6
He is risen indeed!
