Rules for Eating Out With More Than Two Children

For future reference...

1. Upon entering restaurant, inform host/hostess that your party requires two separate tables. By separate, you do not mean two tables pushed together to resemble one. You mean TWO SEPARATE TABLES.

2. Never, ever, allow the hostess to seat you at one of those corner round tables that are intended for 8 to 19 people, but only really seat 6. And don't let them try to convince you that putting an extra chair at the table will make it more comfortable or pleasant.

3. If, after making these criteria known, the hostess still tries to seat you in one of the above mentioned manners, refuse the table. Offer to wait. Or leave and go find a restaurant that will be more accommodating to your dining needs.

4. This may be the most important rule of all. If, by previous arrangements, said children have been provided for by willing grandparents, DO NOT, under any circumstances, retrieve the children from the grandparents before proceeding to the restaurant. Leave them where they are. They will be cared for and amply fed by said grandparents. Go eat in peace.

My Easter Beauties

Happy Resurrection Day!

I love Easter! I love, mostly, what it means. It means my salvation. Easter is the remembrance of all that Jesus did for me. Without Easter, nothing else matters. I love Spring, and all the pretty flowers and colors...how everything is new again. New Life-get it?

I also love Christmas, but I think I have decided I love Easter more. I was thinking about it, and I realized why. At Easter, there are no obligatory events. No one has "Easter parties". Well, maybe a few kid parties or egg hunts, but even those are not "mandatory". There's no guilt in saying, "Sorry, but I don't think we'll be able to make the egg hunt. Y'all have fun without us." And if you do go, it's only because you want to and have the time. At least that is how it was for us when our girls were egg hunt age.

Also, other than a basket full of small goodies, there's no huge shopping effort at Easter. I do know that some people like to go all out in the Easter dress/shoes catagory, but I don't. The girls did shop for new dresses, but it was fairly low key. And they found shoes, but they were low key too. The attitude was, if we find something good, if not...oh well. I am lucky in that I sing in the choir and we have an Easter "uniform"...khaki pants or skirt and solid pastel top. Easy enough!

Lastly, Easter is all about Jesus. Christmas is supposed to be. We try hard to keep it that way. But other things always try to interfere. But Easter is just about Jesus. About church. That's it. No rushing home like on Christmas eve service to eat and read the Christmas story and hurry to bed and put out the presents. Just church and family on Easter. No wrapping paper or boxes or trees. No big clean up. At least at our house, it's a glorious morning of worship and a nice family afternoon.

So enjoy your day. Thank Jesus for all He did for you. Remember the enormity of His sacrifice. Enjoy the gift of love and mercy. Happy Easter!