He is Risen!

I know Easter was a couple days ago, but He still is risen today so I'm gonna say anyway...
Friday was Van's funeral, sad - but only for ourselves and for Grandma Sally - he was going to spend Easter with Jesus (doesn't get any cooler than that!)

Saturday I worked and then met up with Aubrey at the salon to get our hair done... then to the cheap nail place to get our eyebrows waxed (why pay $20, when you can pay $10???) Saturday night we met Brandon and Aubrey for dinner at Famous Dave's and discovered that it is our favorite BBQ place, but not on weekends! Weekdays when it's less busy the food is better!

Easter morning Ben came home from work with the start of a migraine, but toughed it out and was able to avoid the full blown effects. Had breakfast with my in-laws and then to a very 'interesting' church service. We'd been there before and always enjoyed the service but after Sunday I don't think we'll be going back. I got the message but didn't like how the pastor got there. Having a member of the church on the big screen on a pre-recorded interview about how bad his life was before he accepted Christ is good and all - but far too much detail was used. If we'd had a child at the service, the rest of the day would have been spent explaining what "hits off a bong" and "smoking a bowl" meant, as well as explaining that putting a loaded weapon in your mouth and pulling the trigger WILL kill you regardless of God's absolute love for you!!! Yes, there's no sin too awful that God can't bring you back to Him - but we don't need deatils dude, not at Easter service with lots of little ears around! Another interesting tid bit: No one in, or at the service (other than my Mother in Law, Vicki) said "He is Risen!" Hello? Easter anyone?
We spent the rest of the day making the rounds to visit with family and had a great time Ben missed Aunt Cindy's house when his migraine started to show it's face again, he slept it off and joined me at my Dad's house. My cousin Devin was in town so it was nice to have him with us as well.

As we we're getting ready to leave my Dad's we got word that a Marine in Ben's unit died this weekend. So far they're thinking a possible aneurysm, but we won't know until the autopsy results come back. Ben's unit is activated at the moment and in Africa. Ben and the other guys still 'in', already having deployed to Iraq, didn't go - but the new kids and those that didn't go to Iraq are manning a station for a tour. There's no conflict currently, it's just basically a stationing point. They get time off and get to leave base and go into town, etc... He was 21 years old, and leaves behind a new wife, they were married just before he left. As far as we know now, he was getting ready for work when he passed out and passed away. His body will be flying in on Friday and the funeral is slated for Saturday, I'm not sure if the family's decided to have a full on military service but as a Marine, he is active until turned over to his family - he will be pulled off the plane by his boys in full dress blues. Ben has offered and is awaiting word if he'll be one that gets to welcome him home... 2 deployments to Iraq (including the initial invasion) and no injuries, but 2 weeks in Africa and the unit loses one like this... Definitely not expected!
Not the way we wanted to end our Easter day, but just another reminder of how blessed we are for our time here with loved ones and so thankful for knowing that, because of Jesus, we have eternity awaiting us after we leave this place.

We're still praying for this day shift for Ben, the position closes for applications on Friday so hopefully we'll know something by next week!