*yawn*

Well...
Well, well, well. This post is a little over-due, but, oh well. I have an excuse.
Since I last posted on Saturday night, work went pretty well, as it continued to snow outside. At around midnight, an hour before I was due to leave, our team leads went around, telling anyone who was due to drive over 20 mins to get home, that they could leave then. I was supoer excited. So, I finished up my call, and headed out at about 12:15. I got Andy a coffee, and went to drop it off to him at home. I got home, and he wasn't there. I didn't have the time to go around looking for him (I figured he was at Deana's anyways), so I left the coffee on the table, and went to the library. I stopped momentarily while at the library to just check in and see if I could find Andy. He was online, and told me that he WAS indeed at Deana's. He asked for a coffee so I told him that I got him one, and it's at home. He said that he'd get that later when he does go home. I chatted for a few minutes to my dear friend Brad, and then got some gas. Filled up and then called the parents. By this time it was 1am. I told mom and dad to give me about 3 hours to get there. Normally it takes 2, but I figured with the weather it might take longer. So... I hung up and began to drive.... and drive....... and drive............. and drive............
It took me a -very- long time as the roads were completely snow covered, visibility was beyond poor, and I didn't go above 40 the entire time. I wont document the whole drive, but I will tell you that it took me 5 and a half hours!... 5.5 hours!!!! That's almost 3 times as long!
A few things kept me entertained though through-out the drive. Between Middleton and Lawrencetown, I drove through what seemed to be a 'gang'. About 10 or so guys, drunk, walking down the middle of the road. I locked my doors upon approaching them and slowly drove through. I'm sure they weren't a gang, but rather a bunch of guys walking in the road, but it was so surreal and weird.
Also, after I got on the highway in Bear River-ish (I took the number 1 as far as possible), I saw some guy get ON the highway, from an OFF ramp. It confused me at first, and then made me laugh.
I ended up scaring my parents by taking 5.5 hours and not calling (sorry!), and met up with dad on the highway somewheres between Digby and Weymouth. He followed me all the way to mom and dad's house where mom was also awake... and so was the sun. I walked in the house, and saw an easter egg on the floor, then another. I smiled as mom made a small joke about Fluffy (the cat) laying eggs. I did my mini-easter egg hunt and then sat down at the kitchen table.
We decided that we wouldn't go back to bed since we'd have to get up in a few hours for Easter Brekkie. We talked for a bit until dad was busting with excitement. He told us to close our eyes, and went to get out surprises! He put a frame-feeling things in our hands, and told us to open our eyes. I looked down, and I saw a plaque with the Acadia crest in it that says "Presented to Tanya Herx for your unwavering support, dedication and love to Brian Reid while pursuing post secondary studies at Acadia University". Dad and I both cried a little while he said a little thanks to both of us for supporting him. We then all had showers and then headed to church for Easter Breakfast.

A big crowd showed up, which was nice. Levon was crying for some reason (I didn't pry), so I asked him if he wanted to eat with me. He nodded so we got some breakfast together and then sat together and talked and ate. We talked about fruits, and kiwi and fruit loops and such things until he got bored and kinda wandered off. I sat there with April, Craig, Mya, April (Maine), and April's sister (Chris? Christy? Christine?) and talked and laughed. After a bit, we all headed into the church for service.

The service was amazing. Over 70 people came, which was amazing, and the service wasn't traditional. The service was like a mini-musical, with some devotionals between songs. The last song we sang was In Christ Alone. This song is very special to me. I learned it from Colin and Joy Cook back at the Kentville Baptist Church. I then sang the song at my parents' 25th wedding anniversary vow renewal and kinda brought the song with me to the different churches we went to. I sang it once or twice at the Cambridge church and then sang it at New Tusket my first time. Dad then asked the choir to learn the song, which they did, and then taught it to the congregation. So... we sang it as our commissioning hymn. For those who don't know the song, here are the lyrics:

"In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.
Here in the pow'r of Christ, I'll stand."

The third verse is the most powerful, and that was the case on Sunday. 'There in the ground, his body lay. Light of the world by darkness slain' is sung softly, and slightly slower, to kind of give emphasis to the words. Then, 'Then bursting forth, in glorious day, Up from the grave her rose again!' is sung just as it sounds. Bursting! Powerful! I'm getting shivers just talking about it. Wel, on Sunday, after that 'bursting forth' part, I started to cry... and cry... and cry. I couldn't stop. It was amazing how much POWER the song had, and how much it dived way down into me, and pulled on my heart strings. Mind you, my body seems to put up some sort of a wall when I walk in church. I don't like to show emotion in church, for whatever reason. So... a wall gets put up. Things affect me, but I just don't show it. However, right before that song, dad did his pastoral prayer, and a part was for me and Andy. I started to cry a bit then, and that broke down the wall. Turns out that Christy and April were crying too. Very very very powerful.

We then went home and napped. We were invited to April's for Easter lunch, but I was just soooo tired that I told mom and dad to go ahead and I stayed home to sleep. I woke up at about 8 or so and kinda puttered around the house while I woke up, watched some TV, went on MSN and had a GREAT conversation with April about crap that's going on in my life. Then, went to bed. Woke up this morning and followed dad to Digby. He had to drop off mom's car at the car place since the fan belt broke yesterday. We then visited mom at work and then had some lunch at Pizza Delight. We filled our bellies and then headed back home. I then went online, and here I am.

Well.... *exhales*, that was a lot. I think I'm going to go have a bath and relax for a bit. Mom's due home at 5 and we're going to have supper and then I'll be heading back to the valley.

Happy Easter and Hoppy Bunny day everyone!
-Tanya