Eric’s mom has been visiting with us this past week… on Monday we took her to the Sasayama castle ruins – it was the last beautiful day of cherry blossoms in this area.

So, since Grandma was here, we decided to celebrate Olivia’s 3rd birthday a week early and had a combined Easter/birthday celebration on Sunday.  After a very long worship service and church meeting after, we had about 17 for the dinner party, and started things off, of course, with an egg hunt.

Olivia’s favorite thing right now is — dogs.  She will just sit in the entrance way of our neighbor’s home for hours, if we let her, and hug their dog. If Molly (our little Maltese) would let her, she would hug her for hours too.   So, it was a dog-themed birthday…

She was delighted with the special present from Grandma – a sandbox! (It did go outside the next day).

She and the other kids have loved using it….

We love you, sweet Olivia.  May God use you to bring joy to many people this year.  We love your heart to worship and how you love to sing to Jesus.

We pray the reality of the verse that we chose for you when we named you:

Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.