Ask Elnora--It's Good Friday--so tell us something good!

My precious people, today is Good Friday. What a special day for all of us. There are so many bad things going on in the world today, we sometimes become overwhelmed with helplessness. But Elnora knows we're not helpless! I went with a few friends to see the movie "The Grace Card" this week. Powerful story about hatred and racism and a griefing family. But if you change the race card to the grace card, you have a whole new world. The grace card says "I promise to pray for you everyday. Ask for your forgiveness, grant you the same and be your friend always." It's that simple. We can all extend grace to someone else, especially today when the world needs a little grace.

So tell me--What is good about your life? What blessings can you share on this special holy day? Me, I am blessed to have Big Daddy, my darling husband who puts up with the many moods of Elnora (and Lenora), and I have two beautiful grown children who continue to surprise and amaze me (even on days when they make my hair gray!!!) I have roof over my head and flowers in my garden and friends to laugh and cry with. Friends such as all of you. And I know that no matter what, God loves me and gives me His grace. Oh, and I have shoes and books, of course!!! But that's enough about me. I want to know what's good in your life?

Part 12, the Finale of The Easter Story--Lyn Cote

Feeling the silkiness of the white sheer curtain against her cheek, Sam stood by her bedroom window. She didn't know what had wakened her but here it was sunrise on Easter morning. There was a touch of chill by the window. She recalled the story of the women going to the tomb on the morning after the sabbath. They had risen at dawn too.
"Mom?"
Sam turned to see Greta knuckling eyes and yawning just inside the door. Gretta was wearing her pink nightie and was barefoot. "Did the Easter bunny come?"
Sam grinned and pulled on her robe. "Let's see," she whispered. "Where do you think your Easter basket is?"
"I don't know."
Sam took Greta's hand and led her toward the front of the house. "Let's start in the living room."
As she led her little girl around the living room, looking under furniture and behind potted plants. She thought of the women at the tomb again. Those women had thought they had lost their Lord--that the man who had made the lame walk and the blind see could have been killed. Why didn't they realize that if He could raise Lazarus, death would not be able to keep him either?
"I found it!" Greta squealed. She pulled the basket filled with yellow peeps, a chocolate bunny, a white bunny PEZ dispenser and more all nestled in that fake green grass that would be everywhere within moments and lurk for weeks.
Sam sat down on the sofa and watched her dear daughter examine each little trinket and candy.
How had bunnies been added to the Easter story anyway?

Sam couldn't believe all that had changed in her life since moving into this house. Had it only been just shy of two years since Jeff had done the renovations to this house, Carla had appeared at her door and the paternity test had come back negative?

Jeff walked out of the bedroom, yawning. "Why didn't you two wake me up?"
"You looked so tired," Sam said, patting the sofa beside her. "I saved the egg hunt for you and Greta."
Jeff kissed her and then rubbed her nose with his. "Well, good. I can't wait to find those eggs."
Greta ran over and climbed into Jeff's lap. "Is there a basket for the baby?"
"No," Jeff said, kissing Greta's cheek, "he or she has to be born first, okay?" Jeff rested his hand on Sam's abdomen and the unborn child did an impromptu bunny hop. Sam started laughing and Jeff raised his eye brows. "What?"
Sam couldn't speak. She just treasured the moment. All the fears and sorrow had gone. Just like all the sadness of Good Friday had fled in the light of Resurrection. Hallelujah and amen!

Easter Story Part 9 by Leann Harris

Carla looked down at the ground. When she glanced up again, pain stained her brown eyes."Yes, but he doesn't know. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I couldn't ruin his life. He didn't love me and I didn't love him. I went to my grandmother's home in Wyoming and had the baby. I was single, unmarried and couldn't even care for myself let alone a child, so I gave the little girl up for adoption."

Sam stared in disbelief. Jeff knew nothing of this? "Did you ever plan to tell Jeff?"

"No," she whispered.

"And he never questioned you about it?"

"No. Both Jeff and I were different people back then. God wasn't a part of either one of our lives. Now, He is, and I have to trust Him to be able to make a way through this mess."

Sam understood about failings. And if God could forgive Carla, who was she to judge. "I think you need to talk to Jeff. And I'll take Greta to the doctor, first thing in the morning."

"Talk to me about what?" Jeff said, standing outside the front door.

Sam's heart squeezed tighted. In the short time they'd known each other, she'd come to respect and even care about her in-laws neighbor. How would Jeff take the news? Would he want nothing to do with them? Or...a horrible thought flittered through her mind. Would he try to take Greta from her when found out the truth?

Easter Story Part 8 by Terri Reed

Sam's stomach dropped. This woman was claiming to be Greta's biological mother and in the same breath saying there was a chance Greta could have leukemia. Could this be true?
Her baby, potentially ill?

On shaky legs, Sam pulled the front door closed and sank to the top step of the porch. The evening had cooled. Chills played havoc over her skin. The sweet scent of roses from the flower bed rose in the air. A smell Sam normally loved, but now clogged her senses, making her gag. Her stomach churned turning the delicious dinner sour. What had started out as a relaxed, wonderful evening was quickly becoming a nightmare.

Dropping her head into her hands, she prayed, Please Lord, cover my baby, keep her healthy. Please don't let this be happening.

“How did you find me?” Sam asked. “The adoption was supposed to be closed.”

Carla sat beside Sam. “It’s amazing what you can do when motivated." She laid a hand on Sam’s arm. “Please, you have to listen to me.”

Sam raised her head and stared at this woman. She tried to see her daughter in this other woman’s face. Maybe the eye shape was similar, maybe the bow of her mouth. Sam hadn’t ever imagined she meet the woman who’d given birth to Greta.

Her heart ached and she wished Dan were here. He’d know how to handle this. But he wasn’t. And she had to be strong.

Thankfully, she had people in her life to support her. Dan’s parents. Jeff. The protective way he hovered over Greta warmed Sam’s heart. Her little girl was safe with him.

“I’m listening. You said DNA tests?”

“You need to take her see her doctor. They can do a blood test.” Carla pulled out a thick, folded stack of papers. “Everything you need to know about me and my medical history is here.”

A shudder ripped through Sam as images of needles and tubes sticking out of her child tortured her mind. Her throat constricted. She took the papers. “What of the father?”

Carla bit her lip. “I don’t think you’ll need anything from him. This disease is passed on maternally.”

Sam swallowed. “But you know who the father is?”

Carla didn’t answer; instead she glanced over her shoulder at the closed door to the house. “Are you and Jeff...a couple?”

“No. We’ve just met.” Sam narrowed her gaze on Carla. “How do you know him?”

Carla wrung her hands. “We dated.” She took a shuddering breath. “About six years ago.”

Everything inside Sam stilled. “Are you suggesting that Jeff could be Greta’s father?”

An Easter Story--Part Five by Debra Clopton

The sun was setting, a glow of orange in the background as Jeff stared at the woman in front of him. “Carla,” he said, getting over the shock of seeing his old girlfriend. It had been almost seven or had it been eight years since they’d gone out? Her blonde hair glistened in the light of the porch and her dark eyes glittered as she frowned. He remembered that frown. That unhappiness.

Remembering back, they’d only gone out about two weeks before she’d started talking about marriage…he was ashamed to say that it had been two pretty intense weeks but her push for marriage had hit him like a wakeup call and had him drawing back and reevaluating his behavior and his wants out of life. The relationship had gone down hill from there.

Carla had tried to sweet talk him into loving her. He'd told her that a man and a woman couldn’t fall in love that quickly. Sure he’d seen others do it, Sammie’s in-laws had known each other for a sum total of three days when Dan Sr had asked Marjorie to marry him. They’d been married for thirty-five years and by all indication were crazy about each other. But even with that as proof that there were cases of people falling in love quickly Jeff was more cautious than that.

When he fell in love—if it ever happened—he wasn’t going to rush things. His own parents had dated for a couple of years before they’d married and at the time of their deaths when he was in college they’d been as happy as teenagers. Jeff was more like his parents and looking at Carla now, he was glad he hadn’t let her rush him. He hadn’t been a Christian back then but now that he was he wanted to make certain he waited for the woman God had for him—not that he wasn’t getting a little impatient lately on the Lord’s timing. He was ready for his wife to be to walk into his life…Of course he’d been right where Carla was concerned. She’d dropped him like a hot potato the minute he’d said they needed to slow down their relationship and she’d moved on to someone else before the week was up! He’d heard later that she’d done the same thing to the guy she’d dated before him. Looking at her now he wondered if she’d ever married?

If she’d found what she’d been looking for.

"What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I live next door. “ He’d lived in an apartment when she’d known him.

“Oh, I see.”

"Jeff, who is it?” Sammie asked coming up beside him.

“This is Carla Jensen,” he said, as he looked down into Sammie’s eyes. His heart skipped a beat looking into her golden brown eyes. He’d seen plenty of brown eyes before, Carla’s included, and he’d never felt the pull of attraction and nerves that suddenly tangled up inside of him looking at Sammie.

Sammie smiled, and pulled her eyes from his to focus on Carla. “Hi, can I help you?”

Carla looked from him to Sammie and an uncomfortable pause filled the space. “Yes,” she said, at last. “I need to talk to you. In private.”

And Easter Story Part Four--Missy Tippens

An Easter Story
Part Four—Missy Tippens

Jeff’s next door neighbors, Dan Sr. and Marjorie Clark, were the closest thing he had to family. He’d hurt for them over the last year. But having little Greta home had seemed to help ease the grief.

The rich aroma of a pot roast wafted his way making his mouth water. Marjorie had made his favorite. Kind and generous, the Clarks had invited him over for dinner several times.

But this time, he was nervous. Nervous, of all things. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d acted this crazy.

“Pass the mashed potatoes, please, Mr. Jeff.” Greta sat next to her mom like a little princess with her napkin in her lap, batting those baby blues, using her best manners. Dan and Sammie had raised her well.

“Sure, princess.” He grabbed up the bowl and held it out to Sammie.

“You do know she’ll be asking for a tiara now.” Sammie shook her head at his use of the nickname. But she seemed pleased. And then she smiled. Her sparkling brown eyes met his, but the eye contact didn’t last long. She looked away. Then at him again almost shyly.

Man, those eyes packed a punch. As he watched the gorgeous brunette scooping mashed potatoes onto her daughter’s plate, he had to admit she was the reason for his racing heart and itchy nerves.

“You sure are quiet tonight, Jeff.” Dan Sr. clapped him on the back almost as if he sensed the reason for Jeff’s distress.

Jeff had never had a woman give him the jitters before. And he’d been okay with Sammie while at her house working. So why now? Could be because he was afraid his attraction would show—to her late husband’s parents. Not cool. “Just tired. We got a lot done on Sammie’s house today.”

“Sammie?” Dan raised his brows at the use of the name apparently only Jeff used. The man looked briefly at his daughter-in-law, then back at Jeff. “Well, now, that’s good to hear you’re making progress. Tell us all about it.”

Thankful to have a distraction, Jeff jumped right in. Talk of the house kept the conversation going for the rest of the meal. And Jeff managed to regain his equilibrium. Once finished eating, he pushed back from the table and stretched. “Another fine meal, Marjorie. Thank you.”

Marjorie waved away his compliment, obviously pleased. “How about some dessert?”

“I can’t hold it tonight.”

“None for us either,” Sammie said. “We need to head home and put Greta to bed. I have that early interview.”

As Jeff stood, the doorbell rang. “Don’t get up.” He shook hands with Dan Sr. “I’ll get it on the way out. Probably just someone selling something.” He waved and said goodnight, trying not to let his gaze linger on Sammie. He would miss having her work by his side in the morning.

When he opened the front door, a young woman stood at the bottom of the steps with her back to the door as if she was walking away.

“Can I help you?”

She froze. Slowly turned. And looked as if she’d seen a ghost. “Jeff?”

An Easter Story - Part Two by Lisa Mondello

AN EASTER STORY
Part Two by Lisa Mondello

This one was going to be tough. Of course, Jeff couldn't really blame Sammie for being a bit miffed at the world right now. Losing her husband and having to pick up her life and move back home had to be rough. Yeah, Dan had done well for himself and Jeff was sure he'd provided well for his family when they lived in the city. But Dan Clark Sr. had let it slip about how Sammie was left with a mountain of debt to settle from his son's business dealings before Sammie and Greta moved back home to Sunrise. Although it had all the makings of something wonderful, this cottage she'd just purchased was a far cry from the kind of high-class home she was accustom to living in before Dan had been killed.

Jeff followed Sammie as she walked toward the front porch.

"I don't know where you want to start," she said. "They call it a cottage, but it's a big house and there's a lot of work that needs to be done. By the way, what exactly do you do?"

"What do you mean?"

She turned back to him, her chestnut brown hair swinging over her shoulders with her movement. She had wide brown eyes with golden flecks that came to life as she answered. "In the house? Are you just a carpenter? Or do you do more?"

He couldn't help but grin. "I don't clean. That's your job. But I can tackle anything that needs tearing out and rebuilding. Even some minor plumbing. And I can paint or stain anything that needs to be finished. I'm pretty much a Jack-of-all-trades."

She nodded and started walking back to the house. Greta was playing in the grass that has just now started to get its green color back after the harsh winter they'd had. As the little girl ran around, her blond curls bounced up as if on fire from the sun. Her periwinkle blue eyes sparkled as she ran.

"I suppose we can start in the kitchen. It's quite old. We can move on to the bathrooms and then get the rest of the house in order."

Pausing at the screen door, she stared at him as he hung back on the top step of the wide porch.

"Are you listening to me, Jeff?"

Samantha Clark was indeed a pretty girl and Jeff could easily see how Dan Clark had fallen for her. He had been listening to what Sammie had been saying, but he'd also been admiring the woman, too. And he'd gotten caught doing it.

"Are you looking to restore the house or rip out everything and start new? This place has some custom carpentry in the living and dining rooms that you won't find anywhere else. And the woodwork throughout is quite unique. You won't find anything like that around here. It'd be a shame if you toss all that charm and beauty away and put something modern in its place."

Sammie cocked her head to one side. "You do know the house well."

"I told you. I've had my eye on it for some time. Always thought one day I'd get the chance to restore it to its original beauty."

She stared at him a moment before offering up a smile. It had him taking in a deep breath to keep from making a fool of himself. He cleared his throat and glanced at Greta before asking, "Where'd your daughter get her blond hair? She doesn't look at all like you or Dan."

The flash of pain that immediately crossed her face had him regretting his question. But as she glanced at her daughter, whatever he saw was immediately replaced with joy and pride. "I've always wondered myself. Dan and I adopted Greta when she was just a baby."