Happy (Early) Birthday & Happy Easter

We had a busy weekend full of celebrations. We were celebrating Alison’s birthday early this year because she will be out of town for work on her birthday.

On Saturday morning we met Kristin and her girls at Wheeler farm, where Skylee was participating in the Easter egg hunt. They have such a great program. All of the kids had ample opportunity to find Easter eggs and have a great time. The emphasis seems to be more on having fun than on finding the eggs.

In the afternoon we went to Healing Touch Therapeutic Massage for a couples massage. It was relaxing and a fun way to spend the afternoon together.

We had reservations and Alison’s favorite restaurant, Valter's Osteria. It was an excellent meal. We love Valter’s because they pay close attention to every little detail. First, they bring out fresh bruschetta covered with flavorful tomatoes. Then they bring out a loaf of fresh a loaf warm bread with an amazing dipping sauce. We indulged in the bread, easily finishing the loaf and then some. Next, we shared a salad sampler. It consisted of three salads - a rich creamy and cheese-covered lettuce salad, a prosciutto-wrapped salad with a flavorful vinaigrette, and a Caprese salad (Alison’s favorite). After the salad, we both chose to get the entree portion of the pasta sampler. This sampler contains a portion of each of the four house-made portions of pasta features at the restaurant. It has a serving of gnocchi, angel hair, and two different types of ravioli. Each one is delightful. We finished the meal with our favorite dessert - lemon gelato with local Utah honey and sea salt. It has a surprising mix of flavors that make it an exceptional treat. Before serving our dessert the wait staff gathered round and sang a rousing rendition of “happy birthday”. Alison was thoroughly embarrassed. After our dessert, they brought out a small cup of thick dark hot chocolate with a couple of biscotti for dipping. Eating at Valter’s is truly a fine dining experience. This was by far our favorite visit. It was the perfect way to celebrate Alison’s birthday.

On Easter Sunday we attended church with Kristin, Dan, Skylee, and Holly. Alison had to catch a flight in the afternoon and she wanted to see Skylee and Holly in their matching Easter dresses. They were adorable.

As I reflected on the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ today, I kept pondering his central teaching: love. He taught, by word and deed, his most important lesson - to love God and to love your neighbor. He spent much of his recorded time on earth serving and ministering to people from all walks of life. On this day of rebirth and renewal, it is my hope that we each rededicate ourselves to that effort - to love, serve and embrace those around us.