Favorite Easter memories:

Sunrise service with my dad at the Iwo Jima monument at Arlington Cemetery. We listened to bells ringing and heard about the resurrection while surrounded by thousands of graves.

Mom greeting us on Easter morning (before the homemade sourdough waffles with blueberry syrup) with "Hallelujah, He is risen!" He is risen, indeed!

Narrating the Easter musical at Wildwood. Singing about "No more night, no more pain..."

Writing the Easter musical for Reinhardt Bible Church and seeing my husband perform the part of Jesus. Swallowing hard when he was whipped and scourged. Singing and celebrating when Jesus conquered death.

My favorite Easter memory: Being inside the former Soviet Union with a group that included my husband, Gary, Bill Cutrer, and Bill Burris right after Americans were finally allowed in and singing this song on Easter Sunday in a place where the KGB used to persecute Christians:

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!