Tracy and Antonio flew to Michigan so they could spend Anastasia's first Easter with the family there. Anastasia is 11 months old now. Everyone is standing in the living room waiting to leave for church. Amelia and Angela are in tiered sear sucker dress, tulle flower headband, a faux patent purse and matching ballet flats. Antonio James is wearing a dressy Oxford vest, a straw Fedora, slim dark stone jeans, plaid shirt and Ruum stripe slip on shoes. Anastasia is in the two-piece butterfly dress that Ballade bought for her. The dads are in slim stretch cotton button up shirts, narrow silk Tartan plaid ties, nice pants and Sperry top-slider men's comfortable Mac boat shoes. The moms are wearing Garnet hill essential sundresses; Genoa knit cardigans, Del Mar flower strand statement necklace and matching Steve Madden wedge sandals.
"I can't believe how fast Anastasia is growing," Tracy says.
"Well sweetie, I knew that you would be a great mom. You and Antonio raised a beautiful girl. She has your personality too." Ballade says.
"Thanks, mom," Tracy says.
A few minutes later everyone leaves to head to church. After a thirty-minute drive they get there. They walk up the stairs to the first level where the sanctuary is.
"I'm going to give Antonio and Anastasia a tour of the building," Tracy says.
"Just be back before the service starts," Ballade says.
Tracy nods. They leave the group. The first stop is the nursery. Anastasia's eyes light up instantly when she sees all the toys. Tracy looks down at her.
"Sorry baby girl, we can't stay and play. I have a few more places to show you and daddy. We'll come back I promise." Tracy says.
A few seconds later Anastasia starts crying. Tracy starts bouncing to get her to stop. Meanwhile, Pastor Rodriguez walks out of the study. She has brown eyes, long, curly chestnut-brown hair, and light-colored skin. She hears the baby crying and follows the sound to the nursery. She gets there to see Antonio making fish faces to help Tracy to get Anastasia to stop crying. After making fish faces for two minutes, Anastasia starts giggling. They turn around and see Pastor Rodriguez standing in the doorway. They walk over to her.
"Sorry Pastor Rodriguez I guess our daughter has a big mouth like her grandpa. She loves playing with toys just like her cousins." Tracy says.
"It's fine I raised two boys myself. This is the grand baby your parents seem to keep going on about. "Pastor Rodriguez says.
"I'm sure that they must have forgotten your sermon on the fruits of the spirit." Tracy says.
"That sermon was a few months ago, so I'll forgive them for forgetting what I said." Pastor Rodriguez says.
Tracy properly introduces Pastor Rodriguez to her family. After Antonio shakes Pastor Rodriguez hand, she welcomes him and Anastasia to the church. She also fills them in on the special music problem in the service this morning. Two of the choir members were going to sing a duet, but the tenor lost his voice after helping out at the Easter egg hunt yesterday.
"Well, I guess Antonio and I could fill in," Tracy says.
Pastor Rodriguez says she would really appreciate it. They hear Anastasia start to clap. Tracy jokes that she knows that their number one fan is happy too. Pastor Rodriguez leaves to go tell the minister of music, Mahi, the good news. They leave a few minutes later and walk in the sanctuary. Mahi and the three members of the praise team the soprano Kim and the two tenors Jack and Andy walk up.
"Tracy it's so nice to see you again. Your daughter is so adorable. Your husband looks very handsome too." Kim says.
"Thank you Kim." Tracy says.
"Kim, could you hold Anastasia while Antonio and I sing," Tracy says.
"I"d be happy to," Kim says.
Tracy hands her daughter over. The praise team sits down in the first pew. Tracy and Antonio walk up to the stage and get into place. Antonio adjusts the height of the microphone in front of him. They rearrange the sheet music on the stand as well so they can read all the words. Tracy nods to Mahi and she starts playing "I know My Redeemer Lives."
They finish the song and see their daughter clapping. Kim and Andy get up and walk over to them. Kim hands Anastasia back to her mom. Andy tells them that sounded great. Tracy thanks him for the compliment. Ten minutes later the service starts. Tracy and the family sit down in the third pew from the front. Pastor Rodriguez welcomes everyone to the service. She says a few announcements.
After she finished she tells everyone to pass the peace (this means that everyone goes around saying good morning.) The congregation remains standing for the opening songs and the call to worship. They sit down for the choir anthem and the Pastoral prayer. Pastor Rodriguez calls the children to come up from the children's message. Ballade gets up to let the triplets out. Amelia walks up last carrying Anastasia. She sits down on the floor and sets Anastasia in her lap.
"Okay, I'm going to tell you the story to remind you that Jesus Loves You," Pastor Rodriguez says.
Pastor Rodriguez finishes the story two minutes later. She asks the kids to bow their heads to pray. Antonio takes out his camera to take a picture of Anastasia praying. He keeps his phone out. Pastor Rodriguez finishes her prayer. She dismisses the children. Anastasia gets out of her cousin's lap. She stands up. Antonio quickly turns the phone camera on. Amelia walks up to her. She is about to pick her up.
"No, sweetie, just let her go," Ballade says.
Ballade gets out of the pew and stands in the aisle. Anastasia smiles seeing her grandma. She picks up her left foot and sets it back down. Antonio turns on his cell phone camera. The congregation watches her takes her first steps.
"That's it, sweetie. Keep going come to grandma." Ballade says.
Anastasia picks up the pace. Antonio turns off the camera after she gets to Ballade. The congregation cheers as Ballade picks her up. Tracy wipes her tears of joy away.
Wow, our baby girl took her first steps on Easter morning that has to mean something important I just know it. Tracy thinks.
Ballade sits down in the pew after the triplets sit back down. Then Tracy and Antonio walks up to the front of the sanctuary before the worship leader calls the usher to come forward. Mahi plays the intro to the song. Everyone listens to them sing. The song ends two minutes later.
"Amen," The congregation says.
Twenty minutes later the service ends. They wait for the closing song to end before they leave. Pastor Rodriquez comes up to them while they're standing in the narthex.
"Tracy, you and your husband sounded great this morning. Thanks again for helping out." Pastor Rodriquez says.
"You're welcome Pastor Rodriquez." Antonio says.
After the triplets come back from the bathroom. Ballade hands Pastor Rodriquez her camera. she asks her if she could take a picture. Pastor Rodriquez says she would love to. After she takes the picture Ballade thanks her for take it. Pastor Rodriquez says she was glad to do it, as she hands the camera back to her. Then the group leaves to head to Ram's Horn for Easter Lunch.
