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....they recounted what had taken place on the way..

We are all "on the way" and we all have stories to tell of living, dying and rising as we make our way along our life path.

Today, I am in Rosemount MN for the 90th birthday party of my cousin who is lke a sister to me: Rosemary Fitzgerald Marthaler.

For us who know her and love her, she is an inspiration.

It is true enough, she is an Easter/Alleluia person!

And I call her "the hunter gatherer!"

She gathers folks and creates community.

two years age she and I sat by the pool at Scottsdale house.

A lady I did not know walked by. I said "hello." and went back to the book I was reading.

Not Rosemary!

Rosemary said: "Hello! Won't you join us!'

AND OUT OF THAT Came a wonderful friendship with Gayle and her retired Lutheran Pastor husband Martin, and then Rosemary kept gathering: Regina and Dick, Suzanne and Jack, Shirley, Dorothy, Theresa, and the list goes on. 50 of all these new friends attended Party #1 here in Scottsdale on Easter Monday.

Well Party #2 is in Minnesota today planned by her 8 living children and with deceased Husband: George,  and son, George, and daughter Kathy there in spirit. And if you count the great grandchildren present maybe you could come up with of 39 of them!

Hail, Hail, the gangs all here!

Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Rosemary is walking every step of the 90 years as an Easter person!

Alleluia is her song!

"Gather the folks! Break the bread! And tell the stories!"

That is what Eucharist is all about, and what we will celebrate over her 90 years of:

"Gatherig the folks!"

Gathering her family.

Gathering friends!

And telling the Easter story through her ever joyful spirit.

And so we pray:

Help  us during this Easter Season to walk with a joyful spirit.

To help one another along the way,

to gather new friends and neighbors..

for we are all disciples on the Road to Emmaus,

And Alleluia is our song!