By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

At 1733 Butler Road in Alabaster, across from the fire station near Lee Lane you can find 26 baby rabbits and five adult rabbits.

That is the current count (it changes quickly). James Lee, owner and “chief in charge” with a little help from his daughter, Bethany, and nephews Austin, Jordan, Ben and Will and his mother, Mary Lee, tries to take care of feeding, cleaning, special treats and lots of cuddling.

To watch little humans with bunnies will make your heart smile. It’s like a special “God bond” or something. Each of the grandchildren have their own pet but the rest are for sale. Perhaps for an extra special treat you can call 663-3994 (Mary Lee) and set up an agreeable time to bring your child, let them pick out the bunny of their choice ($25 out the door) and take the chance and do the picking yourself. There are black, gray and black, cream, spotted “cookie chips,” you name it.

Just a little background on the Easter Bunny: Many Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the blood of the sacrificed Christ.

Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long dead time of winter.

According to legend, “a young rabbit who, for three days, waited anxiously for his friend Jesus, to return to the Garden of Gethsemane, little knowing what had become of him.

Early on Easter morning, Jesus returned to his favorite garden and was welcomed by his animal friend. That evening, when Jesus’ disciples came into the garden to pray, they discovered a path of beautiful larkspurs, each blossom bearing the image of a rabbit in its center as a remembrance of the patience and hope of this faithful little creature.