Easter 2017

This year no one made it to church for Easter Sunday. I played the newborn card and stayed home with Lark while John took the three big kids to church only to find that all the seats were taken. 

However, we had a fun Easter egg hunt and dinner at my in-laws'. Burl scrambled like the wild 7-year-old that he is, Fern hesitated but warmed up after seeing Ridge, and Ridge howled and grunted as he ran from egg to egg. If eggs were rewarded for enthusiasm instead of speed and skill, then he would have taken home all of the eggs. 

Lark was shuffled from one loving set of arms to the next. My mil gave me her leftover ham bone. While we are sad that we missed church, we still love Jesus and are thankful for his family blessings that he's given us. 

A Creek In The Woods

Over spring break, we visited a spot that I frequented when I only had two children. Burl and Fern were Ridge and Lark's age, so naturally my mama heart skipped a beat. (Click here for a cute memory.) 

We've spent a lot of time in these woods near the VW car factory, and now we're back with Ridge wearing the same cheeks and boots that Burl had then. It messes with my Mama head to remember a sweet special season while living in a sweet special season of my life. TOO MUCH GOODNESS TO ABSORB. 

At first the big kids were skeptical that they could have fun here, then one look at the creek and they were engaged. Ridge got wet, but powered through and didn't stop exploring. 

Burl had some plans and kindly led Fern through his agenda. They fed off of each other, and I was encouraged once again to pray that Fern marries a man who leads her like Burl, with excitement and gentleness, and pray that Burl marries a woman who follows him like Fern with joy and adoration. They are a sweet pair. 

We played for a while until I gave Ridge a break. Despite being cold from his wet clothes, Ridge would have stayed all day but I couldn't watch him shiver anymore. We wrapped up this session of creek fun, and I promised the kids that we would be back again. 

When You Give A Child Some Water

It was a case of "when you give a mouse a cookie" afternoon. 

They each wanted a cup of water to take outside, "to drink." We know how that goes: the water turned to inventions that turned into mud that turned into worms that turned into happy children in the perfect mess.

I love seeing them like this. This is what perfect childhoods are made of. 

Hopefully this scene will continue to be a regular part of their little lives and John won't be telling me to "grab the camera and come quick." But when he follows it up with "can dinner wait, they're having so much fun?" the answer will always be yes.