He is Risen-Celebrating Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter day! The kids were thrilled to see their baskets with books, games and treats. We all got to dress up in our best, new clothes, shoes, down to the trim hair. We are trying to give God our best, so after we fasted and we celebrate and have a reason to dress up. The kids said the A word and the G word over and over. (Alleluia, Gloria! He is risen!)  The house was clean and ordered, the food was wonderful, the kids were happy and totally well. It took a lot to prepare this, a lot more than it feels like it should, but it was good to have a day so special.

 After breakfast we headed to our Church. There was the most beautiful liturgy with glorious music. The place was bursting families who also were happy to see the day and adorably dressed children and lots of flowers, which after winter are so lovely. The beauty all around and in the liturgy and the celebration are the pinnacle of the day.

 We got an outdoor picture and Mom at 6 months along doesn't fit clothes like she used to and especially in this dress she looked and felt like an egg. But she was comfortable. There's just over three more months....hanging in there, or waddling in there. There's a lot of  sympathizing with all the books about ducks, and nests and waiting...

 The kids had a wonderful time hunting for about eight dozen eggs indoors (due to rain) and thanks to some big help from Auntie! That gave them enough hunting that they didn't beg for more. Then they changed and got their first moment playing outside on a new play-set. It was a bit rainy but still comfortable and 60's and the garden is blooming, the grass is bright green, and everywhere Spring is in the air.

 For egg hunting Joseph was a great brother, letting the little ones get all the low eggs. Johnny was amazing in quantity and Leesie got the one large dino egg so she was thrilled!

Daddy made a wonderful feast for dinner and Mom got a much needed nap, a break all afternoon. The kids are thrilled to have auntie visiting and someone new to play with and be told new stories. Mom was happy to rest, be off her feet and care for her own egg. She really does feel like a hen on a nest. Easter and Christmas day are always super special, but Mom is always tired from creating this wonderful time. So the nap or a little rest is really the best gift I could have been given, after seeing the kids so happy.

Daddy finished the evening by telling "Salvation History- Our Family Story" which is the  story of how God has created us, and let us through history until now. He wants the kids to understand how we are part of the same history that is in the bible, and it is up to us to let God write our own chapter of how we will live our life as part of history. He wants them to understand how important they are in the family of God and to know that God wants to choose to use them too to make them saints. Their lives are their own chapter of how they want to live and make the most of the gifts and situation they are given. Joseph is learning how each time period in history had its greatness and it's challenges and how ours is no different. The difference comes by what a person does with the situation they are put in. Who they choose to serve and live for. The kids could really grasp how they are part of a big picture, and they identify so much about their heavenly father from their experience with their own Dad. They have learned (I pray) too that the most special things in life come from sacrifice.

Mom is most constantly reminded of the fact that babies come not from 9 months of ease, but sometimes struggles, and even misery, but they are wanted and anticipated no less. It's easy to want the prize in anything without the effort.  On some level we all can sometimes want a life of ease since it  is always being sold to us, in various ways. It looks like the better choice. We know also despite this that pleasure and leisure doesn't mean happiness or even real meaning co-exists.  As older parents it hit us the enormity of the sacrifice of love when the act of becoming parents is lived out, not just observed or read about. Getting to love another with your whole heart, being truly responsible for them and their welfare, not just oneself,  and sacrificing to make their world beautiful is really helping us grow each day. So is trusting that it doesn't have to be just our own effort, but that our lives as parents are just of piece of the big picture for them. For when they are small, we are so important in molding their hearts and minds, their habits and even their security in themselves and in the big picture. Some days it really seems like a more than full time job, and some days it is pure joy. I know the sacrifices will help some future spouse or child, or at least help our kids become whole integrated people who can give of themselves to others, and that's our great hope for them. We know so many people who are less than who they could be and one could wonder if a full childhood could have helped them develop. One of my favorite quotes is, "A happy childhood is a gift forever." Parenthood is a beautiful part of the Divine plan, but boy it isn't easy.

 Now Daddy gets the week off to head south and get some sun, golf, rest, and continuing education in, in that order of course. We get to finish out classes, attend end of the year events, potlucks/ presentations, prepare for piano guild, get to sport events, have minor surgery on one child, and a first communion party, and try to keep the octave of Easter special. Somehow another nap or two might have to get in there too.