Easter Doings 2012

Our Easter morning sunrise

I want to remember every moment of our first Easter in our new home.

The entire day was a treasure, even including the grand finale when Miss Alice Virginia grabbed hold of my Easter surprise tablecloth and yanked the whole shebang onto the floor.  Several broken plates and cups, hugs from mama, and a huge pouty lip later (I think the noise really scared her) - we were still giggling. 

That’s the sign of a good day, a day to rejoice.

We woke up a little earlier than the girls - around 6:30 - threw on some clothes, fed AV a bottle, and shooed them out the door for the sunrise over the water.  We got there seconds before the sun crested over the waves.  There were some other early risers there, too, but for the most part, we felt secluded on our little piece of beachfront.  AV was still mostly interested in eating the sand, but Meggie wanted to jump in the water.  She also wanted me to hold her - she’s been asking more and more lately for me to carry her - I couldn’t resist snapping a candid shot of the way she nestled into my shoulder.  She’s gotten more cuddly with age, but I still feel like I have to document our snuggles because she’s usually super independent.  I could’ve stayed like that with her forever.  Truly.

The temperature was perfect.  A little on the chilly side, and the clouds framed the rising sun with beauty.  Kyle gave a condensed version of the Easter story as we watched the sun come up and listened to the gulls call.  Life beginning.  It was a reminder we needed.

right when we got there, the sun is just about to come up over the waves.

My Meggie snuggling

Kind of one with all us.

Jumping in the morning waves with Meggie.

 Several hours later, Meggie was still talking about going to the beach that morning.  At lunch she spontaneously said, “I had fun.  Jumping in the waves this morning was fun.”

Her statement made the morning’s memory that much sweeter for us, and special.

After the sunrise we came home to eat cinnamon rolls and get ready for church. 

We’ve been here three weeks now (so crazy and hard to believe) and we’ve been trading off weeks to try new churches so that we don’t take the girls into an unknown nursery situation.  For Easter, we went back to the church Kyle tried last week.  This church is a whole lot smaller than the one we loved in Oklahoma, but it reminds both of us in different ways of the churches in which we grew up as children.

It kind of has the feel of a large Sunday school class and we both agreed that the members were the most genuinely welcoming of any church we’ve ever tried.  I guess every one knew we were visitors, but they approached us in a way that was easy and not nerve-wracking - if that makes sense.  We instantly felt comfortable and not shy.  A good thing. :)

Precious girl on the swings.

A minute later she toppled off right onto a fire ant hill.  Oh, TX!

I thought AV looked just like an angel in her Easter dress.

We got there early for a church-sponsored Easter egg hunt.  Meg had practiced an egg hunt in our backyard yesterday - with empty eggs.  When she discovered that the eggs had treats in them on Easter morning, she was content to sit right down with the first egg she found at church and eat the treat.  Nothing we could say or do tempted her away from that prize.  She was a happy girl.  She also loved the swings there and sliding down the slide - even though Kyle had to catch her before she flew through a sand pile in her new Easter dress.

We were a little concerned that she might feel shy or hesitant around a group of new children as this past Sunday was the first time in three weeks that she’s been apart from us - an occurrence that’s highly unusual since she went to BSF, MDO, and church every week.  We talked in the car on the way over about how we were going to church - she was SO excited and beaming - but that it was a new church with new friends.  We told her that she could be brave and meet new friends, but if she felt scared or worried to tell her teacher and we’d come find her.  BUT, after the Easter egg hunt, she walked right into the 2 and 3 year-olds class without a second look back at us.  AND, she was the only little girl in a roomful of about 12 boys.

After we picked her up, her teachers told us that the boys didn’t faze her - that she pulled her own weight and could take perfect care of herself (that she kept trying to get her own snacks down).  They also said that she went pee-pee on the potty twice!  At one point during the service I peeked in on her and saw her helping a younger boy drink his sippie cup and heard a teacher compliment her on using manners.  Kyle and I were so proud of our brave Meggie girl.  Our little mother and independent lady.  God has big plans for Meg’s caring heart, passion for service, and love for exploration.

The church was so small, though, that it didn’t have a nursery for AV.  They had a room with all the nursery stuff, but it’s on an as-needed basis.  They told us that we could either keep AV with us, play with her in the room, or leave her in Meg’s class.  Because she’s our AV - the sweetest, calmest, happiest baby on the planet - we had no qualms about keeping her with us during the 1.5 hour service.  Had it been Baby Meg - different story. :)  Trust me, that thought kept coming up in my mind while we were there...thank the Lord we’re trying churches when Meg’s old enough to go to nursery.

AV did fantastic during the service.  She came with us up to the front when the congregation put flowers on the cross and then played on the floor with some toys during the service.  She only made a couple of peeps when she got really tired.  All in all - she got up at 6:30, missed her morning nap, and got home at almost 1, so we couldn’t ask for anything more.  She was so tired that she fell asleep on the way home in her carseat. 

I’m not quite sure how it will work out long-term without a nursery if we decide to stick with this church, but we’ve at least got to go back once to collect Meg’s hairbow.  It’s one of my very favorites from when I was little and we left it in her classroom.  But, I think Kyle and I are both hopeful that this could be our new church family - it’s a service-oriented church with a multigenerational congregation that teaches the Bible.  We met several homeschooling families and lots of families with little children. 

All good things for us!

If nothing else, I think we left the service on Sunday feeling like for the first time since moving here we’d found a place where we could see ourselves belonging.  A place that knows and loves our children, helping us to bring them up in the Lord.

sleeping beauty

Once we got home, I insisted that we try taking pictures of the girls in their precious Easter dresses from my mom - queen of darling Easter dress finds.  They were both semi-melting down from the long morning, but I knew we had to take our chance as they would be changed for lunch and naps. 

So.  We bribed Meggie with chocolate for a smile and ran out in our backyard for a total of 2 minutes.  We’d heard reports of giant, dinosaur-like mosquitos in Corpus, but didn’t really believe them.  We should have.  These things are huge!  And they attack as soon as your foot touches the grass.  In our 2 minutes, Kyle and I each got bitten like five times and when one landed on AV’s head we were done.

Not the best Easter pictures ever, but we’ll take what we can get with two hungry, tired babies and monster mosquitoes. 

Kyle did most of the lunch feeding and putting down for naps while I got to finish cooking.  Even though I was busy cooking, I overheard this inspiring lunch conversation:

“Meggie, did you make new friends today?”
“Mmmm-hhhmmmm. Yes, I did.”
“Who did you meet?”
“I met Benjamin.  He’s sooooo CUTE!”
“Oh! Benjamin is cute, huh?  Was Benjamin a baby or was he your age?”
“He’s ‘your age’ and Benjamin is sooooo cute!”
“I see.” grumble grumble grumble.

I have no idea where she learned that particular phrase, but if it’s starting this young I’d say we’re in DEEP trouble!  :) 

AV mid-wave...I caught it!

Sweet, sweet girl

Precious little mother...Meggie wanted AV to have her hairbow

She finally has just enough hair on the very top of her head to stick a little bow in.

A whole nap time later, we were ready to eat.

On the menu: ham, cheesy potatoes, wild rice, deviled eggs, fruit salad, garlic broccoli with cashews, homemade rolls, sweet tea, strawberry pie and cheesecake.  Now, somebody save me from myself - there's way too many leftovers and I can't stop eating!!! :)

I know it’s a ton of food, but I’m a Southern girl through and through and, somehow, it doesn’t seem like a true celebration without a table of bounty.  I'm really hoping that we live by family one day because I’m gonna put out a spread regardless.  I LOVE cooking meals for my family (and friends who are family and anybody, really!) - not only for the nourishment of their little bodies, but knowing that I’m creating memories for them.  I want them to remember cherished events like I do, and feel loved through the food that’s presented. 

caught red-handed. :) the cutest fruit-snatcher around.

and this one was VERY interested in everything we were eating.

During the rest of the day we talked to our families and watched the stunning Master’s finale.  Normally, I’m not a golf person, but I do love to watch the Master’s this time of year to catch a glimpse of the azaleas.  Bonus was the amazing play-off at the end.  And, of course, AV discovering her own strength against our unsuspecting tablecloth.

As we tucked our angels in bed last night, I felt overwhelmed with thankfulness.  For this day.  For two little girls and the opportunity and responsibility of raising up these little women.  For their health and sweetness.  Our friends all over the country, and especially for the rich-in-blessing life we lived in Oklahoma and the comfort we derived from our time there. For our family and the experiences - magnificent and heartwrenching - that bring us ever closer.  For new beginnings - even when I’m tempted to fear the unknown.  And for a Love that came down to die, rise again, and call us to live with Love, too.  I’m thankful for forgiveness and renewal and patience when I get it wrong and a relationship that evolves and deepens as I evolve. 

For Christ. Who did it all.