Happy Easter Bunny, Mama

"Happy Easter BUNNY, Mama, Happy Easter BUNNY, Daddy" Magnolia said those words to us all day yesterday, and even before we went to bed last night & the first thing she said this morning when she opened her pretty blue eyes. Her sweet little three year old voice, with the addition of bunny, to her Easter greeting is the memory I'll store in my heart forever. On my IGTV I shared a nine minute video clip of short recordings I got of her on Easter morning & I'm so happy I took the time to hit the "video" button. I watched her reaction to her basket several times yesterday. It was so fun to watch her darling reaction to every little thing all over again, and I had even missed her talking about the "rain" when she noticed the umbrella she had picked out at Target months ago. She's been playing with her luggy basket, umbrella, & baby doll non-stop, also changing in & out of her new swimsuits. We did an Easter Egg hunt inside since the weather was quite chilly & rainy, perfect weather for her new umbrella though. She impressed us with her ability to find all the hidden eggs. The magical jelly bean lollipop garden popped up overnight & the Easter bunny stole carrots from our refrigerator and made a big mess on our front porch. We watched church from our living room & Magnolia participated with most of the singing & prayers. Before lunch we took some photos outside & Magnolia splashed around in the rain puddles. The thunderstorm made for the best napping weather & she took a nice long one before we FaceTimed with grandma & all of her cousins.


This Easter will be one that we will remember forever. We usually host Easter & I was extra excited to have the family over at our new house for a big celebration. I dreamed of the little ones hunting for eggs in the yard & all the mimosas I'd drink with my mom & sisters. I even had our plates purchased & menu all planned out. We canceled our plans, just like everyone else, and made sacrifices for the greater good. The hardest part of all was missing out on the sound of the kids playing together. I know my nieces were having a hard time not being together & the thought of them missing out on such a special time to be together celebrating just broke my heart. I know looking back there are so many life lessons wrapped up in this year & what a better holiday than Easter to learn about sacrifices for the ones we love. Right now they don't fully understand the separation & the odd way we had to talk to grandma & grandpa through the window, but someday when we talk about 2020 they'll get to share stories about doing the right thing even though it wasn't the easiest. Although we couldn't be together physically, our faith is stronger than ever, and so is our love & gratitude for one another. We plan to have an even bigger celebration as soon as we can & no doubt our hearts will remember the ache of missing each other & it'll make it that much more special to be together.

 



"The day the Lord created hope, was probably the same day He created spring." Bernard Williams






 



 








Easter is always extra special for Ryan & me, it was on Easter 2016 that we found out our little Magnolia was growing strong in a petri dish. I'll never ever forget the call from our embryologist right before the family came over to celebrate Easter with us. When I think about that call the emotional intensity is just as strong today. And then on Easter morning 2018 we lost a baby at 10.5 weeks. I think about our Easter angel baby all the time.

Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. 
Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world. 
- Paul Chappell

I hope you & yours had a very blessed happy Easter.
xo