Easter weekend family fun

We had a blast yesterday! Easter baskets get left at our house on Friday night. So, bright and early on Saturday, we woke up to very excited little people. They were told at bedtime that they were to watch tv in our bedroom until everyone was awake so we could all come downstairs together. I woke to great excitement because the sun was shining in the window...it doesn't happen very often here, we all get REALLY excited when it peeks through the clouds. And on Saturday morning, it was not just peeking out, it was really shining. We came downstairs together where the kids got their Easter buckets. I decided this year that Easter baskets are no good for us. We move so much that we have to buy them over every year because they get messed up. So, this year, I got them each a flower pot in their favorite colors. When spring finally shows up around here, we can plant flowers in them and put them on our patio! 

After breakfast, we spotted a deer in our backyard. At one point, it was within about 10 feet from our back window, looking in at us. We have seen evidence of wildlife several times, but this was our first close up. Fun stuff!!!! 

After playing outside with new balls and bubbles, we headed downtown for the Easter parade. We made it pretty early so that we could get a good spot!

 

We were very impressed with the parade, it was a lot of fun. When it was over, we just could not bring ourselves to go inside. We decided to take a picnic lunch to a nearby park. We had so much fun just playing together! After we were all worn out, we went home for our very own Easter egg hunt. There were a lot of community and church egg hunts, but it is so hard for us because we are serious about not eating artificial colors and corn syrup, which is pretty much what is packed into all of those eggs. We decided that instead of going and getting a bunch of candy that I would not allow into little mouths, we'd do one of our own. We packed 100 easter eggs full of organic chocolates and coins and hid them all over the yard. The kids LOVED it. After they emptied the eggs of the good stuff, they hid them for Marvin and I to find. 

Waiting for the GO!

 Off and running!

Josh is serious about this hunting stuff

Michael taking a little break

Josh really likes the orange ones

Sam is finding out that things get more challenging when Abba is home! 

Reach, Abby, reach!!!!

We soaked up EVERY drop of sunshine just hanging out on the patio, playing ball, and climbing trees the rest of the evening. We were all exhausted, but it was so worth it! Especially because the clouds are back today and don't look to be going anywhere for quite some time. 

Homecoming!

Homecoming is not just a little thing. It is a very big deal. The kids have never been to one before, Marvin usually gets off his ship when it pulls into Hawaii and flies to us 2 weeks before the ship makes it to its homeport. They were amazed at everything. We had spent 9 months surrounded by wonderful, supportive family and friends. But as great as they are, they do not understand what we go through during the separation during deployment. Here, for this time, we are surrounded by others that REALLY understand. These other people in the crowd have gone through the months of separation, they are feeling the same anticipation.

             They are looking longingly for that first glimpse of their loved one's face in the crowd.

They feel that same anxious, excited, butterfly feeling of joy when that face finally comes into focus!

They know what it is to wish that time would fly because once you see that face, your heart longs to be in those arms. And yet, it must wait as mere feet feel like miles.

The happiness that causes those tears that you have held back for months to fall, knowing that it is finally over...and yet, strangely, just beginning.

 Getting acquainted with those you should know inside and out

Knowing that no matter how much has changed, there is just as much that has not. That common ground is cherished as the newness is explored.

 

Welcome home, my love! As hard as these separations are, I would not trade them. It has made us appreciate each other in ways that otherwise we might not. I love you more than life itself!