Easter

Easter was bitter sweet. Mom wasn't here to hide eggs or fill Easter baskets, but there wasn't a moment that went by we didn't think of her.

 

The evening before Easter, our Life Group gathered in our backyard to plant a tree in her memory. A constant reminder of her life and legacy. The location is perfect...I can see her tree from every south/back window. And often, Henry takes my hand and asks if we can "go check Grandma's tree."

 

 

She would have loved watching Henry, Sam and Molly search high and low for eggs...and then watching and hearing them squeal with delight as they opened each one.

 

Easter's QOTD: "Papa, do you know why we celebrate Easter? Because it's the day Jesus rose from the dead. And we celebrate Christmas because that's the day Jesus was born. And I think we celebrate Valentine's Day because we love Jesus...even though no one really says that about Valentine's." - Henry, age 5

Field Trip to the OKC Zoo

Henry - Last month I met you and your kindergarten class in OKC for your first out-of-town field trip. It was also your first time to ride the bus. You were SO excited. Surprisingly, you stuck on me like glue the moment you saw me. I thought you'd want to follow your friends around all morning and afternoon, but you were more anxious to get me all to yourself. And you had an agenda - first the playgrounds, then the cheetahs, and it was most important that we see the seals. We ended our day with the seals.

It was a treat spending the day together, one I'll never forget.

 

I think you lasted all of 30 minutes before you were ready for a snack.

 

Even though we blazed our own trail, we did run into some of your classmates throughout the day...and you were gracious to stop long enough for a few photos.

 

Finally, the seals...it's now late May, and you're still talking about them.

 

I love you, Henry.

Eureka

Last month a sweet friend and I traipsed through the woods of Arkansas for two days together. It was heaven...and reminded me of how much I love the outdoors. In fact, I'm now committed to getting my family out and on trails more often this summer.

We talked, we laughed, we drank wine (okay, I drank wine), we read books, we took pictures...we did NOT wipe noses or change diapers...like I said, it was heaven.

On the way to our cabin, I stopped at Thorncrown Chapel, also know as the "glass chapel". Had it not been for the awkward man in the back of the chapel, I would have stayed for hours.
 

 

The view from our back balcony/porch. I'll take it.

 

Our home away from home.

 

Thanks for the great weekend, friend. We MUST make it an annual getaway.