Our Easter week felt jammed pack with regular life and all the extra fun activities on our calendar!  That's the thing about holidays.  They fly by because we are so busy celebrating and having fun.

Russ was off the week of Easter, so we started the week by picking up and letting Russ build our first swing set.  I wish I could share the video of Millie Janalee's reaction.  It was priceless!  She was so excited, and she told her daddy "It is perfect.  Thank you to buildin it!"  We have played on it every sunny day since.

Next up was Millie Janalee's class Easter egg hunt. Russ rarely gets to come to daytime school functions, so we were thrilled he could join us!  Plus he was invaluable as he helped watch this wild man...

The moms who put together the party did a wonderful job.  We had the hunt at a local park, and we had it all to ourselves. We had picnic lunches on quilts, read a story about the true meaning of Easter, and the kids played til we drug them out one by one.

We have been so blessed by Millie Janalee's preschool.  The teachers, staff, and parents have been so welcoming and absolutely love our children.  They are thrilled to see Millie Janalee coming (or at least they act like it), and Millie Janalee is ecstatic each morning they open our car door to get her out.  She is learning so much, and more importantly she has grown and learned and shared with us so much about Jesus and His love for us.  You can't put a price tag on that education!

I am so blessed to be able to share these special days with my sweet, sassy, and strong firstborn!

Our family also enjoyed another fun Easter treat when our neighbors invited us to the Easter carnival at our local country club.  Russ has been wanting to join since he's been going to play tennis some up there.  It was such a wonderful event!  We saw the Easter bunny, of course, and it was CLASSIC!  Just like Santa.

The kids had a blast and the adults did too.  At the end, there was an Easter egg hunt for all the children.  It only took Millie Janalee two seconds after arriving to find friends she knew all over the place.  It is always fun to watch three year olds interact and live life as they  know it.  Such sweet friends.

I didn't even bring Smith's Easter basket.  That's what happens with #2.  I'm wondering if #3…we just forget one of them at home altogether!  Hahaha!  He enjoyed looking for eggs and putting them in big sister's basket just as well.

It was great visiting with friends and meeting new people throughout the day. Our little family had such a great time!  This time of year is just so nice!  Mother of year also failed to apply sunscreen to any of my little monkeys…all is well now.  Thankful my babies have better skin tone than their parents!

We went home to rest for an hour before heading off to the annual Johnson family Easter egg hunt.  It's actually just hosted by Russ's brother and his family.  There are lots of friends there along with family.  We always have a great time, and this year was no different.  Afterward, some family and close friends hung around for a birthday supper celebrating Clay's 17th birthday!

By the time Easter Sunday rolled around, this crew was exhausted.  Or at least these parents were.  But SO much FUN and even more fun ahead!

Easter 2016

I hope your family had a blessed Easter!  This time of year is one of my favorites, simply because it feels like new beginnings. Easter in particular is special to me, because it is symbolic of the new beginning God gave us by sending His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins.  So that we may spend eternity in Heaven with Him.  He bled, He died, but HE ROSE AGAIN!  And we will soon be caught up with Him in the sky and live forever with Him.  Those of us who believe and ask Jesus to take control of our lives.  Those who have gone before us….we will see them again! And live as heirs to the throne of our Creator.  Because we are His sons and daughters!  He chose us!  He adopted us.  He loves us more than we can fathom.

I love these babies more than words can say and more than they will ever know.  So you can see how it baffles me to know that God loves them even more!

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;

He came to love , heal and forgive.

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone,

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives!

Since moving closer to home, Russ and I haven't been to a Sunday church service back at our home church - that I can remember anyway.  It was so nice to worship with family and my extended church family that has loved me for as long as I can remember.  The pews were full, the music was amazing, and it was obvious that God was there…moving.  It was a wonderful Easter celebration!

Cousins

Of course, we celebrate Jesus's birth and resurrection continually throughout the year.  But it is so refreshing to have one day where the whole world stops and focuses on Easter - and what it truly means.  Whether they believe or not.  There are even believers who differ on setting aside one day to celebrate His resurrection on Easter.  What an amazing opportunity to place Christ right in the front of everyone's face!  I will take that opportunity any day!

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike.  Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.  Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.  For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies to ourselves alone.  If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die of the Lord.  So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.  For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?  Or why do you treat them with contempt?  For we will all stand before God's judgement seat.  It is written:

"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,   'every knee will bow before me;  every tongue will acknowledge God.'"

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

-Romans 14:5-12

From our family to yours…we hope you had a blessed Easter Sunday!

Update on Life with Littles

We are still here.  Still alive!  Just soaking in this time with two littles in our home.  And staying very busy!  I have Christmas posts started with all the pictures of our Christmas activities, and I may never get to them.  But here is your recent update.

Russ and I have two of the most precious blessings!  They love each other - well most of the time, it's kinda like a love/hate relationship.  But they are inseparable either way.  We love them, discipline them, and try to guide them in the right direction.  We are trying to teach them to obey, to pray, to love, and to trust God when they are scared at night.

It's the biggest job we could ever be given…parenting.  But, we are also trusting God to lead us in the right direction day by day.  Minute by minute most days!  And He is faithful.  We mess up and get frustrated and cry even at times.  But we are filled with JOY!

This is the day the Lord has made!  We will REJOICE and be glad in it!

Sights, Sounds, Smells of Christmas

December is a busy and exciting time! Especially for little ones.  We had a fun day with Millie Janalee's little class taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas at our local mall.  The children did some shopping for the moms at Bath and Body Works, and they were so excited!

We all rode the carousel...

We visited with Santa.  We weren't allowed to take pictures ourselves for some reason, but they did allow the teacher to take pictures on her phone.  She sent us what she had.  Smith and Susu came with us for this field trip, and Smith even got to visit with Santa.  Although he wasn't real sure about it.

We all had a yummy lunch in the food court at Chik Fil A.  It made me giggle to watch the little ones in action.  At one point, I looked over and saw a little group of big red bows gathered in a giggly group.  I had to take a picture!

After lunch, we all walked down to Barnes and Noble for a little story time.  Watching the teachers (and parents) attempt to get 30 three year olds organized and sitting still for story time was quite funny.

One of Millie Janalee's little friends had his grandmother with us for the field trip.  Mrs. Bullard was also my first grade teacher.  So when Millie Janalee's teacher asked her to read to the children, it brought back some memories!  Ha!

Trying to pry Millie Janalee out of the bookstore to leave the mall was a whole other challenge!  She had a great time, and I always enjoy stepping into her little world and watching her interact with her friends.  They are just so funny at this age!

Lots to see, hear, and smell during our field trip to the mall!

First Book of Christmas

One of our favorite Christmas traditions we started after Millie Janalee was born is our 25 Books of Christmas.  Each year, I wrap up 25 Christmas books and keep them in a basket.  They are the same books every year, unless they get a new book as a gift or something.  This year we kept them under the tree.  Each night leading up to Christmas, the kids open one gift and we read the book together.  It is a sweet time.  This year we found out it is also a great lesson to teach a 3.5 year old that one gift is plenty to be thankful for. Ha!

Each year we always have gifts left unopened due to crazy holiday schedules and late nights out or traveling.  But as many nights as we are home and able, we open a book and Russ reads to the children.  They love it!  Smith was very into it!  He rarely sits still long enough to read a book, but he was interested for the most part.  And it is so sweet to watch their excitement.

Russ was also pretty excited about it each night.  When he worked nights, he would get ready early and ask me to have the kids in their pajamas and ready to read by 7:30 so he could read a book to them before he left.

I was pretty much a bystander.  And that's okay.  I loved my view...

Growing up, I have the most precious memories of Christmas traditions.  Many I still go home to enjoy.  It is very important to us to create a season of memories that our children smile back on.  And that bring them back home when they are older!  Most importantly, it is a time when we catch ourselves just being more intentional about spending time together.  And I soak it in every year.

Yes, Christmas is crazy.  This year was as busy as we have ever been during the holidays.  It was also our first Christmas AT HOME!  We didn't have lots of traveling and packing to do.  It felt good to exhale and enjoy our new life.  In our home.  With our family of four.

What traditions do you have at Christmastime?

A Different Kind of Christmas

2015 proved to be a difficult year for our family.  There were big changes, transitions, and goodbyes. 2015 also brought incredible blessings!  God has done great things for us, and we are filled with JOY!  Rejoicing in ALL He has done.  Thankful for the experiences, people and things He put in our path this past year.

"I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart;
I will enter His courts with praise.
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice for He has made me glad."

Tonight, our hearts ache and we wipe the tears as they continue to fall. Our dear Maw Maw was called Home this afternoon. I know she RAN all the way in! Greeted by my Pawpaw (and probably Russ's dad too) and falling right into the arms of Jesus. Christmas was her favorite time of year, and I find it only appropriate that this year she's just in time to spend her first Christmas in Heaven. It hurts bad. But He is faithful. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of her life and her love!

December 6, 2015 the Lord called Maw Maw home, and that was my Facebook post that evening.  As unexpected as it seemed, I know her earthly body was worn.  She fought hard and long for her independence and the energy of her younger years. She had recently moved into an assisted living facility.  Until that point, she had been living alone.  It just made sense for her to have help with life.  The day after her move, she landed herself in the hospital with pneumonia.  She was sent back to assisted living and shortly after broke both her legs.  She had some struggles and complications here and there, but was otherwise very aware of her surroundings and her condition.  Russ and I visited with her on Saturday and watched the end of a football game while talking.  It was a fairly normal visit.  I was able to rub lotion on her dry arms and hands as we talked about Millie Janalee and Smith.  Then we left and said, "Love you!  See ya later."

The next day, she simply didn't take her next breath.  Peaceful.  And gone from this chaotic world.  Running with able body and spirit!  I rejoice for her.  Oh, but how I mourn our loss.  To laugh and watch her get her tickle box turned over at Christmas dinner one more time - I would give anything.  But I know she wouldn't wish to be back here.

When we were preparing to move Maw Maw out of her apartment and into assisted living, she shared lots of plans with us.  Including funeral plans.  She was very specific on some things.  I often reminded her that she was just moving locations.  She wasn't going far.  But on that list it read, "And I want Megan to read a poem because no one else will do it."  Ha!  And then below that it read, "Russ can do it if Megan won't."  We gave her a hard time that day about the poem reading.  As we always did joke and mess with her.  And she took it and stood firm with her wishes - as she usually did.  Daddy texted me on Monday to let me know that there was no poem to be found.  Maw Maw didn't leave a specific poem.  He told me I could just read scripture if I wanted.  And I said, "No way!  She told me she wanted me to read a poem and she was very clear."  So I set out to find a poem.

Growing up our family did Christmas BIG.  We still do.  Maw Maw and I have lots of things in common, and our love for this time of year and gift giving is one of them.  She always gave the best gifts!  We have even done our Christmas shopping together on QVC several times.  Ha!  I will miss her this Christmas more than she could have ever known.  But at the same time I rejoice with her as she celebrates her favorite time of year in Heaven.

Christmas in Heaven 

by Wanda Bunco 

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting in the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

There will be an empty seat at our table this Christmas.  An empty chair in the living room when we open gifts.  We probably won't laugh as much since some of our laughter centered around Maw Maw's tickle box or something else she may have done or said.  But we will have joy.  The joy of knowing that this earth is not our home.  We are going to meet her, and what a reunion that will be!

It's a different kind of Christmas this year.  We will miss seeing Russ's dad in his recliner grinning that big smile as we open gifts and enjoy each other.  And we will miss Maw Maw.  We will miss her presence.  My heart aches just typing this post.  Sometimes life is just too much.  Thank you, Lord, that your mercies are new every morning!

There will be joy on the faces at Christmas and laughter all around.  It's just a different kind of Christmas this year.

I Am Thankful, Yes Sirree!

The week before Thanksgiving, Millie Janalee's little preschool put on a Thanksgiving program one night.  It is a big event.  I had been told how difficult it is to get a good seat unless you camp out.  Grandparents and relatives of each student were invited, and of course all the relatives love to see a 2, 3, 4, or 5 year old stand on stage and perform.  My parents were in Disney World with my sister and her family, and Russ was working in Starkville that day.  So it was all up to me.  Step one...find a babysitter for Smith!  There's no way he would be able to go early enough for a seat...plus I needed hands for my cameras since I wasn't sure when Russ would be able to fly in.

So, I found a sweet sitter to play with Smith for the night.  And Millie Janalee and I headed out for her preschool a little before 5:00.  The program was a 6:00.  I've watched my mom all these years.  Finding the best seats is her specialty, and she doesn't care how early she has to arrive.  Ha!  We made it to the school along with all the other overachievers and managed to find great seats!

Millie Janalee was so excited!  She asked before the program, "Where's Pawpaw? Is Pawpaw coming to my school?" I nearly cried.  Y'all know our family doesn't miss anything.  Ever.  So of course, we Facetimed Pawpaw and Susu in Disney World.  Ha!  That seemed to satisfy her.

As the program started, the children walked down the aisle to take their place on stage.  This was probably my favorite part.  There was a huge gap in the line, and I couldn't figure out what had happened.  Ummmm...it was Millie Janalee.  She looked lost.  She was looking around at every single person she passed and walking sooo slow.  Then when she found us - priceless!  I love that girl!

Each age group sang two songs, and all the students 2-5 sang one song at the beginning and at the end.  They did such a great job!  Although I really couldn't take my eyes off the little pilgrims.

She was sitting next to two of her favorite little friends, and we just giggled as we watched them show each other where their parents were.  Millie Janalee was such a nosey little pilgrim.  She pretty much turned around watching the other children perform most of the time she wasn't singing.  Her teacher had to pull her down to her step and turn her around several times.

This picture cracks me up!  Oh, to be a fly on the wall in their little classroom.  We can't figure out what in the world is happening in this picture, but I'm thinking it's right before the little boy next to Millie Janalee elbowed her to the ground.  Hahaha!  I can't blame him.  Millie Janalee was elbowing him first!  What precious little ones!  I can't wait to watch them all grow together.

We were so thankful for the family members who were able to make it to see our little pilgrim in her first school program.  Roan and Leah stopped by between two other engagements.  They were able to see Millie Janalee's class perform before stepping out.  It was so thoughtful of them to take time out of their day to celebrate with us.

And, of course, Elle didn't miss it either!  Grace rode with Elle, and Millie Janalee was so excited to see them.  She actually shouted, "Hey Elle!" from the stage.  I think she actually said, "Hey Grace!" too.  Ha!

I am so thankful for our sweet preschool.  The teachers, assistants, and all the other staff members have been SUCH a blessing to me as a new preschool mom.  And they just LOVE on Millie Janalee like nothing I could have imagined!  They all know her name, and they greet her with such enthusiasm.  God had his hand in this - I have no doubt.  He worked out the details all along the way as we prepared for this transition.

Thankful.  We are thankful, yes sirree!