Headed Home...

Because I packed for our little vacation on the very morning we departed, I later realized that I had forgotten more than I remembered. Usually, when I'm preparing for a trip, I work off of a list and check things off as I go. For this trip, I was really pressed for time and did not have a chance to pack early or make a list. Instead, I flew through the house setting out stacks of clothes for everyone to stuff in a suitcase.

Once we arrived at the hotel, we each realized how much I needed my packing list. First item, my swim suit. As Wade and the kids enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi each day, I enjoyed looking like a total tourist sitting on my beach chaise wearing street clothes and a jacket. Along with forgetting my suit, which I wasn't thrilled about wearing anyway, everyone suffered a first-day sunburn because, you guessed it, I forgot the sun screen. And, Wade was the target of more than one sideways glance as he walked around in his swim trunks and white socks scrunched down above his boots. Yep, forgot to pack his sandals. 

Despite all that we forgot, we had a great time relaxing as a family. All the kids enjoyed many hours in the pool, Colton worked in a little tennis with mom and dad (me in my flip flops, dad in his boots), Audra and Buck managed a fun time boogie boarding in the ocean while Sierra spent lots of time collecting shells along the shore. We did a little browsing in the island shops and visited a few eating spots along the way. It was a nice departure from our crazy lives at home and a fun way to celebrate a few milestones in our family....Wade's birthday and our anniversary. 

We're headed home in time to celebrate an even bigger family holiday, Easter. In fact, heading home will give me lots of time to decide if I need to come clean with the kids about the fraudulent Easter character, Mr. Bunny.  Our family celebrates Easter for all things Christian, the walk to the cross, the crucifixion and the resurrection. Up till now, we've done the Easter bunny gig - hidden eggs, baskets and chocolate.

As we've talked with the kids today about how the Easter bunny is supposed to fit in to that story, they've just giggled at the visual pictures. "Did the bunny roll the stone away from Jesus' tomb?" Wade asked.  

"No!" Colton giggled.  The Easter bunny wasn't there.

"Exactly," Wade exclaimed. "How does the bunny have anything to do with Easter?"

"He's a sign of new life, daddy, like the eggs." Sierra interjected. "You know, Jesus did go into the garden to pray and I'm sure there were bunnies there."

I think that even Colton is on the the truth about the bunny, which means I can retire. We'll all wake tomorrow to celebrate the fact that Jesus conquered death and rose again from that tomb. We'll go to church, as we do every Sunday, and we'll sing songs of praise to a God who lives in each one of us. All because we ask Him to. Happy Easter!