Project Life: Week 12

Monday, March 21

Ellie had a good day today. She got to go back to school, where she was greeted by friends who missed her and treated her as if nothing had happened. And she and Elaina got to go to Pearce, which is great for them and allows us to get a workout in. When we went to pick them up afterwards, Ellie decided to make herself comfortable while Josh helped with her shoes.

Tuesday, March 22
Elaina begged to go outside after dinner, so we decided to make a family outing of it and went for a walk around the neighborhood. Quite often as we walked the girls reached for one another's hands. It did mama's heart a whole lot of good.

Wednesday, March 23
We've had Yuna for a year and a half now, and while I love her, we still haven't been able to convince the cats to feel the same. They never come to the living room without being strongly persuaded/held against their will. But I miss them, so once in awhile, I force the issue. This look basically sums up how Winston felt about my decision to do so tonight.

Thursday, March 24
A little over a week out from her injury, and Ellie is unafraid to show off her new smile.

Friday, March 25
Today Josh and I had the day off--our first since Martin Luther King Jr Day in January. We decided to fill the day with Eastery and otherwise fun activities, which included getting Elaina a new bicycle. She was almost comedically too big for the My Little Pony bike she'd gotten for her birthday a few years ago, yet she insisted on riding it when we went for walks. Since Ellie was inheriting that bike, we bought her a new helmet to go with it (and managed to nag a slightly larger helmet for Elaina for $5!).

When we got home from our outing, Josh assembled the bike with the girls and I dyed our Easter eggs.

And then it was time for bike rides!

Saturday, March 26
Today was a wonderful day filled with family. We went to Mom and Dad's and, for the first time since Christmas, all of us were there together. We had lunch and then played in the yard. It was an overcast day, but not terribly cold, and it was such fun to watch the girls play with their cousins and aunties and uncles.

We headed down to the farm later in the afternoon, where we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids and anniversary cake for Mom and Dad. Gramma has been very sick lately, so it was nice to get in an extra hug with her while we were there, too.

Cousins!

Happy 45 years!

Sunday, March 27
Today was a hard day for me. I used to think that people who didn't go to church were lazy or unrighteous or any number of unkind things. And then, a year and a half ago, I became one of those people. Every Sunday it is a hard decision to make. It is not the fun decision, it's not the easy decision, and it's not the decision I ever saw myself faced with. I don't want to believe it's a forever decision, but it is the decision of now. And this Easter, not going to church absolutely broke my heart.

I allowed myself to cry, and I allowed the girls to see me cry because I don't want them to think that every decision we make as adults comes without pain. And then I dried my tears and even though my heart was heavy, I tried to make the best of it for the girls.

So we had an Easter egg hunt in the living room.

And Josh and I (mostly Josh) made yellow raspberry jam and red raspberry jam.

And we had dinner with Josh's family, and the girls had yet another Easter egg hunt.

And in the end, we made it through the day. My heart still hurt. It still does. But we made it, and that's what counts.