Easter at Glory Farm

Two years ago, we arrived to our new town/state/climate/home on Easter weekend.  We were staying at the hotel awaiting the keys to our new home.  I remember on one of our ‘drive byes’, saying to Number One Son…what a place for an Easter Egg hunt.  At the time, I probably thought of small children in Easter outfits with baskets clutched in grubby hands…the reality this year may have exceeded my expectations in the fun factor as 20 ‘kids’ (ages 15 to 66) took to the hunt with gusto, some running, some methodically moving along the fences and the trees…shouts of laughter.  (Sorry no hunt pictures…I was looking for my eggs).Luckily I had plenty of help getting ready, as I conscripted Team Offspring to recreate a few Pinterest ideas.  Folding starched napkins into Bunnies proved to be something of a challenge……but once they were folded, I wasn’t going to re-iron them again, so they got used, although seeing them as ‘bunnies’ took quite an artful eye.We scoured the farm for tables and drug them into the house…anything covered in linen becomes a dining table…who would have ever imagined we’d have room to seat 22.…and of course croquet…Croquet is meant to be played with 6,…no surprise that we play by our own set of rules here.  It was very important to remember who you followed…and yes, this season…the straw hat point still counts!Some of the siblings join up to creatively ‘buck’ the straw hat system…While a few others have a moment on the swing…It was a day of family and we were blessed.

There were members of our family missing…isn’t that always the case…

Some in other states…with other commitments…

Some of our Seattle Cousins (My Skinny Cousin to be exact) made the journey to spend the day with us and I always know this makes our mothers (in heaven) nod their heads and smile, there was one more mother joining their circle this year and I know she was smiling along with them, saying oh, isn’t it nice that the kids are together this year…

(Just for the record…we had the usual getting ready angst.  A few days prior I had a moment of pre-hosting ‘irritation’ at the shape of the laundry room and might, maybe have hollered at the wrong kid.  My Loving Spouse might, maybe have had a tiny, teeny bit of irritation at me when I did not answer my phone that did not ring…just so you know…we are so utterly and amazingly normal).

…but on Easter the most special of days to those of us who believe in the love and power of Christ…

…Easter, the anniversary of My Loving Spouse and I meeting….

…it was a day to spend together as our new family dubbed Glory Farm as the Schroeder Family Farm East 

and we are blessed.