The Meaning

Hunter has been super busy with Easter egg hunts. He's had 4 (four!) now. Here's the rundown...

Last Saturday we went to our friends' neighborhood egg hunt in Firewheel. Here are the boys before the hunt... Hunter, Judah and Levi, and Jackson

There were parents EVERYWHERE during the egg hunting. Hunter still did a great job, though, and didn't even have one single melt down from all of the people invading his personal space (which personally makes me very proud...we're making progress people)...

Hunter was really excited about the suckers and "play-toh" (his favorite toy)...Here's our sweet boy after the hunt. I think his face does a much better job telling of his exhaustion than I could ever do...Hey, it's hard work hunting for eggs...especially when you're under a time crunch!

The next day we had our church Easter egg hunt after the worship service. Hunter and Ronnie are ready for some eggs! They are soooo excited!... Okay, maybe excited isn't the best word here. This picture was taken pre-candy, so what can we expect really?

This egg hunting experience was much smaller and MUCH colder, which is crazy because at the last egg hunt (the day before!) we were sweating and on this day some of those poor toddlers were crying from the freeeeezing winds.Then this past Wednesday Hunter and I drove up to Denton for my old Kappa chapter's annual egg hunt on the UNT campus. They had a petting zoo and an Easter bunny and 2000 eggs hidden! I walked Hunter into the petting zoo and he freaked (I know y'all are shocked by this) and started yelling, "hurt you! hurt you!," so we just decided to watch our friends pet the animals instead.

Once we were outside of the petting zoo, Hunter saw his friend, Garrett, with an Elmo Easter basket (which is identical to Hunter's) and freaked again, screaming, "BASKET! BASKET!" while pointing at poor Garrett and crying. So now we know no one will ever steal from our kid...at least not easily.

(Erin Westrom, if you're reading this, it was really great to see y'all! I wish my camera would've been working, and we could've gotten a picture of the boys:(...next time!)

After all of the animal and basket drama, the egg hunt began. On the way to the eggs, my sweet friend Erin's mom (different Erin from above) was walking Hunter and E's son, Nolan, over to the eggs. The three of them looked so cute that I tried to get a picture from behind, but I only got this shot......and when I attempted to get a better one, my camera died. It died y'all. Dead. No battery. Zip. Zero. Nada. Y'all know how this could've ruined my egg-hunting fun, but luckily, most of my kappa sistas are papparazzi mommies like me, so they sent me their pictures...

Hunter and I looking for eggs with the Easter bunny....I was surprised how un-scared Hunter was of that big, creepy bunny that wanted to touch him.

Hunter and Nolan from the front...

Hunter and Payton...They are soooo crushing on each other. Look how shy they're being:)

Some of the Kappa alums after the hunt...Michelle with Hayzen, me with Hunter, Courtney with Payton, and Erin with Tatum and Nolan.

I also got to see several other alums (including my grand-lil), which was so fun. Like Courtney, I can't believe it's been 10 years! Things have changed so much, but I still feel so blessed by these women!

Hunter also had an Easter egg hunt at school on Thursday, but I didn't get to go to that one so we have no pictures...not that I really need any more pictures of him hunting eggs. He got tons more candy though...just what we need.

Although I'm so thankful for all of the fun activities Hunter gets to participate in during this season, I want him to know the real meaning of this celebration...the most important holiday in our faith. I ache for him to stand in awe of the Lord as his daddy and I do. The gift Christ gave us through his death is amazing, indescribable, miraculous, HUGE...there is no adequate word for it.

This last year has definitely been my biggest year of growth in my walk with God. I've learned so much more about God's love for me, and the sacrifice He willingly planned before the beginning of time. I have a lump in my throat thinking about how the God of the universe loves me so much that he sent his son to die on a cross for my eternal life. There is a void in life that only He can fill. I so want that for Hunter...and for you. If you are reading this, and do not yet know him, I'd love to talk to you about the gift he's offered to you personally.

As I sit here on this Good Friday night, remembering the cruel crucifixion of my Savior, I look forward to Sunday when we will celebrate his triumph...

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed...Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53: 5, 12)