Happy belated Mother’s Day, Mama! I hope you and yours had a blessed one. I have lots of blog post ideas running through my head, but so little time to write! I am currently watching my daughter Lillian through a window as she is in Physical Therapy to fine tune her balance and walking.

Easter and Mother’s Day passed in a blur. We are in the process of creating new traditions with our children as our families expand. Sharing the holidays is a rhythm we are finding.

The past couple years we’ve done brunch with my in laws out at a restaurant. This year we hosted in our home, and can I get an amen that eating at home with kids is the way to go? The struggle of having little ones sit still for 1.5 hours out at a restaurant is real. We’ve enjoyed hosting as my MIL graciously cooks brunch and brings it to our home. The kids loving playing with their uncles and interacting with the family in their environment. Then later on in the day, after my youngest has napped, we head over to my moms to swim and eat. What a blessing to have a day off from cooking! I usually help bake an item for each family session, and am so thankful to indulge in some deliciousness I did not have to prepare.

Lets rewind (who remembers VHS?) back to Easter. Due to little ones and early bed time the past two years we have not attended the Good Friday service at our church. We’ve tried to be intentional about reading the story of Jesus’ beautiful sacrifice in our home along with creating sacred space of not running around like little chicks. We had multiple Easter egg hunts at Awanas, school, and family…trying to keep the focus on what Easter is about. What activities did you do for Easter?

It was tradition in the Urso home to get a new Easter dress every year, usually accompanied by big bows and gloves and frilly socks. Confession:this year I was too tired and didnt wash my hair or shave my legs. Shout out to maxi dresses to cover the hairy beasts! Years ago I was challenged when listening to a podcast that when I go to church, it’s  not about what I gain but about what I give. It was a privilege to serve in walker room at our church on Easter morning. My eyes often tear up in those precious moments with the little ones as we read the story or color.

The day before Easter, I went for a run and had a holy moment in the kitchen. I was sweaty, chowing down on carrots and guac and simply listening to a song on my iPhone with headphones. It was in that moment that I sensed the presence of God so strongly. Most of the times I encounter that presence it’s not in a corporate setting, but in the mundane of a car ride, run, or the normal day to day.

I love that Jesus is not put off by sweaty runny clothes. I don’t have to be in my best Easter dress to enter the presence of the Holy One, he accepts us all just as we are.

What did you do to celebrate Easter and Mother’s Day, Mama? Have you encountered any holy moments lately?