The "Last Day" Take Two (the happy post)

God is amazing.  His gifts are so good.  One of my favorites ... mornings:).

The day before Richard leaves is always as close to unbearable as one can get.  Only because I actually do live through them do I say they are bearable.  But in every other sense, they are not.  When he leaves, it is just emotion overload.  There is the separation aspect, the "oneness" being incomplete for a time.  There is the anxiousness about being a single parent.  There is the exhaustion from the all too many deployments  and TDY's (mini missions) previous.  The list just goes on ....

These are the things that are on my mind at the end of that last day.  

Psalm 90.14 says, "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad."  And praise God for mornings.  Yes, for after those Last Day's, come mornings of new days.  And in the light of a new day, there is a new perspective on that Last Day.  In the light of a new day, there is hope and joy.  

So as Richard finishes packing this morning, I sit and listen to the rain falling outside and remember the great Last Day we had yesterday as a family at the apple orchards and I look forward to making fresh apple cake with the girls later today when we will all be missing their Daddy on a Sunday afternoon.

Patterson loved the little chicks:).

and so did Kate

 Parker and Kate had a blast with the billy goats.  Kate was like a little Snow White and had them following her all over the place!  One even tried to follow her up on the little thing she climbed up on.  It was super cute!!

My sweet Parker.  Off in her own world, as usual:).  She has such a heart for animals .... such a gentleness.

The Momma Hen ... 

Kate had fun on the tractor.

She even tolerated it a bit with Patterson ...

Then the sharing got "old."  This is the "P.A.T.T.E.R.S.O.N-UH!" look:).

But she obliged for my "just one, please" pose.

Olivia had fun too!

Picking up rocks was her favorite thing to do:).

Hanson Ellis, our little Momma, leading her sisters up to the big slide.

Enjoying Olivia going down ...

and having fun herself:).

:)

A fun family day at the Orchards, and great memories to get us through these next couple of weeks!