It was Easter as we know it, in lots of ways. Chocolate for breakfast – tick. A huge roast dinner – tick. An egg hunt – tick. More cakes than we can eat – tick. Children asking to eat chocolate all the day long – tick.

After a few delivery email stresses, the little hopping bunnies I’d ordered for the younger three arrived yesterday, and proved pretty popular. There were a few arguments over them needing collars, so Liam got to work and sorted that out. It meant Theo spent the whole day dragging a bunny, bucket of eggs, and a box of kinder eggs everywhere he went. And had a large meltdown over not having them all in bed with him too.

We tuned in for church online, there’s something comforting about seeing those faces and knowing that even though we aren’t meeting in the building, all across the world people are still ‘meeting’ in communities to celebrate Easter. I’m still the most enthusiastic singer in our congregation though. I’m sure the neighbours love it…

Dinner was a relatively happy affair. Once we’d agreed that the youngest could eat ham wraps, there was no way they could comprehend eating dinner at lunchtime. Although they did somehow sneak some Yorkshire puddings on the side, the only bit of a roast they’re interested in. And it turns out Megan didn’t agree with eating lambs, so went for a veggie option, in contrast to Maisie, who would have eaten the entire leg if I’d given it too her.

As ever, there was great enthusiasm over the egg hunt. Maisie has an incredible ability to spot them the minute she walks out of the door, so whichever little sibling puts them self on her ‘team’ always fares well!

Pretty much every group photo has Theo being held into place for a split second before he legs it out of the shot. He’s either very invested in something, or very not. Family photos-not so much.

One of us may have gone into an after dinner food coma. Megan is his usual choice of pillow, but she was upstairs so he had to make do with me. I managed to sneakily lie him down though, and escape to the other chair with a coffee and Liam – an extremely rare afternoon sit down. In which Liam also seemed very close to joining the afternoon nap time.

Family catch ups included FaceTime with Nanny and Bowen family zoom. It’s so strange to think that only a few weeks ago I had never heard of Zoom. And absolutely detested FaceTime. But in a very short space of time it’s become not only the norm, but a much needed form of replacing the face to face interaction we’re missing so much. The Bowen family group opted for optional Easter fancy dress, so bunny face paint and a very cute baby chick made appearances. I struggled to see over the top of the soft toys that were gradually filling the table in front of me as Maddie and Theo insisted on showing the family all of their favourite things.

We recovered from dinner enough to eat a Sunday tea. Theo tends to go downhill somewhat when he’s hungry, so I pacified him by getting him to help fill up the cake stand. ‘Let’s put these fancy ones on top Mummy! Now the bunny biscuits all need to be together and the ducks can all be together next to them!’ Once the sugar rush kicked in at tea he started leaning on my shoulder declaring undying love for me and how very kind I was to make cakes. Not half an hour earlier he was accusing me of ‘being very selfish!’ because I wouldn’t let him eat three kinder eggs in one day. I should never let him get hungry.

In so many ways it was a happy Easter Day. We are so lucky with having each other, having a garden to run around in, having loving families to catch up with. But there were moments when I was stressed and moments when I was sad. Because although I did all the things I hoped we’d do to celebrate Easter in lockdown, I’d much rather not be doing it like this. As I was cooking the roast, I was thinking how social the cooking preparations are when we are on holiday or at mum’s. We’re all doing bits in the kitchen, or chatting over the washing up. Instead it was Liam and I doing it, a bit stressed over little people that really need one of us with them at all times, still washing dishes at 9pm because that’s how long it takes without others to share it with. The message from church was amazing, and it was so encouraging to remember the hope of the resurrection, and so were the songs I listened to whilst I cooked. But no way is that the same as being with church family, singing the songs together. And when I read sad stories on the news, and Toby went to bed upset and asking ‘what can we do tomorrow?’, I felt a longing for this to all be over.

But this morning when I was thinking about the resurrection, these verses came to my mind. Verses I love, and bring me great comfort.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39

This time we are living in is hard, but not hopeless. Because Jesus rose and went back to heaven, He is there praying to the Father for us. And nothing can separate us from His love. Social distancing is keeping us apart from one another, Coronavirus is bringing fear and pain, but nothing can keep us apart from the love of the One who created us, and died for us because that was how much He wanted to be with us. Because we love others, we plod on with being apart, knowing that it’s for a purpose, to protect each other and be together again. Because He loves us, He went through the pain of death so that we never have to truly be alone. And that’s why I’m celebrating tonight. Happy Easter!