Celebrating Easter

Trying to balance the fun of a holiday with the truth of it is always hard for me.  I haven't tried too hard to keep the Easter bunny alive around here so whatever surprise is pulled together for the morning is usually done with the assistance of a few of the children.  This year the family was presented with a basket full of bug nets, fairy wings, garden gloves and seeds.

No one missed the candy, they were too busy digging through seed packs trying to decide which crop would be theres.  I had to warn the younger two that the produce of their choice was not actually in the packet and not to eat the seeds.

We passed on egg dying this year because we already collect a colorful assortment.  In fact everyday is like an Easter egg hunt as they bring in eggs from the coop and where ever else the hens and ducks may be laying.

My favorite Easter tradition of making dresses for the girl didn't happen this year.  I still have the design in my head though and the fabric is washed and ready for me to draft the pattern, cut out and sew........maybe next spring.  This year we made due with one hand me down dress and $7 one from the resale shop, with the addition of new cardigans they looked adorable and it cost me very little sleep.

We are lucky to live close enough to celebrate holidays with family.  Here is Poppy taking care of Charles so I could enjoy Nanny's delicious ham dinner.
 

The kids dashed around with cousins looking for candy filled eggs in their backyard.  

Nanny apologized for the amount of candy they were bringing home but I told her that as much as I don't like to fill my children with sugar, just like trick or treating, it is hard to pass up on the fun of an egg hunt.  But we've had enough sugar melt downs that the candy bags were almost immediately put way out of reach, and the funny thing is I found an old bag of halloween candy when I put them up there.

After dinner at Nanny and Poppy's we gathered with a few of my siblings and their families at my sister Julie's grave.  It was just a few days before Easter 12 years ago that she passed away.  I remember our home being filled with flowers from friends and neighbors that weekend and more than anything the overwhelming scent of the Easter lilies.  To this day whenever the scent of that flower fills my surroundings I am reminded of the beautiful peace I felt at her passing.  My heart still aches for her at times but am comforted again and again at her grave site.  On her head stone is in scripted the verse:

Psalms 35:9

"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord, it shall rejoice in his salvation."   

 

And so my soul was once more reminded on this beautiful Easter Sunday of the perfect life and mission of Jesus Christ and his purpose in the eternal life of each and every one of us.  Happy Easter!