He Is Risen!!!!

One f my favorite parts of Easter is when, on Sunday morning, someone says to you, "He is risen!!"  and then I get to reply back, "He is risen indeed!!!"

I have some very specific memories of Easter growing up that I want to share.

The church I went to growing up was fairly small...at least in relation to the church we go to now.  I would say that we pretty much knew everyone in the congregation.  Maybe I'm wrong, but from my child eyes, that's the way it seemed.  Each Easter our church would have a sunrise service, outside in the parking lot/field area.  Each family would bring a breakfast dish to share after the service.  The pastor would preach outside, and my favorite part always took place.  Peggy and Sue would sing, "He's Alive" I loved to hear them sing the song and simply looked forward to it each year.  I loved having the church service outside and I loved looking forward to playing and eating afterwards.  Even today, I feel like I need to listen to "He's Alive" each Easter Sunday, but the tape with them singing is long gone.  It's the song of Jesus' resurrection from Peter's perspective.  I'm quite certain this church no longer does the outside sunrise service, and I'm positive Peggy and Sue no longer sing.  But, it is a memory etched in my mind from my childhood that I will not soon forget. 

Like many people, we always dyed hard boiled eggs to hide and find.  However, one year it went awry and to this day it is something our family talks about.  Several months after Easter...I mean, like deep into the summer, maybe longer, my mom was sitting in the living room and started commenting on a gross smell she had just wift.  Later, we discovered the smell...an unfound Easter Egg that had rotted.  It was so horrible, that we had to throw away the couch!!!  Needless to say, we never dyed eggs again after that, just used those plastic ones.  And, today, our family of 5 hides the eggs outside, just in case one is forgotten again.

I feel like, yet again, I've failed by kids.  I want so badly to have traditions, to have holidays that my children look forward to and remember...but it's simply not easy with three very little ones.  I have all the stuff...18 eggs, Easter egg dye, stickers and basket....but, we have not yet dyed our Easter eggs, and it looks like there will be no time today to do it either.  The good thing is, they don't really know any better, yet.  Next  year though...I HAVE to do it (I WANT to do it).  We wanted to do resurrection cookies with them...but didn't get home in time enough before bed last night.  I wanted to talk more about the story of Christ and teach them better about what this day symbolized, I wanted to burn this day into their minds...but I'm pretty sure I didn't.  Not this year anyway.  However, they did get an Easter basket this year...from us.  And I'm excited about that.  They are simple, some robins eggs and jelly beans scattered in the grass.  A giant chocolate bunny, and a new Bible.  But, I think they'll be excited when they wake up and see their goodies.

We are having everyone over to our house today for Baby Back Ribs....I sure hope we cook them well!!!!

Have an enjoyable Easter and remember.....HE IS RISEN!!!!