Easter Blessings!

We just returned home from our annual family Easter Sunday. The day began at 5:30 am (ugh!) to get ready for the 7:00 service. It was a wonderful time of worship, rejoicing & celebration, followed by the church's Easter breakfast. Then we came home, changed our clothes, grabbed our potluck contribution and were out the door for the 2 hour drive to my husband's sister's house in Ohio.

This family Easter gathering has become one of the highlights of the year for me! I was thinking on the long ride home about how much I love my husband's family and how close we've become over the past 33 years. I love getting to see my sisters-in-law & their families and catch up on all the news. I also love seeing my sister-in-law's in-laws -- they've become our family, too. Since all the kids are young adults now (the youngest is a high school freshman), the meal and afternoon are calm & relaxed (no more injuries on the basketball court, fights between brothers or over who found the most Easter eggs). There is plenty of good conversation and laughter and some tears for those who aren't with us any longer. There is no blessing so precious as family and shared memories and history!

Today even held a surprise for me -- my middle son called to report on his sky-diving experience this afternoon. . .he had very wisely not told me about it in advance. It sounds like he had a great time (and is already planning his next jump -- in tandem again, thankfully) but just thinking about my 28-year-old baby jumping out of an airplane is a little too much for this mom!

I hope that, if you celebrate Easter, you had a blessed and happy day today, surrounded by those you love! Happy Easter!