Celebrating the Resurrection; our Family Tradition.

[Mrs. Warrior]

As we are prepare to celebrate our family gathering to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord as spring warmth touches us I open the windows and let fresh air and bird's songs in. I replace the fabrics from cozy winter plaids to soft pastel florals. The wind blows the curtains and floral candles scent the air, gone-with-the-wind lamps give soft glow to the antiques and the artwork adorned with bible verses make each room very calming and I am soothed.

Our home is ready to give our traveling children the comfort of being back in the arms of family and sleeping in their old rooms. It is their time away from work to recharge in antique bed frames and colorful quilts. With the knowledge that mom and dad are watching over the home and that angels watch over the border of our family farm, they can relax. With soft rest and deep contentment we are together again and the journey of each person will be come a family heirloom story.

I have such fun looking for Easter baskets for our granddaughters. I look for the ones with the most goodies and enjoy their joy at opening them. We put a smoked ham with glaze in the oven and work together to prepare a feast. The girls arrive in their pretty dresses and we hug and welcome each other. We share the story about how Jesus carried our old self and sin down to the depth of the earth; how He took control of the key to death and the grave and how God took His wounded body and put His love around His son and restored His life, when He came back to life, our sins were washed away.

Before the death burial and resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit would only rest on and come near to those saints of old. Now the Spirit comes to live within us and give us Gods fullness. We have love, joy and patience.

When our son arrives he traditionally hides the eggs for the morning hunt. The girls flit like butterflies with their basket and search for the eggs. We come in enjoy and cake and ice cream. Then the girls change into their play clothes and rubber boots. I use nature as a lesson as we walk down to the pond (I have someone drive me). The girls chase frogs and tadpoles; one time I went to drink from my water bottle only to find a green smirking face inches away! Our oldest granddaughter always seems to find critters to take home and my water bottle was a convenient holding tank, I told the girls that stagnant water has a single cell amoeba that can go to your brain and eat it! That is why in some swamp dwellers the amoeba swims up, looks around and says I am starving; this is a no brainier!

We come back to the house and I explain that having muddy clothes stain the pretty fabric of the chairs is like having anger and bitterness that we have to seek forgiveness to be free from that. After cleaning up we go in the heated swim spa! Now I say we are clean and free to enjoy building each other up in esteem.

As a sunset paints the sky the day draws to a close and I get sad about everyone going back home, so we hug and wish for angels to watch over us until we meet again for the next family gathering. Afterwards, my husband and I will sit on the swing under the oak trees and reminiscence about our special day and then we praise God for giving us this wonderful time to be stored in the memory collection in our hearts.

[Texas Eagle]

Beautiful.

[definitelynotaliberal]

Thank you for sharing.

[Jane Long]

Love this!