Monday, April 09, 2007

LOVING TRADITIONS ...AND PASSING THEM ON!!!!




Yesterday was Easter, and I am still walking around with a grin as I recall our celebration. It was laced with old and new family traditions!

First, Bert and I went to church and our gospel choir rocked our souls! We celebrated God's deep and abiding love!

Next, family gathered at our home and we had a potluck feast with strawberry waffles (thanks Aim for making the waffles), Nancy's famous egg casserole :), great meat dishes by Eileen :), super juices by Jessi:) and fruit trays and other Easter treats!

Then we opened Easter baskets which had been sitting out with balloons tied to them! Jacob and Emma were so patient, yet kept taking litttle peaks of what was inside! :)

Finally, we had the annual Easter Egg Hunt! I can still hear the voices of my grandchildren and family during this event! Here's the tradition: The eggs all have names on them. When you find an egg, if it isn't yours, you have to call or go get the egg's owner, before you can move on!! :) :) My creative brain came up with this new tradition a number of years ago...and now we hear all over the yeard..." Zac!!", "Emma!!", ""Jacob!!", "Kayla!!" and "Madison!!"

Rog and Ryan were the egg hiders, with expert help from Bert, Rog Sr., and Gary! When the eggs got opened up you could hear the younger kids squeel...." I have a dollar!!" "Oh my gosh, I have five dollars!" Rog Sr. said to Bert, with a smile on his face,..."Remember when we felt like that about a dollar?!!"

I grew up in a wonderful family that had traditions for every holiday!

For Easter my Mom made bunny rolls, decorated our table (I still have the plastic bunnies), and we had an Easter brunch!

We didn't just decorate for Easter, we decorated inside and out for every holiday! As I put the giant bunnies in the yard yesterday I missed my Mom, but I was SO GRATEFUL for the traditions she gave me that I could pass on!

At times, in the midst of our busy lives, it's easy to take family for granted. After all, they'll always be there, and I'll get to them down the road. I know first hand that in an instant they can be gone!

Yesterday was a great reminder to me to gather family together to celebrate holidays and most of all each other!

A family is your glue... that stuff that holds you together when you are falling apart! A family has your back...when everyone else is gone! A family sees you at your worst...and loves you anyway! A family makes time to spend with you...nothing is more important! A family steps up to the plate to help you with a willing heart...remembering that countless times you have done that for them! A family is loyal to you...they are the ones who wouldn't let someone say something negative about you without paying a price.

I love my family with my WHOLE heart!!! All of the family and all of its extended members!

I loved yesterday and carrying on my Mom's traditions (and making some of our own). :)

I hope your celebration of Easter lifted YOUR heart and made you grateful for those around you!

Love and Hugs to all of you reading this!

God Bless! Linda

4 comments:

kathibest said...

WoW! Linda what a tank filler of a day for you.............

You know, some people "say" Happy Easter but you "live" Happy Easter.......

I am inspired and moved by your family traditions and the energy and love that you put into passing them on and keeping the alive.....

I never experienced anything like that growing up but I want very much to provide that type of loving celebration and tradition for my children.....

Thank you for the full blown vivid account of what a loving and supportive family can share.......

I am so happy for you and know that beyond a shadow of a doubt this past weekend will keep your tank full for weeks to come.......

You are an amazingly giving, thoughtful and loving mother and grandmothter, that is to be admired..........

jessithompson said...

Thank you so much for the incredible celebration and extravaganza. From the gorgeous flowers to the delicate centerpieces... the whole house looked amazing. The meal was delicious with a great team effort. And the egg hunt... well that's frankly the best part. I loved watching the kids hunt and open their eggs.

Emma was beyond thrilled and loved the special, thoughtful treats in her Easter basket as well.

Thank you for the Starbucks cards and special adult easter basket - you're never too old for an Easter basket :)

I loved our chat and snuggling together on the couch watching Happy Feet.

A great family day!

Thanks for all the little extras that made the day such a special memory.

XOXO

The Farrell Family said...

Our family was so excited to come to celebrate Easter at your house. Thanks for all of the hard work that made it possible. Special thanks too for Jenna's easter basket, that was so thoughtful of you to think of her!

Love you!

LORIE said...

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