Easter Sunday

One of my very favorite childhood Easter memories is waking up at my Grandma & Grandpa Elbrader's house VERY early on Easter morning and getting to put on that new Easter dress and white dress shoes for the first time of the season. Grandma always went to a little country Catholic church, and every time that Mom and I went with her, everyone would crowd around after mass to admire "how much I'd grown since the last time they'd seen me" and commend Grandma on how nice it was that the family was home for Easter. I can remember being so excited that it meant that summer was almost here and warm weather was on the way. The grass was greening-up and ball season was just around the corner.

As Tyler and I sat in mass this morning, all three of our children dressed in their Easter Sunday best, with my parents and sister, I came to realize how I hope that we are building those same memories for our children. Traditions have always been such a big part of Tyler & I's lives that I hope that we can instill that into our children. I also realized how very fortunate I was to always have a NEW Easter dress (just as my kids always have), and how hard my parents worked to make sure that we always had ALL that we needed - and more. A whole flood of memories hit me as I sat there and realized how time had changed what point we are at in our lives. Time had not changed any of us or what we have always stood for, it has merely shifted each of us down one seat. My mom, now better known as "Grandma" is filling those shoes quite nicely, and I only hope and pray that I will be able to be as good of mother to my kids as she was to us as I take her place in the chain. Time seems to fly when you think of it in this sense!

Anyway . . . a few happy Easter thoughts that couldn't go unmentioned. After mass, the kids hunted Easter eggs that the Bunny had left at out house while we were away at church. Then our tradition continues with a trip to Grandma Bome & Papa Charlie's house for lunch and more family fun. It's always nice to see everyone and catch up on each other's lives. Next year, we will get to have another little one to celebrate with, as Kelsey & Nick's baby boy will be with us - and yet another branch! Praise God for blessing us with large families that always seem to keep growing! Tyler & I both feel so fortunate to be a part of such loving families who always welcome us with outstretched arms. The love never divides with addition of another member, but instead multiplies - just as we have always been taught.

Hope you all had as Happy & Blessed Easter as we did!