Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter 2014


Easter 1982...our daughter was four and our son was two.  I had sewn them matching Easter outfits and Grandpa had planned their egg hunt in his back yard.
Jeff was so proud of his successful hunt the next Easter.
Our family with a mother-daughter hand hold.  I miss holding  my daughter's hands.
Remember the Holly Hobbie look?
2014...32 years later egg hunts for a two year old boy is happening for a new generation.  I think we have a new tradition: The Easter Cat Cheeto hides the Eggs!
Grandpas always help with egg hunts, this Papa helps by holding the beloved brown bear lovey to free up little boy hands for egg hunting.

An egg with nothing inside still brings smiles!


Paska has been added to our family Easter fare.  Luke prefers to call it "cake".
Jeff kept thinking I said I was bringing pasta and said OK to be polite.

I wore a black dress and a black pillbox hat that had a bit of veiling around the edge to the local Greek Orthodox Good Friday service. It was a poignant service of scripture reading without commentary. 
At the end an icon of Christ was removed from a cross and the icon was tenderly wrapped in a shroud, then carried around the sanctuary and the placed in a flower covered booth.  I had never so fully grasped the emotions of Good Friday before; seeing that part of the Easter story silently re-enacted was so moving.
The black funeral dress (not typical at the service) marched the somber events of that day.

Wearing bright pastels on Easter after the funeral black of Friday felt so celebratory.
(My I recommend using paint aps to render portrait pictures artfully and sans aging details? Some theologians think in heaven we will all be in perfect late 20something bodies.  Let's just say the Paint Booth ap may give a hint of what I might look like in heaven...)
Easter dinner at Jeff's house with some friends as guest too.  I love how he and his wife almost always invite people to join us for special meals.

It was a beautiful weekend weather wise. I counted 160+ tulips in bloom in my garden.

I didn't count the daffodils.  I switched to counting my blessings instead.

My calendar says this is Easter week. 
I like that...He is Risen!  
Let's declare it over and over again!

7 comments:

ellen b. said...

He is Risen indeed.
I have to put going to an orthodox church on Good Friday on my list of things to do. Maybe I could find a Russian Orthodox church...
Looks like great celebrations.

Rosella said...

Everything looks beautiful and especially you!! I need to get me some of that app...
Your Paska looks amazing!! No flowers are blooming over here, so far, but I do see life and a few buds coming on the daffodils. Yes, let's celebrate over and over again!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I am so thankful that I visited here this evening. Your pictures added beauty, memories, and humor to my day. I like to think of looking 20 something in heaven, but I think I will resort to the new app you introduced me to, for now. You look so pretty!

The little guy sure looks like he enjoyed every moment of the day. He is growing up so quickly.

I dream of having as many tulips and daffodils in my yard, as you do. Maybe that too, will happen for me in heaven:)

Vee said...

Your daughter looks very much like you. Oh I'll recognize you in Heaven. Don't you worry about that. You'll be wearing a hat, of course. =D

I have been hearing about these meaningful Good Friday services. My sister's church did one in the evening where the only light was lamplight and then they were all turned off and people left in the dark and in silence. I wondered if everyone had been eating carrots. I'm not sure I'd have made it out without tripping.

It looks as if it was a beautiful day all around and your garden sounds so beautiful.

Judy said...

I'm with Rosella...I need to get me some of that app! It looks like you had a meaningful and joyous Easter celebration. I like that you added paska to the menu. :)

Lovella ♥ said...

How wonderful to declare this Easter week. I think too often the thinking about the resurrection and the work on the cross is put away with the Easter leftovers.
Your paint ap is so great. I'll have to do some painting myself.
I love the photos of Luke! He's getting to be a big boy and I can see how he would bring you all many smiles.

Your walk down memory lane photos are sweet.

Kathie said...

Gorgeous!! I put cheerios and raisins in Josie's eggs and she was so excited :) I'm not sure we'll get away with that when she's 3. I'm sure she'll clue in that the big kids got jelly beans and chocolate. A sweet picture from way back! I do remember the Holly Hobby days. Love and prayers, Kathie