My mom always tried to take Easter pictures. I've always tried too. 

I don't remember the Easter Bunny visiting our house growing up. He left eggs at school parties and other places around our town. I never saw him though at parties or the mall when I was young.  I must say I'm glad, as I'm positive an oversized furry thing with large front teeth who neither blinked nor spoke would have freaked me out. 

 He's been a sporadic visitor at our house through my "married with kids years" bringing Easter goodies. 

I've avoided him in the mall ever since I've had kids because the waiting line freaks me out. 

My childhood was steeped in tradition. My brother would wear a tie. My sisters and I got new dresses every year that I can remember for Easter. The dresses were usually white or some pale pastel shade. Sometimes there were gloves to go along with the dress. The look was completed with buckled sandals or Sunday shoes with socks that folded over with lace that met the ankles. One Easter I had a big floppy white hat. 

The ways in which to celebrate Easter are about as varied as the Easter egg. Some are plastic, some candied, and still some hard boiled. They come in different styles and unique hues. 

  

I tried my very first Cadbury egg around the time I entered college. My mom has made sure I had at least a box of five of the chocolate delights every Easter since. 

The past five Easters, we've had a casual Friday off from work. Saturday and Sunday are crazy busy. 

   
 

Easter Sunday has almost always called for good food, an Easter egg hunt and a Sunday nap. 

Remember Sunrise Service?

Different seasons in life have have carried tradition and added some new unique form of celebration come Easter, but there's always been an acknowledgement of the resurrection. 

The stone removed 

The empty tomb 

  
 

Strips of linen lying there, 
the grave clothes needed no longer

Jesus appears,
saying "Peace be with you"

Breathing the Holy Spirit

Entering the locked door
Putting Thomas' hand into His side

An invitation 
to cast the net according to his instruction
And one for breakfast

A call to feed his sheep 
To teach all nations

A reminder that it wouldn't be easy

A promise of His presence 

And a promise to return

The favorite Easter candy turns into empty calories. The unfavored kind, like the hard pink candy with the faux strawberry wrapper and the butterscotch candies end up being discarded at our house by May. The Easter bunny goes into hiding again until next year even though nobody's really looking for him. This year's wear will more than likely won't be next year's. The Easter baskets and decorations will be put away where you'll find them next year (I still haven't found last year's Easter garland). 

Monday, Easter will be behind us. The resurrection won't be. Monday there will be opportunity to live in light of the resurrection. Tuesday we can wake up, acknowledging the breath of the Holy Spirit is in us. Wednesday and Thursday we can accept Christ's invitation to feed His people. And every day, even the hard ones, we can remember that He is with us and for us. 

It's three days until Monday. We have this weekend to practice. 

Couldn't resist throwing in pictures of our baptisms in the Jordan River this past summer. I plan on having them enlarged and hung up right smack dab in the middle of the living room. A great reminder to "rise and walk in newness of life".