Easter Sunday 2008

I must admit I have a few mixed feelings about Easter...especially this year. I used to count down the days to Easter. No, not just because we woke up to easter baskets full of candy and stuffed animals; but because I knew that day my grandma would have the best day of her life. It was the one day out of the year that she could actually get all of my family together. No matter what, you could always count on seeing all the family that one day out of the year.

Grandma passed away September 25 2005 and well honestly...nothing has been the same. Not only do I miss her more than words could EVER express, I miss my family coming together...if only for that one day out of the year. I have moved away since then first to Tennessee and now in Minnesota, I am far from home and my family. It has been a challenge but I believe today I realized how much I miss home. This past year has really been an eye opener for me and I've really matured in a lot of my ways.

I realize the importance of family, friends, home, love and even life itself. Maybe that's why this Easter is a bit difficult to get through. With my family over 1,000 miles away, Mike's family is scattered all about it just seems that Easter has a new meaning. We haven't done much for Easter this year...honestly we did nothing. I've spent most of my day thinking of past Easter gatherings back home and wondering when and how Mike and I will begin our own family traditions.

All that said and set aside, the true meaning of Easter still remains. Family is amazing, seeing family members dressed as Easter bunny is ridiculously halarious, traditions are carried on, Resurrection of Christ...priceless. It brings joy, excitment and deeper understanding of love when I think back to the cruxifiction of Christ. The sacrafice he made WILLINGLY, knowing that at any minute he could have said I have had enough and walked away from it all. How many times do we scream out and say ENOUGH and give up on ourselves, our friends and even our families? Just as Christ endured the ulitmate sacrifice till the end, then came back rising from the dead; shouldn't we do the same? Look at all the good, love and joy that came out of his sacrafice and resurrection; I believe that if we 'stick it out' as Christ did and push through the hard times...we too will experience good times, unconditional love and pure joy beyond all understanding...and it will be passed down from generation to generation.

I hope and pray that you all had a blessed Easter no matter the circumstances you may be in, no matter how far away you are from family. Start a new tradition this year, a tradition that could have endless possibilities. God bless you all.