Easter

I'm not sure what I want to remember most from this past weekend- time with family, the family time, or time when family was over.

To quote God (and Martha Stewart)- "it was good."

Easter's always a special time around here; the fasting is over, darkness turned to light, sorrow turned to laughter, and the celebrations begin. Easter's different from other holidays- the celebration is laced with joy and lightheartedness, witnessing to the fact that we don't have anything to worry about anything ever again. Technically, we're supposed to celebrate Easter for 8 days- sounds like a plan to me!

With all that's been swirling at work lately, I feel I've earned this four-day weekend. I took today (Monday) to relax in peace and do my own thing. But all I'm doing is sitting around, incredulous that the party is over and everyone's gone. My restful peace is more like loneliness- where'd all that family go?

Jack's mom came up to visit on Friday and accompanied us to the church services of Triduum on Friday and Saturday. The services were just beautiful and it was great to have Jack's mom with us. Then on Sunday, everyone made the drive to partake in Jack's Easter Extravaganza, a full Polish feast, complete with Italian appetizers. I'm always very intent on making sure everyone has a good time and sometimes, it makes the day go by way too quickly. My 8 month-old niece and I were the only two with today off, so I know why they all had to leave...but that didn't stop Jack and I from sitting out on the porch after everyone left, wistfully rehashing the great times we had this weekend.

Sometimes it's hard living this far away from our families. Usually we're fine, especially if we make the trek to SB to visit everyone. After the visiting, we happily get back on the highway for home, so grateful for our lives out here. But when they all come to US, it's different. When the last car's taillights disappeared beyond the curve in our subdivision, Jack and I looked at each other like, "wow, it's over? The party just started!"

I can see why Easter should be eight days long! We had enough food and candy to feed everyone all over again and joyous holidays like that SHOULD be multi-day celebrations. I also get why the Polish celebrate Dyngus Day!

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going to keep celebrating. I'm going to try and let the Easter celebration infiltrate (gasp!) even my toughest work situations and stressors.

Happy Easter!