Good morning, Gorgeous! I hope your Easter weekend was beautiful and restful.
I have a holiday weekend strategy that you might find helpful. It comes from years of trial and error where I needed a vacation from my post holiday/over-stressed blues. Besides my weekend strategy, you also might want to adopt my Easter basket philosophy, which is— if you can’t get it at the grocery store, you’re not trying hard enough.
Also? It helps if the baskets are small, which the grocery store can most certainly help you with. Amen and amen. #easterbasketslackersunite
What I lack in Easter basket finesse, I make up for in food.
(Please see exhibit A.)
And after years of Pinterest-like Easter basket prowess, I’ve given it up for greener pastures. Gift cards and grocery store sundries are where it’s at.
Trust me on this.)
I do make a pretty serious commitment to keep the schedule light and the food over-the-top. And not the other way around.
I celebrate spring victories, like tulips……
and dogwoods
and perfect (unedited) sunsets.
I try to savor this…….
and this…….
and this…..
I give myself the gift of a good book and some poetry and some much needed perspective.
I try to remember the magic that every single day holds if I care enough to stop and notice.
The world IS charged with the grandeur of God. And morning comes again.
The world is charged with the grandeur of God.It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oilCrushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soilIs bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.And for all this, nature is never spent;There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;And though the last lights off the black West wentOh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —Because the Holy Ghost over the bentWorld broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.
Are you working toward holidays that really reflect your hope for your family? What is one thing you would change if you could?
Me? I’d hire The Avett Brothers to play music on our porch all day.
Well, we have never actually given our children Easter baskets. Its just not a tradition that we started. My oldest was always terrified of anyone/thing coming into the house (Santa/Bunnies) when she was alseep. Santa and such never became part of what we did. Then, my second has ASD and does not appreciate pretend or anything that cannot fit into a loverly little box. My two youngest just go along for the ride. All of that to be said, this year our neighbors surprised my children with Easter goodies. I had no idea that they were going to bless my family with such kindness and sugar highs! It was so nice to be able to explain to our kiddos that our neighbors wanted to share this type of joy with them. As they were relishing in the goodies, we were able to sit and talk about why Easter is special. It was a lovely day.
I love it. Sadly this Easter kind of went right over my head if that makes any sense. It was filled to the brim with drama (not of my own making just overlapping from loved ones I was hosting) and exhaustion on the heels of a month of sickness in our family, and I could have slept all weekend long but wasn’t afforded the chance. Today I am resting and processing. Ha!
I can relate, extended family can be very difficult. I love your blog by the way. Praying for you.
Happened to us as well and all over a puppy :((((
What a lovely poem!
Easter was not such a beautiful day for me yesterday. I missed my young son so much. Four years ago he was dx with brain cancer and after 4 brain surgeries and less than 4 months later he was gone. He was only 12. Something about seeing all the families in their new outfits, the pics of kids and baskets, egg hunts and families around a table made me feel sad.
As Christians we know the day is a celebration of Christ and His victory over death and the grave, yet we often focus just as much on the “stuff.” And honestly, I missed the “stuff” yesterday. I longed for my son around the table with us.
I was not “feeling up to the day” and was even surprised by the genuine tears I felt as I sang one particular song in the choir. I’m actually very thankful for those tears. They were the real “stuff.”
Oh Melanie, I am so sorry for your loss. The holidays can be debilitating after the loss of a child. May you feel his grace and love during this difficult time and rest in a peace that passes all understanding.
Thank you, Kelly.
Prayers for you:)))
Thank you, Wanda
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers-
Thank you, Julia.
My grandkids have always spent religious holidays with my daughter, their mom. This year their dad wanted them to join him and his blended family since my oldest grand is now 12. My daughter was surprised to find the children returned to her and her husband on Saturday. It seems my 12 year old granddaughter told her dad that Easter was not about the Easter Bunny or even a big family meal but about Jesus and salvation and insisted she was going to Sonrise service and church. We are very proud! Their baskets were mostly Dollar Tree items and a smallish selection of candy with a family movie to share. We had a big family meal too. But it looks like we’re doing something right!
You inspire me and for that I am grateful 🙂
here here! I did find stuff for their baskets all at the Wal-marts! the highlight for the boys was the beef jerky haha! It was also my oldest son’s birthday (21) so the day was extra special 🙂
i love your table setting, i love your sentiment.. and i appreciate your question. THAT’s what I love about Edie.. you make me THINK.
I must admit I was upset Saturday evening when I realized we didn’t have baskets, or new clothes, or traditional activities or a fancy meal planned and my husband announced he did not want to go to church. He changed his mind and it was a lovely service. I made coq au reisling which was featured on one of your monthly menus and everyone loves. And we had a beautiful day for hiking. It turned out to be the perfect Easter for us.
So perfect, Eleanor. None of that other stuff matters much.
xoxo
Ha! Be sure to ask Nathan about the Queen Easter Basket Slacker! I could teach you a few things. lol
Lovely church 🙂 and very beautiful girls. They are growing too fast.
I will Lisa!! Thursday still works for me, but I’ll text you to make sure y’all are still up for it!
xoxo
Love this post. My Easter baskets this year were sparse. Yes I still make baskets for my kids and grandkids and I usually go way overboard. This year I made my kids a dyi Easter craft and threw in a few pieces of candy. The Easter bunny left the grands a little candy, a book and a small treasure. Inside an egg in each of their baskets was a coupon to be redeemed for special one on one time with me (ie: a trip to Starbucks, a movie date, a trip to the ice cream shop, a trip to the park with a favorite cousin, depending on the person receiving the coupon). I loved the toned down aspect of the baskets this year and concentrating on the real reason we celebrate. Thanks for sharing your beautiful post.
I would love to sit on the porch with you and others and listen to this music. What a wonderful evening this would make. I hope you have a great week.
Yes, come on, Felicia!!
xoxo
I am blessed with a mother-in-law who will not let me lift a finger on Easter. She loves the big family gathering and enjoys hosting so much as her mother did. Over 22 years she has made it a special day for our family. I really get to enjoy the day. We have a pact that when she is ready to stop hosting, she will pass the baton to me.
I missed being with them this year as I am still in Hawaii caring for my dad. One more week of treatment. He’s very tired but has a strong spirit. Six weeks he’s been at this. Please pray for him.
What a blessing, Julie!
Praying for you and your dad. I know it must be hard.
Much love to you.
xoxo
I think I may have you beat at Easter basket under-achieving: I shop the house. 🙂 Granted, my kids are 2 & 4 and get excited about empty baking powder containers, but until they wise up, I’m sticking with it :).
Your Easter dinner looks amazing!
YES!! I LOVE shopping the house and may just have to start doing that for Easter too.
How did you get to be so brilliant?!!
🙂
My family’s Easter celebration is influenced by these three things: 1) Jesus resurrected from the dead- we go to worship together, inviting everyone who is joining us for a meal later. 2) We live in southern California: typically the weather is warm and lovely and the gardens are in full Spring bloom. Soo.. we relax and enjoy the beautiful outdoors together, swimming, eating on the patio, playing with our dogs, soaking up the warm sunshine. Therefore the food is BBQ and buffet style, but also yummy and aplenty 3) Our Easter baskets have a water theme in anticipation of lots of good summer weather. There are always new trunks or sandals, sunblock and yes, candy – indulge now – summer body later -hahha.
And of course we keep it relaxed because this is a holiday to remember what Christ did for us, not a commercial hey day… Happy Easter. I am hungry just looking at your photos Edie.
Sounds wonderful, Carole!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Before I started doing grocery store baskets, I always did water stuff too, so fun and practical.
xoxo
Thank you for the reply! So excited!!
Gerard Manley Hopkins, right? Such beauty. And your Easter vittles look amazing! 🙂
Yes! Love him.
Hope your Easter was blessed, Richella!
xoxo
I loved Peace Like A River. Such a deeply moving book for me. Enjoy!
A few jelly beans, some Cadbury chocolate shell eggs, speckled malted eggs, peeps and a small chocolate bunny! That is what we did for our kids–a couple of years the daughters got a cross necklace in their basket. Breakfast at our church and a dinner with roast lamb, mashed potatoes/gravy, lemon roasted asparagus, fruit salad with pastel marshmallows and whipped cream, coconut cake and cream pie. I bought the grandkids (8 of them), ring pops and an Easter classic dvd they ALL could enjoy- Here Comes Peter Cottontail – (no, not spiritual), but sentimental!
I think I’ve kept the bar of expectations low in our house for my kids (10, 8, 2). They were thrilled with a new (monogrammed) t-shirt from Wal-mart, pack of gum and Peeps. Really, what more do you need out of life than a coral monogrammed shirt and purple Peeps?
Peeps! LOVE!!! I buy them to look at but not to eat (crazy,huh?!) When I was a kid there was this store & they had a big glass window and they used to have colored chicks in it. Live ones- I loved them & was fascinated by them. (I had no idea they probably died in a short amount of time from the dye) to this day I remember those colored chicks. And the Peeps remind me of them. And no one gets hurt 🙂
Edie- Beautiful photos- Genuine thanks for sharing them. Food, flowers, beautiful girls, sunsets- and perspective-yes. Loved the Avett Brothers singing.
My heart aches for the women who have lost their children. I empathize. Time helps. Sometimes. I wanted to share this: I cleaned and decorated with purpose this year for Easter. I thought of what you have shared & I have learned from you. And I applied it. And serving the ones who would be here Easter Day. And infusing as much love as I possibly could into everything I did. I felt it. Everything glowed.
There was an Easter basket for my husband with 3 very nice cigars & a cigar magazine in it. And a stuffed lamb-like toy for the pups and colored jewel tone eggs with dog treats inside of them. I went to the nursing home for Sunday services with my sister and brought her here for lunch. I visited with her afterwards. It’s bitter-sweet- The chasm between us is wide. I pray continually for her. Thank you Edie. For helping me love all of them more. Everyday. I appreciate you. I am grateful for God’s loving mercies. That they are new every morning-
speaking of music on your back porch….every time i hear the civil wars i think i wanna hear edie’s talented kiddos playing LIVE one of these days!
i love how you do life my friend, love
love you
xo
Great question! I am hoping to learn to just sit and give my time to my friends & family on the holidays that I host at my house. When I host, I barely sit down. I am always making sure everyone has what they need. I need to remember they can get what they need, but I will miss them & they will miss me if I’m gone from the table the entire time.
I get to try this out this coming Saturday when we host my 8 yr old daughter’s First Communion party. Keeping my fingers crossed I get to enjoy all our company.
I’m sure it will be wonderful, Cathy!! They enjoy themselves when they see YOU are enjoying yourself.
Mucho love!
xoxo
Edie – your girls are growing into beautiful young ladies. I have two teenage sons – faithful, LCMS, handsome(if I do say so myself) redheaded, transplanted to the South gentlemen. It’s not too early to talk betrothal! 🙂 I’m all for it! 🙂
Oh, honey!! I’m NOT a fan at all of dating so betrothal sounds pretty wonderful!
🙂
Beautiful photos, Edie. Love me some Avett Brothers and saw them in concert in Charlotte on New Year’s Eve. By far, the best concert I’ve ever been to. Love their rendition of one of the most incredible songs ever written. Thank you!
Oh I know, aren’t they the best in concert!!
i hope it was all wonderful and lovely! i love your philosophies concerning easter schedules and foods, but i do have to revolt on the easter baskets… though i know i would be a better person if i didn’t. 😮
xo