I feel like Easter gets lost in the mix of holidays; we’ve just recovered from Thanksgiving and Christmas when Valentine’s hits us with the need to provide adorable, handmade cards for the entire class and treats?! Oh my! You get about a month-and-a-half break and here comes Easter!
So with the craziness of all of our lives, Easter kind of gets the leftovers . . . like the whoever-is-in-town-come-on-over-but-no -pressure-kind-of-thing. Well, I am saying NO; don’t let Easter get lost! Celebrate it! Embrace it! Love this special day. It’s spring for crying out loud!
You know, there is something extra special about Easter. Maybe its the mass quantities of jelly beans and Cadbury Eggs that get me or maybe the sweet Easter outfits and the endless array of pastels that surround me. Maybe it is all of the above. I love the new beginnings of spring and Easter and always have.
Here are some of the reasons why I love this time of year:
Spring
Easter is basically the kick-off of spring, at least in my book. I even mark Easter as the first time I can where my white linen pants. I know, I know, its not Memorial Day, but I love my white linen!
Easter Dinner
I love any excuse to make a table scape. And with all of the adorable bunnies, tulips, and daffodils around, the table practically makes itself look beautiful. But my favorite decoration is the people who sit around it. Being surrounded by family and friends for a meal just warms my soul. I said before that Easter sometimes gets the leftovers; Easter sometimes has us skittering around finding those who are staying in town. Well, some of those Easters have been the most precious, allowing us to build sweet relationships with new friends or have the unusual opportunity to share a special holiday with old friends. Going to church and then coming home to the aromas of a root beer and clove spiced ham and sitting around the table with whomever your family ends up being (friends or those who share your name) to celebrate our RISEN Savior. (I can just close my eyes and picture myself there now. Good thing, it is right around the corner so I don’t have to wait long!)
Easter Outfits
Easter confession: Growing up I was less than thrilled to dawn my Easter dress, with white tights and curled hair. You know, the works. I was always like, “Mom, let me just wear a sundress and run outside.” She was like, “Sorry, sister, it’s Easter; don’t forget your slip!” I think God is looking down and smiling at the predicament I now face with the girliest of girly girls who must put on her Cinderella lip gloss, a.k.a. my chapstick, right when she wakes up. Where are the lizards, where are the grass stained jeans?! Oh well, I guess I’ll just embrace it and get the biggest dadgum bow I can find and say, “Happy Easter.” (Shhh, don’t tell 6-year-old Joanna I said that.) Embrace the pastels, the sear-sucker, the bow ties, and be sure to take loads of pictures. Those sweet littles of ours are growing up WAY too fast! Can I get an AMEN?
Getting Outside
The dadgum ice is finally melted and the dogwoods are starting to bloom, so I have decided to make a commitment to intentional outside time every day! Here are my outside to dos:
- Dinner’s on the patio.
- Work on the raised garden to help the kiddos learn about fruits, veggies, and herbs. If any of you have pointers, let me in on ’em. This is my first raised garden adventure, and I plan on channeling Ree Drummond as I plant!
- Swim, swim, swim.
- Iced-tea girl talk on the patio. Mom’s night out doesn’t always have to be a dressed up night on the town, right?!
- Visit the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and the Dallas Arboretum to enjoy the colorful blooms. Make a picnic basket, grab a blanket, and have fun. Your little ones will be so happy to run, play, and laugh in such stunning surroundings.
- Get out on the paddleboard with DFWSurf.
- After dinner walks or jogs . . . did I actually put that in writing?? Side note, ladies, my favorite jogging stroller is made my a company called Joovy. They are AMAZING, affordable, and local!
Let’s Try Something New
For me, winter was HARD . . . like HARD. You know, the kind of rattle-you-to-your-core hard, so this spring truly marks new beginnings. I want to relish in the beauty of the season and try a few new things. Who’s with me? Embrace joy, embrace adventure, embrace being an awesome momma!
- Take a calligraphy class. I’ve always wanted to learn so my envelopes and chalkboards can be oh-so-cute! I found the most adorable class on Camp Bowie, Blue Eye Brown Eye.
- Take spring flowers and cookies to a local retirement community to hopefully bring a little spring to someone who may need the sunshine. I think the kids will love this one!
Happy Easter and spring, sweet friends!
