Easter

This was the first year that the girls really seemed to grasp the significance of the holy week.  As an adult, I take so much information and so many traditions for granted, but one of the beautiful things about having children, is that you can take nothing for granted.  As I set about to celebrate this holy week, it occurred to me that perhaps my kids too would like to celebrate.  And so the girls and I (with Jude dancing around us) read the Passion.  I couldn't have anticipated the intensity with which the girls would listen to the readings, and I  am astounded still at how responsive they were.  Virginia responded mostly by saying, "no, no I don't like this.  I don't want them to do this to Him."  She was distraught, and though she asked me to stop reading, she remained still, listening to every word.  Ella, full of hope, sat happily, anticipating the resurrection.  To every one of Virginia's laments, Ella replied, "He will live again, Virginia.  It's okay!"  Both girls' responses were genuine, both so heartfelt.  After our readings, the girls and Jude busied themselves with coloring religious pictures.  They loved it.  And I loved decorating the house with their pictures.  

I stayed at home with the kids while Daniel went to the late evening Good Friday service, and Daniel in turn stayed with the kids while I went to the Easter Vigil.  How I have missed the Easter Vigil!  It's amazing how after just a few short hours (short because my kids were not with me), despite a sometimes waning faith, I can feel again so completely nourished.  

When Sunday arrived, all thoughts of Jesus were out the window as the kids tore into their baskets--I guess there's no way around it, short of foregoing the baskets.   I think my mom tried to avoid this dilemma of turning the holiest holiday into a commercial sugar-fest by giving us religious themed candy.  Unfortunately though, while I do remember sinking my teeth into a chocolate Jesus, I don't remember giving Jesus a second thought.  

Mass proved to be more eventful than we'd anticipated.  Halfway through the Mass, a huge storm came upon us and with that storm, a huge bolt of lightening which struck a transformer on the church property.   We lost power, but Mass continued on in darkness, even as firefighters came crashing into the service.   I love that about the Mass--once it starts, nothing can stop it.   The choir never even skipped a beat.  Virginia did fall and hit her head.  I figure she would have done it even if there had been lights.

We spent the afternoon and evening with some family friends, eating and swimming and eating some more.   And we relaxed, for the first time in a really long time.

The aftermath.