The Sounds of a Holiday

Pretty much since Ron and I got married we have spend our Holidays alone. There was one Christmas that we were with family, but between a little one in the hospital, a death on my side of the family and everyone getting the "just kill me now" flu, we don't really count that one!! There were a few Thanksgivings along the way that I got to spend with my sister and I treasure those too, but for the most part it was our little family. Don't get me wrong, I love that time, but when I grew up the excitment of the holiday came waiting for relatives to arrive. All the smells of food cooking and the joyful sounds of guests arriving, really made it feel like a Holiday. When it's just your small family it feels more like just another day with a lot of dishes!! We've been back East now for almost two years and we've had some Holiday's together, but each has fallen short of what I remember as a child. I began to think that like so many other childhood things, maybe it's just not as great as an adult. Take Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, there is nothing better as a kid, but now as an adult I take a bite and the "greatness" is totally lost on me. However, this past Easter was different. My sister in law and her children came out a day early to spend the weekend with us. We played all day, got some meal prep done, colored Easter Eggs, filled baskets and eggs and just had a great time.

On Easter Sunday we all surprised ourselves when all nine of us were dressed and ready for the early service at church. We jump in the car and only arrive a few minutes late. HA! we were so far in the front we were in front of the Pastor!! However this was a super cool experience for all of us. When you sit that close there are zero distractions, the music just surrounds you and you know you better pay attention to the preaching because the pastor is just feet away. Having the great reminder that just one amazing encounter with Jesus will set your life on a whole new direction, was just one of the points that we got to take home with us that day. As we drove home there was chatter about the service and what we liked and got out of it and it was a really nice time. Upon arriving home we looked for baskets and eggs and of course couldn't find that one egg that is bound to smell up the house at some point!!.


We did find it the next day, thankfully. Once we told kids big and small that they must stayed dressed up until Nana could see them, everyone kind of settled into their day. Then it happened a squeal of delight as it was announced that Nana and PopPop had arrived followed shortly by Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. As the house filled up with people and noise it was starting to feel more and more like a Holiday. At one point I was standing doing the dishes and I just closed my eyes for a moment. There it was...the sound of a Holiday. I just stood a second and soaked it in so I could keep that moment with me always. The laughter and conversations the t.v entertaining those "sleeping" in the living room, that is just what I remember. As I opened my eyes and looked around I also got to see my children sitting on laps of their family learning a new game together.
I got to see Reagan make the trasition from just being a "little" kid to a girl who could also hang with her older cousins. I heard Uncle Mel teasing my husband while teaching him how to put our garden together. This is a Holiday. When we finish a meal and move our chairs in to big rectangle and just share stories and laugh. We are blessed with the baskets and the candy and beautiful dinner, but it is the people that we share our lives with that make these days special. I am so thankful for the family God has given us that come together on at these times to remind each other that no matter what life has delt us at the moment we can get through it because we have each other.