Easter with the Family

When I think of Easter a myriad of thoughts come into head.
Crosses and long, lonely walks up a hill
Children in pajamas opening eggs
Jelly beans, bunnies and marshmallow "Peeps"
Bonnets and bow ties and all kinds of frill.

Watching the sun rise up over the mountain
Holding hands with a stranger, a friend or my mother
While singing "He Lives" and "The Old Rugged Cross"
Church bells peal out across the wide river valley
They beckon all to worship as sisters and brothers.

The parking lots empty at the close of the service
As cars head for Grandma's for a huge family lunch
Ham and potatoes; Yams and beet pickles
Coconut Cake and sweet Apple Cobbler
And lots of fresh veggies and Ranch dip to munch.

The kids are impatient for the end of the meal:
To hunt for the eggs Grandpa hid well in the field.
Hard boiled ones dyed yellow, bright blue and lime green.
Chocolate and money, nail polish and rings,
There's no telling what the plastic ones yield.

At the end of the day when it's all said and done
The baby's asleep in a living room chair
Hubby and I smile at her angelic face
With a dab of grape jelly on the tip of her nose
And a blade of grass stuck in the curls of her hair

We laugh at the older two on the floor: loudly snoring
"We aren't sleepy Mom; we're just going to rest"
I lay my head down on my husband's broad shoulder
Survey my son and both of my daughters
and know in my heart I am truly blessed.