Easter!

No Easter baskets stuffed with plastic purple, yellow and green fake grass filled to overflowing with jellybeans, eggs, peeps and chocolate bunnies. No new patent leather shoes. No frilly new dress. No matching hat and gloves or new spring coat. No colored eggs (at least not yet). Easter dawned early, though I have to admit I missed the sunrise service thanks to the lateness of the previous evening and the boys chattering into the wee hours. Still, Easter arrived right on schedule without all the fuss and faulderaul.

I had been told that the morning service would not be heavily attended. This church had the big Sunday on Palm Sunday, then most of the families traveled out of town to visit grandparents. I was pleasantly surprised to find the sanctuary filled to capacity, almost as much as the week before when we sang most of our cantata. All we left unsung was the resurrection piece, which we would sing today.

Despite our guest pianist, it was a wonderful service. She brought a trumpet player who helped us soar through the Easter hymns, bringing a sense of joy beyond our normal singing. I was delighted to head home afterwards (no chime choir rehearsal) to make - not a traditional Easter dinner, but Drew's birthday dinner of choice. This year it was strip steak, french fries, cottage cheese, peas, and cheesecake (New York style, of course). Kiel added a tossed salad and Greek olives.

It was a lovely day, even without all the normal Easter trimmings. A day of quiet togetherness and good things despite the fact that it isn't even April yet. Hope your Easter was as filled with joy as mine.