RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I remember one Easter before my wife and I were married in which we both had to work at our separate jobs. This was the one time that I didn't have family around for Easter, and I definitely felt that something was lacking. Although it is not as big of an occassion as Thanksgiving or Christmas, it is still a day of the year that I want to spend with some family members who I do no see on a daily basis.

My wife and a just over a half-dozen women in her family, nieces and sisters-in-law at my mother-in-law's house, just finished preparing all of the eggs and surprises for tomorrow, right after attending church services with my mother-in-law's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as has been the tradition at the same house since my in-laws moved there in 1957. Me, I've been too dutiful checking up on you-all in this cubbyhole of mine. But tomorrow I'll make it up to mine own two grandkids, Sebastian and Abigail, ages ten and four. Life is good, as Donovan can attest.

Definitely a celebration for the family to be together for services, food and fellowship.

being together with family members is the biggest for us. we used to all get together when my parents were still alive. the last couple of years we do see as much of each other. my mother was more of a get together at Easter. we are keeping it immediate this year. probably keep it lowkey. agree that seeing family is nice. I bet Jesus would like that too.

Of course Easter as any holiday revolves around Family & Friends. This is the time to be together and share the joy of this holy holiday.

My family lives out of state. (sniff)

only if we get together

Nah. My family is crazy...

Religious aspects aside, Easter is kind of like a Christian version of Thanksgiving. The family gets together, sometimes sharing the table with friends (we've had Jewish friends at our Easter meal) and everyone has a slow paced dinner which has usually taken hours, sometimes days, to preprare. Unlike Thanksgiving however, there usually isn't a football game or other big sporting event scheduled so people are more inclined to spend time with each other. Unlike Thanksgiving, people (in general) have less of a tendency to drink too much so there's often a lot of laughter and less confrontation than other family oriented holidays. Depending on where you live the weather is either beginning to get nice or spring is already in full bloom so the kids will often play in the backyard (always bring a change of clothes because kids will play in whatever they're wearing, regardless of how much you paid for the suit) or with neighborhood friends. Sometimes the evening is topped off with a small BBQ of hot dogs, some toasted marshmallows, or just a big pot of coffee. Hopefully, at some time during the day, some of the conversation will turn to the meaning of Easter to help keep things in perspective. Because in a way, this really is the Christian version of Thanksgiving and from a spiritual point of view, we have much to be thankful for.

Family togetherness means a lot to me.