Easter

First off, a little announcement. Chips Ahoy has come out with a new kind of cookie, they're advertised as GOOEY! Some have fudge, others caramel, and I think there was one other flavor. I bought the fudge ones and they tasted a lot like pretty yummy brownies. I recommend that everyone go out and buy a package (at least of the fudge ones because those are the ones I know are delicious).

Anyways, this past Sunday was Easter. My family (as in grandparents, aunts, and uncles) has a tradition where everyone goes to my grandparents' house to hunt Easter eggs. Every year we have a "prize egg." which has ALL the goodies in them. Most years it even has a lot of money in it. My husband heard that my family hides 300 Easter eggs for maybe 10 kids (possibly less).

This year was my son's first time Easter Egg hunting. Since he's recently learned about putting his toys away, he caught on to putting the eggs into his bag. A little bit into it, he started noticing the eggs and would get really excited as he leaned down to pick it up and put it in his bag. I was really impressed, he probably got 20 eggs or more. The older kids had a lot more in their bags, but not by much.

Yesterday's post was kind of depressing, mostly because I've been feeling really depressed about my current living situation. For those who don't know, my living situation is that I am in limbo. We're pursuing home ownership  we have a house that looks like it might even be ours, and until that official closing date we are living with my in laws. It's not an easy task, it's rather taxing, difficult, and a constant reminder of the changes happening in my life. For this, I have been pretty depressed, able to cry on cue if I ever took up acting.

Easter was a fantastic day for me though. I was able to get out of the house and go be around my family. My family is pretty quirky, but I generally feel quite loved around them-- especially my grandparents. My grandparents aren't the typical grandparents. I've lived with them on and off my whole life and even did a cross-country road trip with my grandpa. They're full of life, great stories and memories, and most of all I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they love me. It's such a great feeling.

I also visited my other "dad." He's not my biological dad, he's the dad that I adopted. He used to be my boss/mentor and even though I haven't been working with him for about 3 years now, I still keep in contact with him and visit him when I can. He's an amazing man who loves me like I'm his own kid. I've seen him in his dad-role many times and I don't ever see much of a difference with how he treats them and how he treats me. This is currently a big deal right now with living with my in laws. With my in laws, there's a pretty major difference with how they treat their own kids and how they treat me. Anyways, I spent a lot of time with my dad and his family and it was just a refreshing time. The most stressful part was leaving and coming back to our current house.

I feel like I've "checked out" since moving in with my in laws. I don't feel very present with them, due to the hurt that I'm feeling. Yesterday I made a point to clean a bathroom and vacuum the entire house, as well as do OODLES of laundry. When they came home, it seemed like it made my in laws more peaceful and more peaceful towards me. I don't know if it was that I straightened up, cleaned up, or if they just needed to get back into the Monday routine, but there was a noticeable difference in attitudes. It was a difference that I actually felt some hope about our situation.

In light of this new day and a pretty great ending to yesterday, I've taken some time to reflect on the meaning of Easter. Easter is the celebration that Jesus rose from the dead, that he defeated the grave. The grave couldn't hold him. I don't want to believe in a God that is just like me, I want to believe in one that is greater than me and can do great things. Being raised from the dead is something that no human can do to themselves. If they could, graveyards wouldn't have bodies in them. I have this overwhelming desire to live life to the fullest. To live a life full of meaning and purpose and JOY. Because of Jesus, I have all of these things, best of all, I have his love and his HOPE.

One of my friends posted online yesterday that "He has Risen!" You could look at it and be like, "wow, he was slow to catch up, since Easter was yesterday." Or you can look at it the way all Christ-Followers should, that Jesus is Alive all year long! If he's alive all year long, then he can do something about our situation today. He can change our hearts today.

Easter is just a reminder of the hope we have.