On the First Day of Easter

 I wish I could convey the loveliness of the Easter Vigil service (6:00) we always attend. I wish it were polite and seemly to take and share pictures of the smouldering ashes in the grate, the single candle in an otherwise blackened church during the exultant, the many flickers of the many candles as the Christ light is shared, and the brilliance of the flower-covered alter when the lights go on. But it seems no more possible to capture this than it would be to capture the smell of the smoke and incense and faint daffodils. I just hope, that's all, that you all have enough beauty in your lives to make this description superfluous. My heart is still ringing.

I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some photos of what followed.

Easter Brunch at church is always a treat!

 This year we decided to stay for (most of) the next service as well, to experience the different liturgy and music.

Two brunches? The kids hardly objected. 

 There were a few hours at home on Easter Sunday during which we recovered. Miles watched The Prince of Egypt for the first time. You can imagine the array of Questions he generated.
I tried not to be too tired to answer them!

In the afternoon, when Adele woke, we went over to Smithfield Plantation for their Easter frolics. This was the first time I'd been to this historic site.

A real Maypole!

 The afternoon was sunshiny and delicious and completely required us to take all the pictures we could manage. I hope you don't mind.

 The Maypole Dance is more complicated than I'd realized. According to our instructor, girls walk one way, boys another, and every time you encounter someone you're supposed to alternate walking on their outside and inside to create the lovely weaving pattern.

 We did our best. I completely used Adele as an excuse to participate.

 We got rather jumbled up, with some kids trying hard to observe the Rules, and some kids just wandering vaguely.

 It still looked pretty!

He was so happy. 

We found Adele to be very sensitive to sugar when tired. 

One jelly bean and she was running down a hill. 

 We did not stage this. Just saying.

This tree made me think of Mom. She so loved trees. Actually, the whole day made me think of Mom. 

Doesn't he look dignified? 

 We could have happily spent several more hours there.

A perfect family Easter. 

Jon made yet another gourmet meal. He's such a genius. This is similar to Beef Wellington and it. was. delicious. 

Every year I think this might be the year the Resurrection Garden doesn't sprout before Easter. I wonder if it's had enough sunlight, water, etc. I worry. Every year the first blades poke up around Maundy Thursday and it's like a small miracle. I don't have to earn it with my gardening skills. It's just an irrepressible grace.

Happy Easter, readers. I pray your hope is renewed, or at least, that your hope-for-hope is renewed. You still have time. The season of Easter lasts for 50 days!