Our Family Traditions: Easter

In our family, Easter is full from start to finish. Though many of our family celebrations lean towards the quirky side (like our Groundhog Day bash), Easter feels fairly traditional. There’s the hustle and bustle of an early morning, church clothes being ironed and tossed to and fro, and kids asking incessantly when the egg hunt will start before breakfast is even finished. 

We gather for Easter brunch with our church each year, and somewhere leading up to it, we make time for the Easter story in a way that feels like home to our family. The Cotton Patch Gospel usually is part of that rhythm. It brings the story close to home and reminds us of what we are celebrating. 

The kids always look forward to dying eggs in every shade imaginable, usually with more enthusiasm than precision. The grandmas make sure the Easter baskets are generously filled, and by the time the egg hunt begins, the backyard is pure chaos. 

Something to Pour Alongside It 

Our Easter table is usually simple. Ham, turkey, fresh baked rolls, and Ambrosia salad are always present. Nana’s famous fruit salad is perfect, every time. And for dessert, carrot cake is always a hit (especially with Caleb)! 

Easter is one of those meals where something warm to pour feels right, alongside everything else. A few blends we tend to reach for this time of year: 

Nothing complicated, just something to set on the table and refill throughout the afternoon while everyone comes and goes. 

On the Farm: Our Easter Miracle 

This year, Easter came with something we did not plan for. Late Friday night, after everything had settled down on the farm, Connor heard a squeak during a final walk-through of the property. That is when he found Daisy, our newest doe, with twin baby goats. We had been told she was not due for another two months! 

The timing caught us off guard. The babies were small and clearly early. One was already attempting to get her footing, wobbling around and taking in her surroundings. The other was struggling. She was cold and weak, and it was clear she needed help quickly. 

We wrapped her up and held her close for warmth, then made a late-night drive to Tennessee to meet friends who knew exactly what to do. She rode tucked against our chests the whole way there. 

The Hope of Easter 

By the time we made it back home, healthy baby goat in hand, our Easter preparation felt a little more grounded. That moment from the night before has stayed with us this weekend, and it makes the meaning of Easter settle in a little deeper. Life is fragile and unpredictable, but our hope and our peace are not. The miracle of Resurrection Sunday is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

So, from our family to yours, Happy Easter. He is risen indeed!