Happy Easter!

I love holidays!  All holidays!   I grew up with holidays and family being a really big deal and am so grateful for that.  I always have something to look forward to at least 5 times a year.  I moved to Wilmington to be closer to my family, and always get as excited about going home to my parents farm for the weekend as I do for vacations or weekend trips.  We always have a full house for each holiday, which can be stressful sometimes, but I'd never want it any other way!  My sister and her boyfriend come home with me and sometimes my grandmother  comes over early (she spent the night on Friday because of the potential storms).  My cousin comes home from UNCC and the entire family on my mom's side comes over for Easter Sunday.  All the "big kids" (me included) still dye easter eggs the night before and then stuff and hide eggs on Sunday before lunch.  There's lots of hiding places being on a farm, so we usually limit it to between the house and the barn.  We typically hide about 100 eggs for my younger cousins (ranging in ages from 3 to 11).  Then they get their baskets or grocery bags ready and are off... the 10 dogs follow them around sniffing things out, and the parents end up joining in the hunt as well.  All the while we're cracking up and loving every minute of it.  We inevitably loose eggs.  Even the "hiders" cannot find them or remember where they all are.  3 and 6 months later sometimes, the dogs usually show up with them.  We have a big lunch with turkey and all the fixin's... my aunt is bringing desert this year.  My cousin Alexis, who is in middle school this year, is missing her first Easter with the family because she is going to Williamsburg with a friend.  It makes me sad, it's the first holiday in 11 years that she has not been with us.  She is so much fun and is growing up so fast!   So we'll miss her this year.  With my mom or my uncle saying the prayer before we eat, I am so grateful for the love and family that surround me and for the joy and thanks and togetherness that holidays bring.  We are so blessed.  I wish you a Happy Easter!