family...

Over the past several years I have developed something which I have named (primarily for the purpose of this blog post:)) the "post-holiday funk". This could be attributed to the slightly sick feeling you get the next day from too much turkey, corn casserole, or in this case, candy from the easter basket by beloved mother, i mean the easter bunny, still gives to her adult children. However, since yesterday, I have worked out twice (if you call a leisurely walk through the streets of HP a work out), thus the "too much easter candy" feeling has worn off,  but the "post-holiday funk" has not. 

I think this funk that comes over me has less to do with food than it does with family! (Thank goodness!) I adore my family, and holidays seem to be filled with wall to wall family time. And so, when it is all over, and I, like everyone else, get back in my car to go home a little loneliness, a little sadness, a little nostalgia... aka "the funk" begins to set in. And yesterday, was no exception.

This weekend was full of great family time. Worshipping with my family at my favorite service of the year, the Maundy Thursday service. The traditional lunch and manicure/pedicures with my mom and sweet sister Lindsay (of whom there are many more blog posts to come ;)). Celebrating Big Bill's birthday at Houstons! Easter Sunday morning, celebrating the resurrection with my whole family in church.

And then, our traditional Easter lunch at Granny and Grandad's house! I love this and don't think I can remember an Easter where we weren't there. I love walking in and having about 20 people greet you from the L-shaped couches that have lined my grandparents living room for as long as I can remember. I love my Granny introducing everyone to each other again. (She just loves to make sure we all know each other and haven't forgotten since the last holiday, or even since last week). I love sitting in my "chair" for lunch. In fact, I think I may have sat at the exact same chair at the kids table for the past twenty-something years. (The kids table is actually now just the girls table... somewhere along the way the boys graduated to the adult table!). I love then gathering with all the "adult girls" in the dining room for dessert while the boys watch whatever sporting event might be gracing the big screen! 

Here's a few pics of the gang to give you an idea. (None of these pics however were taken this Easter... not sure why, but oh well!)

Lindsay and I... my sweet sister, who I just adore and with whom I spent almost every waking moment of this past weekend! 

Most of the members of the "kids table" minus Ally and Emily (the only ones who are actually under the age of 20!)

The fam, just hanging out watching the Super Bowl. Please don't judge us for the glasses. We are cool...

I am extremely blessed...

As I was walking yesterday, I mean working out intensely, I was thinking about family, and how all of this tied into the real reason we gathered to celebrate in the first place- the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! What an amazing and gracious God we have...I can't even begin to imagine what it was like for this Father to see his only Son, the eternal son of his infinite love, hanging bloody and naked on a cross! And then for this Father to pour out his wrath, all the just condemnation for all of his people's sin on him. And all this, that he might draw to himself, into his family, and call me his child! And then, on that blessed Sunday morninf, Christ broke the bonds of sin and death, allowing me the privilege of being a part of the family of God--as a co-heir with Christ himself. The resurrection seals for me the sure hope of actually being with God my Father face to face one day, and enjoying pure, unbroken fellowship with him and with my savior and with the whole family of God- a fellowship that will go on forever and ever, and will never end. I can't imagine the joy...but if the joy of being with my earthly family is even the smallest picture, the slightest reflection of what that fellowship will be like, all I can do is finish with the hymn I  began to quote just the other day...

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight.

The clouds be rolled back as the scroll. 

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.

Even so, it is well with my soul!