Friday Fun: Our Easter Celebration

 

Earlier this week I told you about the very meaningful Holy Week we experienced. It was important to me for that post to focus on the meaning of the whole week, but today I want to tell you about our Easter Sunday.

                We both so appreciated the service at church. Ryan sang with the choir and I read Scripture, but the rest of the service, we enjoyed worshiping with the rest of the congregation.

                After church, we had our official annual Easter photo taken. My friend Kari gifted me this dress last year, and this was my first chance to wear it. The shoes? Best thrifted find ever.

                As I shared on Monday, when I talked about our menu, we did something new this year for our Easter lunch. The week was so busy, I didn’t have time for extensive cooking ahead of Sunday, and I knew by the time we came home from church, we would just want to eat and then take a nap.

                I found an idea for a simple lunch that accomplished the best of both worlds: it gave me a chance to do a little preparation, which was good for my soul, and it was simple enough to be ready quickly on Sunday.

                The longest preparation was this Challah loaf I made Saturday. It took several hours, but just a few moments at a time between resting and rising. I wasn’t sure if it would turn out, but it did, and it was beautiful.

                When Sunday came, Ryan went out to grill some Tilapia, and I arranged boards with the Challah, grapes, nuts, cucumbers, carrots, hummus, and cheese.

                I tried to make the table look cute. Candles, fancy goblets, sparkling grape juice…it was so sweet.

                We ate together and then had carrot cake for dessert.

                We do have a tradition of exchanging Easter baskets, so we did that next. I hid Ryan’s under a beach towel so he wouldn’t see the surprise. His “basket” was a dustpan with wheels and a handle! I realize that sounds like a terrible gift, but he loves cleaning, so he was excited about this. I filled it with Reese eggs and extra toasty Cheez-Its. He was so happy.

                I did get a little basket with Reese and Cadbury eggs, but I also had a surprise. NEW DISHES!!! I saw these weeks ago, and he made a mental note and got them for me. They are so lake-inspired and also remind us of the dishes at one of our favorite restaurants.

                We had the most beautiful afternoon of rest and ended the day visiting my parents.

                It was a beautiful end to a beautiful week!