We had four easter egg hunts this Easter, and even at number four Caleb didn't quite trust that when he put an egg in the bag he was going to actually see it again. The first was at our church, which has a strange tradition. Instead of of hiding the eggs, two rectangular areas are roped off in an open field. One is for older kids, and the other for toddlers. The colored eggs are then scattered openly over the grass in each area. When the pastor says "Go!" the kids wade in and simply begin stuffing their bags. We have never really seen it done like this before. May it is an episcopal thing. This one, number three, was held Easter morning.
We've been doing this Easter morning thing since Kara was a toddler. This year, however, we nearly forgot and I had to keep the kids busy for a little while during which time L hid the contraband. Again, Caleb got so excited he forgot to really look for eggs. Kara made up the difference (and she shared the spoils later like a good big sis.) Kara says that the eggs were harder to find this year--but it didn't seem so to me.
Easter always seems to me like the holiday that needs the most reform. We evangelicals always take a serious stand every year for Christmas--darker days make for sober and serious attitudes. Spring, however, seems to cloud our minds. N. T. Wright, in his book The Meal Jesus Gave Us encourages his readers to live it up. Throw resurrection parties, he says. Be loud and festive until the rest of the world says, "What do these people have to celebrate?" I so want to do that, to make a kind of family liturgy of food, songs, games, habits and other family rituals that reflects the season of the church calendar. We forget, though. We sleep in. And I wind up having to keep the kids busy again while L. makes up the difference.
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