My favorite holiday

At the church in Nashville, IN. They do this every year.

I love Easter. Christmas is so much pressure - to buy, to eat, to be perfect. New Year's Eve - there are too many drunks. Halloween is too evil. Thanksgiving- stuffed like a turkey. Easter is fresh flowers and spring sunshine and baby chicks and a new Easter bonnet. I remember Laura's first Easter - she had little white patent shoes, white anklets with lavender trim, white dress with lavender flowers and trim, matching white coat with lavender trim and a white bonnet. She must have been around eight months old. Another Easter when Bradley must have been three or so, he wore a little suit complete with a red tie. It still makes me miss when they were small whenever I see the ads for Easter outfits for little ones.

For many years, I sang at the Easter sunrise service. The song was The Holy City. I used my great-grandmother's music. It is a tough number to do anytime, never mind at 5:30 in the morning. But I loved getting up early and wearing my Easter finery and the chill of the early morning air. I love the old hymns we would sing "Up from the grave He arose! (He arose) with a mighty triumph o'er his foes!" Powerful words. I loved the way the piano would pound.
I'll leave you with the words of my old Easter sunrise service song.

The Holy City
Last night I lay a-sleeping

There came a dream so fair,

I stood in old Jerusalem

Beside the temple there.

I heard the children singing,

And ever as they sang,

Me thought the voice of angels

From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Lift up your gates and sing,

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna to your King!

And then me thought my dream was changed,

The streets no longer rang,

Hushed were the glad Hosannas

The little children sang.

The sun grew dark with mystery,

The morn was cold and chill,

As the shadow of a cross arose

Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Hark! How the angels sing,

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed;

New earth there seemed to be;

I saw the Holy City

Beside the tideless sea;

The light of God was on its streets,

The gates were open wide,

And all who would might enter,

And no one was denied.

No need of moon or stars by night,

Or sun to shine by day;

It was the new Jerusalem

That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Sing for the night is o'er!

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna for evermore!

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna for evermore!