Easter in Old Texas

Christie recently found these pictures of Easter at our grandparent's house in Old Texas, AL circa 1975 or 1976. Here you see me on the far left.  Apparently, I did not get the memo to wait to change into my play clothes until after the picture.  On the far right is Christie still looking cute as a button in her Easter outfit!  On the porch with us is our grandmama and more cousins.  (but not all because there are about 25 first cousins!)  

There are so many fun memories of that front porch.  It wasn't Instagram worthy by any means, but we didn't know it.  It was just grandmama and grandaddy's to us.  The porch posts were painted cedar trees.  You know the kind where you can still see the remnants of the limbs.  It wrapped around one side where there was a porch swing.  We wore that swing out! To the right of the porch was a pink crepe myrtle tree and to the right of that was the well.  Around the well grew lavender petunias that came back every year.  At one time, I had some of those petunias.  However, I was young and busy with a little one of my own so I did not tend to them well and they died.  In the South (and maybe everywhere), flowers passed down from generation to generation are equivalent to the fine china and family jewels being passed down.  They bring back memories and remind us of a time gone by.

Today, my mother and I went through her yard and she shared some of her favorites with me.  They will be planted in my now home just 10 miles from where she grew up.  They will be tended and cherished. 

It's funny how an old picture of kids on the steps of a house can bring back so many memories and connect the past to the present, but it does.  Even though I was only 10 when our grandmother passed away, she had a significant impact with her quiet presence.  I am told, she was a true prayer warrior.  This is a legacy to which we all should aspire.

As we close out Easter, we hope and pray that you have had a wonderful day celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior with family, church family, friends, and neighbors. Take time to cherish these moments as one day they, too, will be an old picture of kids on the steps of a front porch long gone, but never forgotten.