A not-so-easy first

Tomorrow morning I will not wake up in MS as I have for the past years, as long as I can remember, with my cousins and aunts and uncles and parents and brother and grandparents and attend Sunrise service and then a breakfast with the church family and then the choir Easter presentation. I will not see my Aunt directing the choir presentation they've worked so hard on. And I won't get to hear Bro. Willy give his Easter sermon. I will not hear my mom and aunts tell my brother and cousins to not change clothes as soon as we get home from church because we have to take pictures. I will not see them roll their eyes and huff and puff because we have to take pictures again. I will not eat lunch with my family and then pack and drive home. I will not get to see what the Easter bunny brought. He always brings me peeps and something to wear on Easter Sunday.

The time had to come. I knew it would. And for some reason it's really hard right now. I'm pretty sure it has more to do with missing Mamaw's chocolate pie and chicken dumplings and turkey and dressing that I'm sure she made this weekend. It has more to do with "firsts". This is the first Easter I will not be with my family. Dad reminded me that there will be many more "firsts" to come... some will be easy and fun and some will be not-so-easy. It's part of growing up.

I am thankful for where I am right now. I love my husband and I will get to be with my husband and will get to spend some time with his family on Easter. I am very grateful for this and in no way want to diminish the time we get to spend with them. They are good to me and make me feel like part of the family. I truly am blessed.

There are things that I will not be doing tomorrow that I'm too used but I am thankful for what I will be doing. I will wake up in my own bed, in my own city, and attend worship at my church. I will celebrate with my home church and sing in the choir and rejoice that we are able to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior... knowing that at a small church in MS the rest of my family is doing the same.