In Your Easter Bonnet

It's springtime in Atlanta and I love it.  The peach trees that line Peachtree Street blossom and the sun casts a warm glow on my face when I step outside.  It is a wonderful time of year.  Everything around awakens from it's Winters rest, and I am reminded that Christ rose after dying for my sins. Easter Sunday arrives and  Everything echos of new beginnings.

All of this takes me back to many fond childhood memories.  One of my favorite is that of shopping for my Easter dress.   I can remember year after year from probably about the age of five that all my mother had to do was mention going downtown to shop and I would be at the door, fancy dress, patent leather shoes and gloves on, purse in hand.

We would arrive downtown and begin to walk the sidewalks of Atlanta going from one department store to the next in search of the perfect dress.  I can close my eyes and hear my patent leather shoes meeting the sidewalk generating a sound that in my little mind very closely mimicked that of my Mother's high heel shoes as she walked beside me.  I loved it.

Eventually I would find a dress.  I would be thrilled with the dress each year, but as soon as it was purchased I was faced with a whole new set of needs.  Yes when I was a little girl I "neeeeeeded" everything.  I would need a crinoline slip, turn down socks with ruffles (of course, I wanted hose, but for years my poor mother had to explain to me that I was entirely to young for that), new gloves, jewelry, a new purse,and without fail a hat.

We would shop all day and then we would head to The Magnolia Room.  The Magnolia Room was a tearoom that reeked of southern charm.  I remember sitting down at the table and watching my mother so as to know the exact moment to remove my white gloves and place them in my purse.

My mother and I would sit there and sip our tea.  We would discuss our purchases, and decide if we had a need for anything more, as we waited on our lunch to arrive.  After lunch we would take care of any forgotten purchases and return home.

I would spend the next week or so anxiously awaiting the arrival of Easter morning so that I could get my fancy on.  When it finally arrived I would jump up out of bed and begin to get ready in slow stages, making a production out of the entire process.

 I knew the story of Easter and how Christ had died for my sins, my Mama and Daddy made sure of it.  I greatly appreciated and still do all that Christ had done, and had said as much in prayer, but I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't also grateful for the opportunity to take fancy over the top.  I always dressed with crinolines and pretty dresses but there was just something about Easter allowing me to take it to a whole new level that thrilled me beyond words.

I feel absolutely certain that my prissy behavior bordered on ridiculous on Easter Sunday's.  To be honest it probably bordered on ridiculous most days and still does, but these memories made with my Mama are forever treasures to me.

I am sure that there are many parents out there that still honor the traditions today of  Sunday morning church service and new Easter clothes for their sweet children and that warms my heart.

Y'all just don't forget to stop and give our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ thanks for all that he went through for us, and for our salvation.  May God bless each and every one of you...

Now if y'all will excuse me, Easter Sunday is in just a few days and I neeeeeeed to go and purchase myself some new fancy...