How It Should Be

We visited with our sisters on Easter Sunday, but my brother Ricky's family were all going in different directions.  This evening they all came to our house for supper.  Ricky's wife Deb, daughter Sam and daughter-in-laws Alesha and Andrea all made side dishes and desserts.  I roasted a chicken, baked a ham and made potato salad and steamed corn on the cob.  We had a feast.

All the kids seem to love coming to the farm.  Our house is small but there is a big deck and a screen porch and a huge backyard and a swing out back.  They are in constant motion when they are here.
They drank a gallon of tea and a gallon of lemonade today.  Laughter is constant.  It has been a good day.

For much of our married life, holidays were a blur.  We went from house to house, never staying long enough to enjoy the moment.  When Ricky's kids married I told them I never wanted anyone to feel obligated to spend time with us on holidays.  Those times should not be stressful and often they are the most stressful days of the years.  I wanted them to visit when they had time and could enjoy the visit.
It has made a great difference in all our lives.  Celebrations are important, holidays should be spent as joyous occasions, not necessities.

So today, they all stayed for hours.  The kids were exhausted when they left and so were the adults.
Tummies were full.  No one was stressed or looking at their watch.  This is how it should be.