Thursday, April 1, 2010

You Grew Up and Celebrated Easter in South Texas If…

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You grew up and celebrated Easter in South Texas if…

As a Child

*You wore plumbago blossoms as earrings while hunting for Easter eggs with your crazy cousins.

*You wore white patent leather shoes, white gloves, and a stiff little white hat with white ruffled socks and a new dress your mother made.

*You had a Toni home perm.

*You can still remember the smell of vinegar when you mixed it with the Easter egg dye.

*You knew it was about Jesus, but that was for grown-ups to worry about.

*You sat at the kids’ table at Mamaw’s house or Grandmother Mills’s house with those same crazy cousins and ate more than one helping if you wanted to.

*Deep down you wanted to find all of the Easter eggs first, but your crazy cousins were faster.

*You spent most of the day outside because your grandmothers, parent, aunts, and uncles all said:

Ya’ll go on outside.”

***

As a Young Mother With Three Little Girls

*You didn’t make their dresses, but your mother did.

*You worked hard at putting their outfits and accessories together, and when it came time for church that morning, you remembered what your best friend from college said- when you asked her how long it took her to get ready with 4 kids?

Her answer:

It depends on if I want to look good.”

*The Easter egg dye was permanently stained it seemed on your fingers and definitely on theirs.

*As a grown up ,you still wanted to sit at the kids’ table – with your husband-because your cousins really were crazy and fun and they still were, but you needed to help in the kitchen and help clean up.

*At the end of the day, after all of the dressing up and Easter egg hunting and the bows and the new shoes, and the reminders to your little girls to say ‘yes mam’ and ‘no mam” when asked questions by all of your relatives, you hoped and prayed they received the message about Jesus, but you knew there was more to learn.

***

As Is 2010

*You know, whether you are in town for church or not, that it isn’t ABOUT Jesus, it IS Jesus.

*Many of those relatives are gone and your cousins are scattered but traditions are traditions, and they are in your heart forever.

*That now, more often than a ham baking in the oven, it will probably be fajitas or steaks on the pit.

*In fact, you have come to admire the families of the Rio Grande Valley, who arrive at public parks early Sunday morning to get a picnic table and a BBQ pit to celebrate the glorious end to Semana Santa.

*That now God has graced you with little boys with sweaty heads and all of a sudden ruffles and bows seem silly.

*That you are blessed.

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31 comments:

Lisa said...

You ARE blessed,Laura. Thanks for sharing your beautiful memories (and crazy cousins) with us.:)

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

What a great post. I loved that you mentioned plumbegos...they are some of my favorite flowers.

And the Toni home perm...ha!

"That now, more often than a ham baking in the oven, it will probably be fajitas or steaks on the pit." I have to add brisket. Which is what we're having. Every year. :-)

AND since I have nuthin' BUT boys, ruffles and bows seem foreign.
:-)
Have a Happy Resurrection Day!

Stacey said...

You described my Texas childhood Easter perfectly, Laura! Now that I have my home in Oklahoma, we still travel back to TX each Easter to spend with family. Our tradition includes hamburgers and a fishing tournament this year. Woo hoo! Hoping to see lots of dogwoods and redbuds blooming on our drive through East Texas this weekend.

Happy Easter blessings to you and your family.

LPC said...

What a lovely post. I especially like the families celebrating the Semana Santa. We do come to know what matters, if we're lucky, as we get older. Compensating for the various aches, pains, and memory loss, I suppose.

I Do Declare said...

Sweet post! I just saw that you loved Anne Lamott - she's one of my favorites, too!

Blondie's Journal said...

Your post goes to show that most things are the same everywhere.

I really enjoyed this post, Laura.

You asked how far our lakehouse is. It is exactly 100 miles or 2 hours away, just over the Indiana border and into Michigan about 20 miles.

Have a blessed Easter.

xoxo
Jane

C. Earl Mahan said...

Simply beautiful

Deb said...

That was beautiful! That's just how I remember it as a child too. Easter dresses, white patent shoes and cousins. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Easter Sunday full of new memories.

Julie Harward said...

I loved all of this so much Laura...great writing! I laughed about the Toni perms, my mom gave us these all the time, do you remember the paper dolls that came with them?
Sometimes I wish I had been raised in the south, I think the yes mam thing is so cute!
And yes..it is all about Jesus! Come say hi :D

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Happy Easter Laura -- Your Texas childhood sounds quite a lot like my Virginia one --- small world!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Dear Laure, I grew up far from East Texas but many (most) on your list could be on mine too. Still praying many will received the message about Jesus.

Sending wishes for a very Happy Easter!
Kindly, ldh

Sandra said...

Laura, once again you have written a wonderful post. You need to write a book. You have the gift my friend! xoxo

CHERI said...

Isn't it great to have grown up in the South??? I have some of the same memories!!!

Rae said...

What a great post!Coming from one Texan to another.
So true.
I am just so happy you came by for a visit today...I love company.
Your blog title is wonderful. That's what I do...just paint it white!!!! Love it.
My bloggy rule,you follow me...I follow you, and we all go down the bloggy trail..hippity hoppity...you know the rest.
So very glad to be bloggy buddies!

Anonymous said...

OH Laura, Talk about flashing back in time. Oh the memories!! Love this post.

Theresa said...

Oh sweet memories! You trigger so many for my:) Easter Sunday is one of my favorite days every. The memories of so many years of egg hunts at my parent's house, precious memories:)Hugs to you my dear friend!

Nancy's Notes said...

Dear Laura, what a lovely post. Your memories stirred up mine, those days were beautiful. Now our days with our children and granchildren are perfect too!

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter sweet friend.

Hugs,
Nancy

Chatty Crone said...

It was that way too being raised in Georgia! Great post. Happy Easter. sandie

DKG aka Scrappy Doo said...

You have described my childhood and so many of my memories to a tee!!!!

Reading the post I can now smell the hair dye on my head while smelling the vinager and trying not to stain my hands and not get egg dye in my hair!

He has Risen!
Peace and Grace to you this Easter weekend

Phyllis @Around the House said...

It is so strange, I grew up in Ca. and all the same things apply except for the flower in the hair....only it was "in or out" they were always complaining that we should do one or the other, the vinegar smell from the eggs, the wire egg holders to dye the eggs...the stiff crinolin underskirts, the goofy hats and the white patent shoesl and white sox, always new things and usually a little patent purse, we never knew what that was for...thanks for the memories, just goes to show you, even in ca. ....

donna baker said...

Oh, happy easter to you and yours this weekend. I sent mine an email that started out, macaroni with cheeses oozing and bubbling, ham on the bone, bisquits, farm fresh corn and a green Granny Smith apple pie...I heard back they were coming.

Marguerite said...

Lovely memories and post! I have lots of memories of those Easter egg hunts with my crazy cousins, too Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, cher! Happy Easter!

June said...

Gosh Laura I think we had the same cousins. lol
You always remind me with every post why I love you so much.
hugs
I think I still have dye on my fingers and it's been years since I colored eggs.

elizabeth said...

what a tender writing! thank you so much for you sweet comment on my blog. I was really beginning to think no one was reading and was having a hard day, and then came upon your sweet words. I look forward to keeping up with your blog.
:)
Happy Easter,
cozy

Sewn With Grace said...

What a wonderful post! Have a blessed Easter!

Vintage Linen Treasures said...

Hi Laura!
I'm so glad you stopped by my blog for a visit! It's always so fun to meet new people. I smiled all the way through your post. I grew up in So. California and this post could have been written for me, right down to people reserving spots at the park at the end of Semana Santa. You have a wonderful blog and I know I'll be back to visit. I'm a new follower!
Patricia :o)

Janean said...

sweet post!!!

oh yes, those *Toni Home Permanent Waves* LOL. i have a photo with frizzy toni-hair looking for easter eggs!!!!!

Susan B said...

Great post, and memories! Have a blessed Easter!

My Grama's Soul said...

Dear friend.....I didn't grown up in Texas, but I was a kid in Kansas and have MANY OF THE SAME MEMORIES!!

Blessings,

Jo

Low Tide High Style said...

What a wonderful post and your memories very closely resemble my own recollections of Easter with my family! I never had to get a perm though, I had naturally curly hair! ;-)

Kat :)

Unknown said...

Great post...you brought so many South Texas memories back! :)

 

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