Easter is this weekend, already? What! 2015 is flying by, it feels like just yesterday was Christmas. If weather had a gender I'm almost positive Kentucky would be a girl. Friday it was 30 degrees and snowing today however it is GORGEOUS and in the high 60's. Which if you're from Florida you may be thinking, "that is still freezing!" but, to us Kentuckians it's a pretty big deal. With the weather being so bipolar I decided I would go ahead and shoot my Easter look today, because you never know- I wouldn't be surprised if it was only 40 out tomorrow. Shewww this weather gives me anxiety! Summer, where you at?
For my "Easter Look" I am wearing one of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer shifts of all time. I am personally not a huge fan of the print, but I am in love with the scalloped bottom and seersucker bows on the back!
For my accessories I paired this classy dress with a pair of pearl earrings from BlueTique and a simple gold watch from Walmart. For my shoes I wore a tan wedge (unsure of where I purchased from.) Below my pictures is a Easter devotion written by Dianne Markins, if you would like to check it out. Worth the read :)
Easter: Is it all about me?
By Diane Markins
"As a little girl I loved Easter. What’s not to love? My sister and I always got a new “Easter outfit” which included a frilly dress of our choosing, lacy socks, shiny new patent leather mary janes, a hat and even little white gloves. No, I’m not nearing 80, that’s just the way my mom wanted to do things.
Coloring enough eggs to exhaust a barnyard of chickens, we were artistic geniuses. The night before the big day we’d be filled with butterflies of anticipation for the beautiful, loaded basket that giant rabbit would drop off in exchange for the large carrot left as an offering of gratitude…and yes, we believed!
Up at dawn, we’d marvel at the lovely loot bestowed upon us and eat a few pieces of candy before breakfast. Church was fun because we got to show off our new clothes and find out how much the Big Bunny liked other kids.
Off to Grandma’s house for Easter egg hunts until the last adult finally said no more. Aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents sat down to a table laden with what we now call comfort food. Throughout the day we were depleting our stash as the marshmallow peeps, chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and malted milk eggs were consumed.
Um…and there was something about Jesus. Any of this sounding familiar?
I’m not one to condemn any tradition that results in family togetherness and forming sweet memories, but perhaps there’s a better way. I realize now that the Easter celebration I grew up with was all about me: my appearance, my stash of goodies, my fun day.
Honestly, it’s still all about me…at least that’s what Jesus would say. He lived in our challenging, abusive, hurt-filled world for me. He died a brutal death, at the hands of hateful people for me. He defeated death and lives on, for me. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
For those who love the fun family traditions like I grew up with, maybe there could be two days of Easter celebrations. Perhaps Good Friday or even on Saturday, we could spend a little time remembering our Lord who brought each of us so much more than a wicker basketful of colored sugar. We could deliberately try to relate to Jesus by recalling our own (comparably shallow) experiences of pain and sacrifice for others. We could spend some time being still, soaking in God’s eternal expression of love that encompassed the very first Easter.
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! ...” Psalm 105:1 We could write Him a sincere letter of thanks. We could teach our kids to draw a picture or use other artistic methods to create a gift expressing grateful hearts.
Our wonderful God doesn't want us to throw away fun times or eliminate lasting traditions or replace them with a stiff, obligatory religious ritual. He loves to see us smile, hug and enjoy treats. But I believe He’d delight even more in the way our spirits would respond to an intentional interlude basking in His presence. Not for His sake because Easter is all about us."
Thank ya'll for reading and I hope every single one of you have a blessed Easter weekend.
XOXO,
Olivia <3
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