The Patterson home has experienced two big events this month that typically have enough fanfare and celebration that it could be heard two counties over.
Normally, the days leading to these two annual events would include planning, food preparation, a ton of money spent and a load of invites and phone calls to make.
The Pattersons usually go all out when it comes to our youngest son Jase’s birthday and our family get-together for Easter.
But this year was different. There were no parties filled with balloons, decorations and two tables of food. There were no gifts to distribute. There was no Easter ham in the center of the table. There was no elaborate egg hunt on multiple locations.
It was simple and slow. And it was wonderful.
When it comes to my children’s birthday parties, I usually stress myself out. After cleaning my whole house top to bottom, I begin cooking a multitude of dishes first thing that morning. I am hanging decorations, setting up centerpieces. I have my husband Jason running to town for those last minute items and tending to the yard since company was coming over.
Four hours later, the house is a disaster zone. But the parties are a success filled with happy kids and smiling adults.
With social distancing, Jase’s sixth birthday was totally different this year. There was no party, and he was only surrounded by his family. But I swear, I think the smile on his face was the biggest it has ever been on any birthday.
We made him a homemade yellow cake with chocolate frosting, topped with six candles. He spent the day playing in the yard barefooted, exploring the woods behind our house and performing his version of a stunt show on his bike.
He went to bed that night happier then ever. His belly was full of chocolate cake. His head was filled with make-believe games. And he was kissed good night by everyone in his family. He was happy with the smallest and simplest birthday party.
We celebrated Easter on Saturday since the weather was supposed to be severe the next day. Normally, we are preparing a table filled with a ham, rolls, casseroles, pies and any other dish you could think of. There are usually about three egg hunts we have to attend. And we are literally driving all over the place to make different parties and other events.
This year we never left our house. And our yard was our happy domain. Unable to grocery shop with ease anymore, we settled for homemade chicken enchiladas. We had a small egg hunt with plastic eggs from last year in the yard. We played outside until the sun went down. And we watched a few television movies that shared the real meaning of Easter, the resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
We all went to bed that night with heartfelt prayers and smiles on our faces.
For both of these events this year, we kept to ourselves and had the best days ever. We might have gotten on each other’s nerves at various times of the day, but we quickly got over it.
Without all the celebrations and fanfare, we truly understood the real meaning behind those days. Jase was happy to celebrate another year with a homemade cake surrounded by his family. And more time at Easter without all the parties and traveling, we were able to celebrate the love Jesus had for us by going to the cross.
Simple is a good word to use to describe these recent times. And the reminder of family and what truly matters was a pretty simple answer too.
