Easter.

For Easter Dom had us over to her house for a loooovely spread of ham, sausages, salads, dips, nibbles, and wine and beer. Jessica's friend Dan was in town from California and the three of us went together to Dom's. Even though she moved out of our flat back in November when I moved in, somehow this was the first time either of us had been there. She had several other friends over: a couple guys from Spain (didn't hear much from them); Inga from Lithuania; Maria from Mexico (a fellow Graham& Green employee!); and Mortischa from Poland. [Dominika and Mortischa are friends from Poland... how is that for a duo? They sound threatening, like witches from a Disney animated movie or something. Have I ever mentioned that Dom's last name is Dominik? No kidding. Her name is Dominika Dominik. And her middle name is... drumroll please... JoAnn. Dominika JoAnn Dominik.]

It was a really jolly Easter. We kept wanting to go across the street and carry our little feast on into a picnic, but every 30 minutes there would be a little shower of rain while the sun was still shining so that idea didn't materialize. Once when that happened I shared a little nugget of southern culture: I mentioned that when that happens (rain while the sun's shining) we say "the devil's beatin' his wife." They got a kick out of this.

After a few hours of snacking on grapes and cheese and leek salad and cookies and wine, and sitting around chatting, I pointed out that it reminded me a lot of Thanksgiving. There aren't many holidays when you just sit around enjoying the food and company. No presents, no costumes, and maybe when you're little (or if I'd been home! haha) there would be chocolate bunnies and baskets, but this Easter made me think more about being thankful, really. Usually on Easter I would have donned a white linen dress and headed to St. Mark's, sang the "Christ is risen" hymns that remind Allie and me of the Who-ville Christmas song, then maybe had lunch afterwards with the family and Neena and D-Daddy. But for the past four years I've had to hop in the car and drive back to Jackson on Easter day to be back in time for class Monday. Recently it's been such a squooshed-in holiday. Easter Monday is a bank holiday here (as well as Good Friday) so everyone seemed a lot more relaxed on Sunday because no one had work or class the next day. It was really nice to be able to take advantage of Easter as a holiday for once!

I really miss all of my friends and family. I missed my usual Easter activities like the white dress, the Easter service, the hymns and baptisms and family brunch. But this year, surrounded by new friends from all over the world sharing our particular Easter traditions, I kept thinking about how thankful I am for so many things right now: the opportunities I have here in London, my loving and supportive parents and family, the friendly companions I have made over here so far... So yes, with Easter and the nice spring weather came the notions of rebirth and life and resurrection and all that, but it also signified blessings and thanksgivings. Sappy, I know.

Thanks for everything y'all. I can't wait to come home and give you each a hug in May :).

Xoxo Stephanie