Happy Eastertide!  I love the season of Eastertide, which began on Easter Sunday and will last until  Pentecost Sunday (which is on June 8th this year).

I find it comforting that the spiritual journey of Lent, often hard and arduous, gives way to an even longer period of joy and yes, even fun.  There are forty days in Lent, and fifty in Eastertide, which to me signifies and marks the very adult needs of beauty, fun, and play.

Oh yes, to play.  Adults need to play!  Play is not only the realm of children. We need it as well!  Play is often the creative wellspring of adults.  I am also convinced that it is a key to adult  mental wellness.   We often seem to forget this in our drudgery of work, traffic, children’s activities, cooking meals and changing diapers and cleaning the house over and over, but  our need to play (and rest and relax) is every bit as real as our need to work and help each other.  The child inside of us is never far down if only we reach for him or her.

In this fifty days of Eastertide, I challenge you to play, to rest and relax, and to notice beauty. Find and take your joy in the ordinary moments.  They are there, even amongst the chores of housekeeping or holding tiny children.  They are there, even in the times of your teenager dealing with end of semester tests and finals.  They are there, even with your children who are feeling the call of spring and nature to be wild and untamed.   They are there, even in traffic and whizzing cars.  Find those moments and hold onto them for what they are; the seeds of creativity and relaxing love.

I am using this Eastertide to do fifty days of physical activity that nourishes me – walking and exercising, getting out in nature. My husband and I are headed to Alaska and I am excited about that!

I have also been making a list of spring meals for meal prep. I am finding this to be a very important part of the week with working outside the home and on the farm.

If you are looking to celebrate Eastertide with your children, here is a list I shared in 2018 and am sharing again for family activities:

1. Visit a sheep farm where the sheep are being shorn and then wash, card, and dye some fleece.
2. Make projects having to do with sheep – I have an entire Pinterest board devoted to to wool and knitting here
3. Spring clean your house (deep clean)
4. Get rid of things you no longer use; paring down in the spring feels so good!
5. Re-vamp your diet to include even more fruits and vegetables and meatless meals.
6. Take great care of your skin
7. Cleanse your rhythm from things outside the home that are no longer serving you or your family
8. Look at our bee and butterfly friends in the garden, in books, and in crafts.  There are some ideas on my spring Pinterest board
9.  Clear your life from people who bring you negative energy
10. Make time to spend with those you love and trust – family and friends
11. Think carefully about new endeavors.  What are you growing for this season?
12. Find a wonderful new book to read!
13. Go hiking.
14. Go camping. If your spouse doesn’t like to camp, gather a moms and childrens group to go.
15. Spend time in nature every day.
16. Add some puppetry to your life
17. Try journaling 50 days of gratitude
18. Change your priorities so you have time for self-care.
19. Slow down and rest
20. Learn some beautiful new songs for spring for circle time or to sing as a family
21.  Carefully investigate your spiritual path and find a way to deepen your inner work
22. Go easy on yourself and give yourself space
23. Find an app to help you meditate or visualize
24. Go swimming
25. Get a massage or sit in a sauna.
26. Spend time with animals.
27. Get to know your local farmers and enjoy local foods.
28. Create art
29. Plan ahead…or not. Whichever brings you joy in your homeschooling!  Here is some inspiration for planning high school and here is some inspiration for planning the grades.  Also, here is  a whole Pinterest board devoted to the  Early Years
30. Learn some new Waldorf verses
31. Pick fruit
32. Plant a garden
33. Create something beautiful for your outdoor space
34. Plan new adventures in travel –
35. Have a May Day festival shared with friends
36. Plan for Ascension Day
37. Plan for Pentecost through these musings
38. Make some rock art
39. Create, cook, and sing for Pentecost
40. If you celebrate Pentecost as a family, consider a gathering for Pentecost
41. Encourage someone or become someone’s mentor.
42. Drink more water
43. Set up a new exercise plan
44. Catch up on your doctor and dentist appointments
45. Take naps
46. Walk in nature
47. Watch a sunrise
48. Go slow and enjoy spending time with your children.  If you are homeschooling, less books and more play.
49. Have a picnic
50. Dye eggs and try your hand at some spring crafts

Happy Eastertide, friends!

Blessings,

Carrie