Easter and Michigan

Easter is SOON! I love Easter, but I think my favorite church holiday is actually Palm Sunday. It's one of those days that always blindsides me. It's obvious when Easter is coming, but I seldom think back a week and plan for Palm Sunday. But I love it because (a) Jesus is declaring himself king, and (b) we sing the song Hosanna, Loud Hosanna. I LOVE THAT SONG!!! When we were little we would come in on Palm Sunday singing that song like only 2nd graders can, and wave palm branches and afterwards go back and sit with our families. It's just so happy and wonderful. I realized this year with a pang of sadness that I was missing Palm Sunday when I was sitting in my boyfriend's church where I've been going regularly and they are have those new-fangled worship services devoid of hymns and symbolism. No Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, and no palm branches. The pastor mentioned Palm Sunday once in the sermon, in reference to the fact that Easter is next week. So, my favorite holiday came and went, and some of my joy with it.

I'm kind of confused and without direction right now in the area of church placement. I always feel at home in my family's church, but I also feel like it's just not the place where God wants me right now. When I'm at my boyfriend's church, I enjoy our togetherness and the pastor's sermons and the united body of believers. They pray a lot. I like that. But the worship is not something I especially love, and I really want to get active but I don't feel a lot of opportunity even though it's a large church. I really miss singing hymns, too. They're such a part of me that when I was looking through my hymnal today to find a song to sing at my home church on Sunday for Easter I just got so melancholy and nostalgic. *sigh* I think I'm just gonna have to deal with it. But it'll be super nice to be back home for a visit this Sunday, and to sing up front too.

My parents bought the plane tickets the other day, so it's official: I'm going to Michigan at the end of July!! We're having one of our Nikkel family reunions which happen every 5 years. This time, for my grandparents' 55th (or is it 60th?) anniversary we are going back to where my grandma grew up. My cousins live there, too, and we're all renting out this manor/estate thing to live in and occupy for a week. All 50 of us. It is going to be SO fun. I love family reunions!! Most people I know definitely don't, but my family actually loves each other! And this year not only are all of us going to be there for once (usually not EVERYONE makes it but I think this year every single stinking one of us will be there), my boyfriend is coming, too. He came to Thanksgiving with my grandparents when I lived in Iowa, and I think he was pretty intimidated, but maybe this time it'll be a little easier for him. Especially since he has my brothers to fall back on instead of me, a girl. We're flying into Chicago on the 28th of August, a day before we have to be in Michigan, which means we are staying with my old pastor's family. I get to see my good friend Rachel, his daughter, who has stayed in touch with me throughout the 12 years we've been apart. She and Jon get to meet each other, which will be nice for everyone since they'll each know who I'm talking about when I say "Rach said this" or "Jon did that." It is just going to be a really refreshing, amazing trip. I can't wait!!