Tuesdays, I pick up Bailee.
My unofficial Grand Daughter.
I have known her since she was two
and she is both a delight and a handful.

Today as we walk outside I tell her,
"We are going to color eggs today."
Her face lights up.
"Really" 'Yes, let's go buy eggs."

We buy thirty eggs.
It takes about twenty minutes to boil.
While we wait, we fill the cups with vinegar,
water and the color tablets.

We have the special boxes of Easter colors
and egg tattoos, glitter and together we start to plan our designs.
and soon it is time to actually color
We drop the eggs in and watch them change.

Her Mom is one month away from graduating from college
Tuesdays are her late classes
So either my husband or I pick up Bailee on those days.

I am grateful for that.
It has helped us get to know this wonderful 6 year old.

Her Mom gets there before we are done.
So we compromise and she stays another hour to finish.

We made tie die eggs
Ugly eggs
We even used nail polish to add names
and when her Mom comes back
she shows her all the eggs
naming each one
showing the one she made for Matt
My son,
The one that says,"Mom"
the one that says, " Dad"
for her father who does not live with her.

And I treasure tradition
That says it's time to make, Easter Eggs.

But I also remember the time I was a Choir Director at a conservative church.

There was a woman there who didn't want me there because I was divorced.

I actually confronted her one day and here was her justification.

" I would have never made the decisions your made. You have three children from other supposed marriages."

I was like an uncolored egg back then. Her words hurt me.

and I actually took her criticism and cried.

But now, that I have been dyed by life and know my true colors.

I am brighter and happier than most Easter Eggs.

and my "unofficial" Grand Daughter

is one of the brightest eggs in my basket.