Easter Sunday

This Holy Week has been a time of reflecting with my tribe. 

Each day as we've read accounts of what happened on those same days anciently, we've filled our "Easter baskets" with tokens of remembrance: a leaf for Palm Sunday (which Claire holds and waves back and forth saying, "Hosanna! Hosanna!"); 

a temple picture that reminds us of Jesus teaching us to prize what is sacred; the piece of red cloth to remind us that He taught about the second coming during that last week---testifying that this wasn't the end, that His work spanned all time, and that He would eventually come again clothed in red; a coin because Judas agreed to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver; a sacrament cup to remember the atonement and that it is personal; a nail to remind us of that first Good Friday and the crucifixion; 

a little Book of Mormon to remind us that, when in the spirit world, Christ organized missionary efforts so that everyone could share joy; and finally, a blossom for the resurrection, symbolizing that life returns, that death holds no eternal finality---and that ALL sorrow and ALL of the ways we feel broken are bound up and healed in Him. 

(Easter baskets!)

I know Jesus lives. 

No words can adequately articulate the feelings of my heart today, but I am so very grateful.  

(the boys in their Easter ties from their baskets -- and I LOVE! Isaiah's long hair)

(the girls and I sporting matching sandals -- Mia has wanted some ever since I got mine a couple of years ago, so the girls got them in their baskets)

Christ's light, His example, and His love make all the difference, every day, for me. 

(Egg dyeing)

 

(Homemade carrot cake with vanilla bean ice cream)

I am grateful for the peace that only He can give. 

(the flowering cherry in my front yard is killing it right now)

He is my greatest gift. 

Food for belly and heart

Easter combined with conference weekend this year.

Lovely pairing.

Conference means spiritual and physical feasting.

It's a feast to me for body and soul, words and calories that soothe my insides, my belly and my heart.

Saturday morning began with eggs and orange slices and homemade cinnamon bread and Bircher Mueslix, a Swiss thing involving yogurt and fruit and oats and nuts.

(We eat a lot of it around here.)

We gathered round the table to eat, just as the radio brought the Tab Choir right into our kitchen, as 10:00 a.m. rolled around.  

 She has serious orange love these days.

 Then, our front room turned into this as the kids engaged in various activities and we listened.

That evening, after the second session and dinner, we gathered round the table to dye eggs, the first time participating for the smallest nugget in these parts.

That night, before I went to bed, I set out what they would find in the morning, and took a few minutes to write each of them a note.

My kids know what I believe -- we talk about faith on a daily basis.

But I wanted them to know of my conviction of Jesus Christ on Easter morning. 

He's the reason; He's the celebration.

 Easter morning was Belgian waffles with cream and berries, bananas and nuts, orange slices on the side.

After the second session, we headed down to my sister's house for a family BBQ and a hunt for the kiddos.

We hung out and talked, played some cards, enjoyed being together.

Good things.

Happy things.

Traditions -- these roots we send down in action, memories that become some of who we are.

(And, it must be said...I personally love Claire's little red salt water sandals.  They're my fave.)

Holy Week

Folks that have read my blog for a while know that all the days leading up to Christmas, beginning December 1, are full of readings.

We do something similar around here for the week leading up to Easter.

I've blogged about that before, too, but have never listed readings.

Here's what we're doing this year, for those that have asked for it.

Eric Huntsman is a freakin' fantastic resource for this week.

Go to this post of his here.

If you scroll down to the heading in that link where it says "The Passion Week and the Resurrection," you will find links for each day.  I've chosen what we're going to do from this, but underneath the optional readings for each day, he also gives really great ideas for discussion questions related to the readings.  

I plan to use some of those ideas.

In any case, here's what we are doing:

Palm Sunday: Matthew 21: 1-11

Monday: Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:15-19, and Luke 19:47-48

Tuesday: Mark 11:20-26, Mark 13

Wednesday: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16 (the plot to kill Christ, and Judas taking on the role of betrayer)

Thursday: Matthew 26:17-75 (The Last Supper/Gethsemane)

Good Friday: Matthew 27 (Being taken before Pilate, crucifixion, burial)

Saturday: D&C 138 (Christ visits the Spirit World)

Easter Sunday: John 20, Luke 24:13-40

I also love to watch the accompanying new LDS Church Bible videos after our reading and discussion.  The kids really like this too.  

Go HERE for those.

(Claire, after finding the egg earlier this evening.  She looked in the pitcher, saw it, and said, "I found it!"  

As an aside? I kind of wish I could just pinch myself and her cute blond bunches of hair would stay and that contagious smile would stay burned in my consciousness.  Forever.)

In any case...

Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite things.

Fills my heart with quiet, jubilant praise.

xoxo

Easter fun

Last weekend we gathered for a barbeque and Easter egg hunt for the kiddos.

I look forward to this each year -- and the kids anticipated all week.

Even though Nana's far away she funded the party (I love you, Mom).

A few photos...

A purple something in the chives

Bees humming lively in these cherry (and cheery) blossoms.

I've never heard anything like it.

The tree was literally swarming and the buzzing was amazing.

Waiting for the go ahead

Bursting thru the door and off they go -- oh so eager!

Finding treasures

Gathering loot

Being choosy

The littlest Miss in the family on her first real hunt

All the cousins

The adorable cupcakes, courtesy of Aunt Christa

Super fun

April Morning Snow

I was awakened at 7:51 this morning, my cell ringing next to me on the nightstand.

My dad.

Asking if I'd seen outside.

I pulled back the curtains and saw snow whipping past furiously in the wind.

Looking out across the street toward the mountains, it all looked gray.

Lots of flakes, lots of blustery.

Benji sat on my bed and declared it "a bluish day."

I thought it fitting.

Which is why we're going on our weekly indoor outing today: to the bookstore.

Buy a treat.

Go to the children's area.

Pick a stack of books.

Go into the book nook.

And read away for a while...

This afternoon I'll make something hot for dinner and we'll enjoy the cool feeling while it's here.

Tomorrow it's supposed to be almost 60...just in time for the big Easter hunt and barbeque with cousins.

That's spring here for you.

In some ways, it seems almost fitting.  On that Friday morning a couple millennia ago, something sacred and final took place.  It seems right to have a gray day, because of the tremendous sadness, earth's recognition of the enormous sacrifice just given.  And then, tomorrow's sunshine will lead into Sunday's 70 degrees warm.  As if nature herself is going to testify of the glorious message of the resurrection to follow, that all was not lost, that life returned again -- for all of us.

I rejoice in this.

A Daily Focus

Each day this week we're doing scriptural readings from Christ's last week.

It's a daily focus for holy week.

Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

His teaching on the two great commandments.

The Last Supper.

The Sacrament.

The Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal.

Pilate's piercing question, "Art thou a King, then?"

The crucifixion.

And, on Easter morning, John chapter 20 -- my favorite account of Resurrection morning.

Each evening I write the scriptural passage for the next day on a small piece of paper and tuck it inside a plastic egg, accompanied by 3 small M&Ms -- one for each child.

The game is that they get to hunt for it every day, and if by evening time they haven't found it, I'll give them clues.

(Isaiah's triumphant discovery last evening.)

I love this week; the time to focus and ponder, reflect on the very small understanding I have of what it means, mostly focus on filling my heart with gratitude for such a magnificent gift.

Easter photos

My mom has a tradition where she has all the grandkids over and we go down in "the hollow" to search for all the candy. This was the first year that our kids really got to participate in it, more or less. They still don't get the concept of getting as much loot as possible, but it was still fun to have them participate. Here are some shots of the action, as well as some family shots at the bottom. I figured it was time I posted some pictures since I don't do that very often!

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday!