Easter

We had such a great Easter...The Easter bunny brought tons of chocolate and other goodies in a nice big flower pot for mom. When the kids arrived late from their dad's Sunday morning, we were pushing it to get out the door on time for choir practice before church. We were five minutes late, but not too shabby considering how hard it is to get four kids cleaned up and out the door in 30 minutes. We had a wonderful musical program for Easter, filled with very touching musical numbers and the amazing voice of Bro. McCauley (who many children were convinced was speaking for God), and the sweet, touching testimony of Bro. Schoffield.

After church, the kids and I finished our preparations for our Easter dinner. We invited our friends April and her daughter Verena, Jerry, Keith, and Bro. King. Keith has been our friend for 14 years, and we found out he didn't have any place to go for Easter. Bro. King is new to our ward and we are just getting to know him. He didn't have any plans either, so we invited him at church on Sunday. Jerry is a beloved past primary Sunday school teacher of Johnny's and we were so glad to have her! And April's little daughter Verena added the fun factor to our Easter...the kids took turns hiding plastic eggs for her to find, and she did very well and seemed to have a lot of fun.

After dinner, we cuddled up and watched Doctor Who, which is a family favorite, then after scripture study and prayer, we all went off to bed.

I'm so grateful for Easter. It's my favorite holiday. I remember as a child growing up in the Catholic church, we would have "passion plays" every Easter week, telling the story of Jesus' last few days on the earth. I used to stand there, either as a participant in the play or as an observer, crying and wishing Jesus didn't have to die. My understanding then was so limited. Now I understand more what a gift he gave us, and that dying was only a tiny part of all that he did for us. The garden of Gethsemane, the resurrection, and Christ's loving example to each of us are essential, too...as is our own willing and repentant heart if we would partake in the gift he has offered. What all of this has brought us is hope...hope that we can repent of our sins, hope that Christ's sacrifice can sanctify us and make us fit for life with our Father in Heaven, hope that our loved ones who have died before us have only temporarily left their physical bodies and will be resurrected. Most of all...hope that the pain, suffering and sorrow that we suffer in this life has meaning beyond our earthly understanding.

I pray that each of you had a blessed Easter, and that the immense love that our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ have for us has touched your life.