I had the opportunity to speak at a mid-week Relief Society meeting about focusing on Christ during Easter. Abby has put together a really great daily activity guide~ a countdown, if you will~ to do as a family, based on the book A Christ Centered Easter by Janet and Joe Hales. I have wanted to incorporate this into our family's Easter traditions, so this year it worked perfect to dive in and do it as a family while sharing with the sisters in my ward. We looked forward each night to gather the kids around and read some scripture and talk about the days leading up to the Crucifixion and then the Resurrection. Some nights it was quick and simple because it was late and I was out of energy, and some nights we were able to look at pictures, and search the scriptures a little more. I really enjoyed it and am glad I have these lessons ready for next year.
The kids awoke Saturday morning to Easter baskets and an Easter egg hunt around the house. I think 1 out of 4 of those umbrella's made it to the next day.
Later that day we met up with my family at a park for dinner and a wild egg hunt- with real eggs and biodegradable confetti inside! Cool! Thanks to Abby, the kids were able to have a big egg fight with that. It was a gorgeous evening~ just gorgeous. The kids ran and played, sat on the grass hill and talked, tossed a Frisbee around with uncle Shafer~ the Goulding's were there~ it was just great to all be together. The cousins really crave each other, you can tell.
Easter Sunday was lovely. The kids woke to new Sunday clothes, little things they need here and there to fill in their Sunday wares. Eliza was a really great host and invited us all over for a really fabulous Easter feast in her darling home. Again, the kids were in heaven running free and being together.
I feel like I have learned so many new things about the Atonement this month. Things I didn't consider before and more it encompasses. What a blessing this is to me in my life~ to continually learn and realize things about the gospel- and relearn things about the gospel that have new meaning to me. I am grateful to discuss these things with Jon and the kids. This month in Gospel Doctrine has been especially enlightening in helping me strengthen my relationship with my Savior. Just like at Christmas time, I like to take these special holidays to do a little extra studying and learning. It helps me get in the spirit of things. What a blessing to know I can be with these precious people for the Eternities! What a blessing!
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| I feel like Adren looks so old here! He's just growing into the next stage of life... |
I feel like I have learned so many new things about the Atonement this month. Things I didn't consider before and more it encompasses. What a blessing this is to me in my life~ to continually learn and realize things about the gospel- and relearn things about the gospel that have new meaning to me. I am grateful to discuss these things with Jon and the kids. This month in Gospel Doctrine has been especially enlightening in helping me strengthen my relationship with my Savior. Just like at Christmas time, I like to take these special holidays to do a little extra studying and learning. It helps me get in the spirit of things. What a blessing to know I can be with these precious people for the Eternities! What a blessing!