Easter

♪It's the MOST wonderful tiiiime of the yeaaaarrrr!♪

Holy Week makes me happier than I can describe. 

I have started to notice a pattern, however. Even without Easter activities, this week somehow turns into one the busiest weeks of the year. And it would be so easy to get distracted or just decide we didn't have time. I've decided it's a tactic of the adversary and it makes me even more determined to be deliberate about making the time.  I also saw this post online with additional ideas to do with my kids and that got me even more excited! 

http://www.mercyrivermusic.com/2015/03/how-to-celebrate-easter-holy-week/

The boys are getting old enough to start "getting it" when we discuss each day with them. I LOVE it. Don't worry... they still have ants in their pants and it can be a struggle to get through a lesson, but I think the activities help. ;)

We were able to see the Easter Pageant the week before and that was perfect. I wish we could have seen it twice. It fills my heart. I have a secret (not so secret now) wish that we can be in it next year. Crossing my fingers it's in the cards. 

OK, on to our week... 

PALM SUNDAY

One of their favorites... 

I don't think our donkey likes the paparazzi. 

"Mad Monday"
We discussed the cleansing of the temple and then the boys got to reenact! Every boy's dream. The overturning of the table and making a general mess would have been a lot more fun if Olive hadn't gotten in the way and accidentally shoved to the ground. You know, it just wouldn't be a night at the Evans if someone wasn't crying!

"Teaching Tuesday"

We discussed some of the parables that Jesus taught and made our clay lamps to go with the parable of the 10 virgins.

"Spy Wednesday"

We discussed Judas's betrayal and cut 30 pieces of "silver" out of tinfoil for our wall we were working on. (Picture at the end.)

"Passover Thursday"

One of my favorite days!! Then my back decided to go out that morning. OF COURSE. I didn't know how I was going to get everything done that day with a functioning back so a non-working one was incredibly frustrating. At least mopping my kitchen floor on my hands and knees accommodated my crippled position. Then at 3pm, I suddenly and miraculously could stand up straight and without pain. I was CRUISING for the next 3 hours until the Lindbloms showed up!

 We had unleavened (flat) bread, goat cheese, grape juice, honeyed Greek yogurt, dates, olives and boiled eggs. Plus I made haroset and a lamb and lentil stew. Next year I want to set an actual Seder plate!

We planted the grass a couple weeks prior as part of an Easter lesson discussing Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. 

 Marcie and Scarlett got to join the party too!

Before we started, Marcie said she felt dumb asking but wondered what the Passover was all about. I literally jumped for joy!! I couldn't wait to talk about it! It's so fun learning about old traditions and why we do the things we do now. And the best part is SHARING it with others! 

"Good Friday"

I was able to find a babysitter and make it to a temple session in the middle of the day. Novel! It was wonderful! And Rachelle met me there too. It's always better getting to do a session with a friend. And right before going into the endowment room I looked up and saw our friends, Eileen and Tommy Haws (from Gallup) sitting in front of me! If I wasn't in the temple I would have laughed out loud! What a FUN coincidence!!

Later that afternoon when Travis was home we went back to the temple as a family to do our discussion. Friday is a heavy day. But so important. We made a cross out of our names to symbolize the fact that Christ died for each one of us. We dipped a little into Saturday's discussion by talking about what Christ did in the spirit world after he died and why we have temples on the earth today. Knowing that He taught spirits in the spirit world and we have an obligation to do work for the dead on earth is so important. 

"Spirit World Saturday"

Usually on Saturday we do the fun stuff! Since we talked a lot about the spirit world yesterday, we just enjoyed an Easter party at the Evans'! It was also Women's Conference. 

Getting ready for the egg bash... I had Collin decorate my egg. Our family did pretty good for the first couple of rounds but didn't pull out a champion in the end. :(

"Easter Sunday"

My heart just FILLS with happiness on this day! It is so special. So meaningful. And so anticipated after a week of studying and thinking about Christ. Here is our final visual display that we added to each day. If you're wondering, the red cloth on Thursday is what we hung over our door during the Passover dinner, representing the lamb's blood. 

I love the picture of the parable of the 10 lepers that Collin drew for Tuesday!

I still do normal Easter baskets on Sunday. These kids... I do too much. We only ever got candy in ours growing up! They got sidewalk chalk, a movie, light saber bubbles, gum, chocolate bunnies and all manner of jelly beans and candy. And a week later I found shirts that I had bought but forgot to add! I got myself a basket to go on my bike. Trav had the same idea so I actually got two baskets, haha. 

We got all dressed for church, packed up our monkey bread and fruit and headed to the Mesa cemetery for breakfast.

We found my sister's grave next to my uncle and great grandparent's graves and had our little devotional next to them. Testifying of my Savior is my favorite thing to do. I might not do it very eloquently, but my heart is filled with conviction. Because of Him, death is not the end. We will get to see our loved ones again. WE will live with Him again! Because of the Atonement, I know that my sins can be forgiven and I can be clean. I know that He felt every pain, sorrow and emotion that we feel. He can comfort us in every need. We do not have to qualify for his love. It is there no matter what! Most of all, I KNOW that he lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer, the Only Begotten of our Father. He died for us, because He loves us. I have felt my testimony of Him strengthen particularly over these past few years. I am so grateful for my knowledge of His life, teachings and sacrifice. I am humbled by His example and gift. I want my children to know without a doubt that their mother has a testimony of Jesus Christ. They may fidget while I'm telling them or be paying more attention to their orange juice but my hope is that year after year, this will sink in. They will feel the Spirit testify of these truths. They will realize the importance of gaining their own testimony of the Savior. There is nothing more important. 

I love that this was actually a candid photo and not set up! I don't know what was said, but the boys thought it was pretty darn funny.

I am so lucky!!!

They boys were asked to sing an Easter song in Primary so we had been practicing "Gethsemane" by Melanie Hoffman all week.  Our whole family learned it just from constantly having it playing all week and even Olive would chime in with the words in the chorus. My mom accompanied them and it was so sweet! That song brings tears to my eyes and to have my own kids sing it in church was really special. ♪Gethsemane.... Jesus loves me... so He went willingly.. to Gethsemane.♪ 

I made a ridiculous amount of this Easter chex mix to give to our neighbors and friends. I made little gifts with a Book of Mormon, copy of the Living Christ, chex mix, a passalong card and a note from us, for the families on our street. We went to each house after church to deliver them but not a single person answered their door! Bummer! So we just left them on their doorsteps. One neighbor came over a week later to thank us and we ended up having a really nice conversation because of it. It almost seemed like too much work to follow through with this idea, because of everything else going on, but I'm glad I did. I want to give something Christ related to our neighbors every year. 

We had dinner at my mom's and when we pulled up, Marcie was taking pictures of their family. I had to snag one of cute, Miss Scarlett! And that better- than- life grass! Wow!

Grandma put on her own egg hunt and it was pretty comical! There was a mixture of $$, Taco Bell sauce packets, cherry tomatoes, asparagus tips, Cheetos, and baby wipes. Bahahaha! Collin was less than amused and Olive was just confused. We all thought it was hysterical. Way to keep it lively, Mom! 
I don't know if our Easter could have been any better!!