Easter

My favorite holiday deserves its own post! 

And the EASTER PAGEANT IS BACK!!! I was SO sad I missed the audition dates last fall. I went at 4pm, right after the kids got out of school, to save seats and there were already so many taken! It was blazing hot at first so the boys took cover in the little shade they could find. We got Ned's Krazy Sub for dinner. Josie met us there and we ran into Jenni too so that of course calls for a picture. The pageant has changed and I liked some things, but missed Mary's Lullaby song most of all. The set is now facing the east instead of the west and there were some cool sets added, like the ship that Peter was on when he tried walking on the water. I loved that they used some of Rob Gardner's songs from The Lamb of God in the production. 

I LOVED this book by Brad Wilcox!! So many insights I had never heard before. It was my favorite, new thing I did this season. I have the whole thing underlined and highlighted. 

I have pro temple builders by now!

Awhile back I heard a podcast that referenced this book and it was so interesting!! All about how we tend to put all our focus and emphasis on Christ's resurrection or even Gethsemane, but not as much on his crucifixion. And yet, the scriptures referencing his death on the cross far outweigh those about Gethsemane. And the Atonement is all three parts. Growing up, I thought it was "bad" to wear a cross or have anything to do with a cross, but this changed my perspective. I came across this ring, online, and loved it. I bought an inexpensive one on Etsy, then Travis surprised me with the one I really wanted, a few weeks later. It was more expensive and he went to a jeweler to have it made for me. How sweet is that?! I understand why our church hasn't adopted the cross as a symbol, but for me, it represents CHRIST, plain and simple. And every time I put it on I think of Him. And I love that it is an outward sign to anyone that sees it, that I believe in Jesus Christ. 

I love the inscriptions the kids carve onto their lamps! Collin put a cross on one side and "believe in him" on the other.

This is only the second year I've washed their feet to commemorate the Last Supper and Tanner's giggling had us all laughing! 

This was another good resource I found. I mostly have all my traditions set, but it was interesting to glance through the extra activities that go with each day.

We invited the Neus' and Reddin and Karen's families over for our Passover dinner. Costco lamb slices made life easier! We put them in our flat bread for a yummy gyro!

I found some wooden crosses at Hobby Lobby for the kids to paint on Friday. We painted our names on them to remind us that Christ died for each of us.

I need to figure something else out for our resurrection rolls, haha! When I make them, they have a little higher success rate but when the kids do them, they always seem to bust out the sides. Maybe I'll try Rhodes rolls next time. 

We had church at 11:30am, so we went to the cemetery first thing in the morning for our breakfast devotional. When we got home, we caught Weston's friend, Liam, and his mom hiding eggs in our yard for a surprise! So sweet!! All the kids couldn't wait to do the egg hunt. 

We had dinner that evening at my parent's house and an egg hunt in their yard. We celebrated with the Evans the following Sunday. 

I cannot say it enough... I LOVE Easter! I feel more joy and peace the month and especially the week before Easter than I do at any other time of the year. It's like my soul is on cloud 9. I don't know how to describe it, but it is a testimony to me of the truthfulness of Christ's divine mission and life. He is who He claimed to be. The Son of God. The Savior of mankind. I love Him and worship Him.