Easter Blessings

Easter is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate, for obvious reasons. It means more to me now in my recent years of life than at any other time. I always feel so good on Easter, so hopeful! I read a quote that perfectly describes my feelings, "The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world.  Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice.  But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice."  ~Henry Knox Sherrill

I always feel closer to Ryan on Easter.  I celebrate him on Easter as I celebrate new life, the life to come and reflect on all the proceedings leading up to Easter Sunday in the scriptures. I reflected a lot on the talks given at general conference a couple weeks ago. I love what was said about those who pass on, that it is really like they are in another room, that's all. This description gives me such comfort when I look at it that way. Because death is not the end of us, how could it be? It is a graduation onto the next phase of our eternal lives, and Ryan has graduated early :) 


I flew back into CA from my spring break in NYC the day before Easter, and if it was not for my amazing moms help I would have been in a big jam! Easter was so relaxing and peaceful, partly because she had everything ready so I didn't have to do much. (Easter baskets, dyed eggs, candy filled eggs, Easter dinner, the traditional bunny cake!)


We had Easter dinner at my Grandpa's house, which was special in its own right. He wanted it there, which was cute. We missed seeing Grandma there though and I'm glad Grandpa was not alone, like he ever is, we always make sure he's kept busy. My Aunt Sharon (moms sis) from OR was in town and we were so glad she joined the rest of us there. We had a wonderful dinner and desserts (Uncle Channing's red velvet cake is bomb), and had the egg hunt in Grandpa's front lawn on the most perfectly beautiful evening. 

Right before the hunt we had a little .... event. Of course it has to do with Caleb, it always does these days! Jake and I call him Dennis the Menace.  We were all busy talking away amongst ourselves, cousins, aunts, siblings, Grandpa, etc. Jake and I both assumed the other was keeping tabs on the boys without actually vocalizing it, whoops. Next thing I know Caleb enters the family room and everyone starts roaring with laughter, because in walks my two year old with a head covered in Grandpa's Vaseline! haha, oh it was comedy.  Took me four days to get it all the way out! Good thing my cousin Falhon had a change of clothes for her boy Cullen who is around the same age, because I thought I was past that stage of bringing extra clothes. Caleb had smeared the stuff all over his clothes.... and all over Grandpas room. eek!


On a better note, at the close of our Easter Sunday, at home with my little family we did the 12 days of Easter, the Easter story in eggs with the boys. I love this, I remember doing at home growing up and it making a big impact on me. It was special this year because I could see that Jonathon really got it. As Jake and I explained each piece, the two dimes, the vinegar, the spices, the thorns, the rock, the nail, the white cloth, etc. and read the corresponding scriptures, Jonathon was so still and thoughtful and asked so many questions. I simply love this part of parenting, because I know that he knows the greatest gift of life.

Happy Easter everyone. Hope everyone had a great one.
 ...........   I love our backyard in spring! 
"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time."  ~Martin Luther

P.S. Did spiderman visit your Easter party?  He did at ours! :)