Easter

I realize this is not a photo album, but mostly I only want to share photos of my beloveds from the past two days. Please excuse the attempt at doing something artistic with a photo. Ugh. Chancho has downloaded something called Gimp for me. It is, I guess, like Photoshop. But I can't figure it out. Chancho does not believe in stealing software, so I can't just use the same version of Photoshop that some of the others in my family have been passing around. And it costs like $1000 to buy it. So, I have to use some supposedly super cool open-source thing. Does anybody use Gimp? Can you help me get started? I think I could figure stuff out if I could at least get the basics down. Anyway, I guess I will try to find some on-line tutorials or something. Ugh. Anyway, enjoy the photos. From top to bottom: my handsome men all ready for church; Deedle striking a pose; silly kids before church; String Cheese and Deedle at Grandma Deb's Easter tea; me and my girls at the Tea.

We had a lovely Easter weekend. It was nice and sunny both days and beautiful. Because it was so early this year there is not a whole lot blooming yet, but it was pretty and today was actually kind of warm. Yesterday we had Grandma Debbie's annual Easter Tea. As the mother of 5 boys, she was naturally thrilled when she found out that String Cheese was on the way. Her first grand-daughter ignited her creativity and she soon came up with the girls-only Easter Tea. It has been a little different each year, but a few things remain the same--we all dress up, we eat good stuff, play fun games and the girls get a lot of candy and toys! They look forward to it for ages and begin talking about it the day after Valentine's Day. This year was no less lovely than ever. Now there are five little granddaughters for Deb to celebrate with (and she always invites others as well). The boys have their own little tradition (they go out to lunch) and Grandma Deb doesn't forget to give Loumy and cousin Colby baskets as well. This year she also gave Loumy a "motorcycle guy" instead of a stuffed rabbit, and he has been thrilled (slept with the little plastic guy by his pillow for two nights now)!

I always love Easter. Of course Spring is a happy time of renewal, growth, awakening, and change. It is also a special opportunity to focus on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. One thing that I have really loved about Debbie having a big party on Saturday is that we don't do any of the "easter bunny" stuff on Sunday. The kids don't appreciate it so much now (in fact Deedle says she, "hates the real Easter" even though we are not allowed to say, "hate" in our home). But I'm sure as time goes by they will come to appreciate it more. I hope that their testimonies of the Savior will grow, as mine has, and that the special spirit that prevails this day will fill their hearts.

I am so grateful for a loving elder brother who gave his life for us. I am grateful, in a very real way, for the resurrection. I think of the words of the ancient prophet, Amulek, "Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free;... and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame." And I am filled with awe and love for Jesus Christ and the atonement.

I think of Mary Magdalene at the tomb. I try to imagine what she must have felt when Christ was crucified and the days she spent afterwards, at the tomb. I imagine her crying when she found the tomb empty--had somebody taken his body to desecrate it? Who would do that? Could he not even be left in peace after death? Maybe those were some of the thoughts that hurt her. But then, behind her, she hears him speak her name, "Mary." I don't know if that was the first word spoken by the resurrected Savior to somebody on Earth, but it is the first that we have recorded. I try to imagine how she must have felt. I try to imagine how suddenly the thoughts of the empty tomb turned from sadness to joy and hope. I pray that I will be worthy to one day hear that voice and see my resurrected Lord and Savior. These are the things I like to think about on Easter.