Easter Sunday

Ever since I was twenty years old, Easter has been my very favorite holiday.  Yes, even more loved than Christmas.  Because the Sunday before Easter that year, all of the Young Single Adult members of our church here in this area were invited to the Mesa Temple grounds for a special morning devotional on the grass in front of the visitor's center.  My friends and I loaded in a car together and we all arrived at the temple on that beautiful, peaceful morning.  I don't remember what was said at the devotional, but I do remember the feelings of that day and how I "got it" that year.  Easter is celebrating not only the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the fact that he loves us so much and that is why he was willing to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane and give his life for us on the cross.  And then he arose after three days.  And because of him we all will be resurrected some day too!  Isn't that great?

Now that I'm a mom, I try to help my kids love and appreciate the message of Easter also.  I think I've reviewed the whole reason for celebrating Easter with my boys at least 5 times in the past week, once in the parking lot at Costa Vida after they brought up the the topic.  I really want them to know that it's not about candy and treats.  I want them to have a reverence for the day just as I do.

I'll never forget this Easter when Grant was barely three years old and still didn't have much of a vocabulary.  This is what I wrote about it:

"The sweetest was when Grant came out of his nursery class with a little paper cut out of Jesus and a tomb.  We were walking down the hall to go get Keith and somewhere along the way Grant's little picture of Jesus fell and was lost.  He was devastated.  Luckily his teacher was still at the class room and she had extra.  So when we got home and I was getting things done, I noticed Grant sitting by his room with his little cut-outs from nursery and he was talking to himself.  So I sat down by him and he went on to tell me, in his little 3 year old way, all about how Jesus died and then was put behind a rock and then after 3 days he was all better.  It was such a sweet moment.  I was so proud of him."   

Of course this year when Grant was asked by someone what his favorite thing about Easter is he said, "The candy!"  He is five after all.  But we will keep teaching and giving our children opportunities to develop their testimonies as they grow up.  Usually we go to the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple, but this year Camille was still getting over being sick and it just didn't work out, but it is always a great event to go to and feel the Spirit teach you about the life and love of Christ.

Here's the boys this Easter morning getting ready to wind up their strings to find their Easter baskets.

The family after church:

I came across this beautiful free Easter print online.  It printed out really nice on card stock on my own printer.  I got a 2 pack of cheap frames at Michaels and placed the print inside.  Then I decided to use the extra frame to give one to my mom.  She loved it.  You can download yours here.  I know it's after Easter already, but maybe you can tuck it away for next year.  Or just have it out all of the time.  I also printed out this free Easter Banner, put it together, and hung it above our sliding glass door.