What stands out and needs to be remembered about this week is how we prepared for Easter Sunday. Each day we studied the events in Christ's life. We watched movies, read scriptures and found Him on everyday on every page.
Always there is time to lay in the grass and watch the boys throw the football.
She's not too old to match, but perhaps I am.
Nick's tennis finished this week with two home-matches. He's a good player, and he's going to keep it up to prepare for next year.
Thursday I made history: Because Austin had a crazy work schedule, I navigated all the details surrounding our Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. I was prompted to call Uncle Clay to finalize the minutia. He then called to check on me to make sure it all went well -- that was thoughtful!
We arrived three hours early, whereupon the children played in the adjacent park and we ate a lovely picnic. The weather was brilliant -- an April evening in Phoenix is so cozy.
Situationally the event should have really bugged me. Our seven bodies were smashed onto three chairs, we couldn't see once the entire audience was seated, the big lights were right in our eyes, Molly was exhausted and wanted to leave about an hour in, and I was tired. BUT! I felt the love of Jesus Christ fill my heart and touch my soul. I have the "Lamb of God" album memorized, and this event happened to be his music. It was so beautiful to watch the theatrical along with the orchestral music.
Palm Sunday
The Resurrected Jesus Christ
Friday the Olmsteads prepared an Easter Egg hunt.
They loved it.
Half of the eggs were empty, 1/4 of the eggs were mints, and 1/4 of the eggs were balloons. A water balloon fight was eminent, following by a quick pool plunge.
The boys started throwing eggs at Maisie as hard as they could.
I spent another few hours talking with Meg, and nurturing my plants. My bromeliad had twin pups that needed separation, my spider plant also had twins that needed rooting and my windows and screens needed a scub. My "hospital wing" is now perfect.
That little plant on the left is a cutting that I stole from a restaurant in Phoenix. It now has roots and is on her way to a long life of growing.
This year was the first time I prepared a Seder Feast for my family. We've attended the holy tradition at my mother's home, and I was a senior in high school our first year. It was time for this sacred tradition to become ours'.
The entire morning of prep felt sacred. Austin took me shopping to pick up the necessary food stuffs; I don't keep matzah in the pantry. The children contributed to our Saturday chores. Austin took them swimming, and Maisie and I stayed to make it all come together.
I've often felt sorry for the women who "made ready the room," because they didn't get to participate with the Savior in that Last Supper. Preparing Seder for my family totally changed my perspective. I felt so much love for Jesus Christ as I assembled the Seder plate. I also felt the Holy Ghost confirm to me that He knew my offering. He knows that I am trying to hard to teach my children to faith in His mercy and to obey His commandments. Then as I was washing the dishes, I understood just a little bit why Orthodox Jews would have separate sinks to prepare holy food -- holy sacrifices and emblems -- and all of a sudden, "unclean" seemed so real.
I have a friend that grew up in a very Jewish household in New York. I am excited to pick her brain and have her answer all my questions about this sacred Seder Feast. I've watched my mother work so hard each year to make this happen for her children, and now I know. The culminating event was reciting "The Living Christ" from memory as a family.
(Not to make light of this detail, but each of our glasses have our names on them, so as to reduce the amount of glasses in the dishwasher. When we set a place for Elijah, his name was on our cup, because he often visits.)
I spent the rest of the day preparing for Easter Sunday ironing and filling eggs while watching, "The Resurrection of Gavin Stone." It's a Dallas Jenkins film.
Easter morning came and our day was filled with worship through testimony and chruch attendance.
Both the Olmsteads and Grandma and Grandpa B. came for dinner. We sat for a couple hours eating and visiting.
Grandma made her darling cake.
