As I sit here preparing the pictures and thinking about the words I want to use to write about this Easter, I find that although there are a lot of egg hunts and Easter baskets (and happiness and memories) but not a lot of Christ. To be honest, this year, we didn't do a lot to celebrate Holy Week. In years past, I've really tried to make an effort to do that and it's been wonderful but I just couldn't pull it off this year. I hope that, even though I wasn't able to make the same effort this year as in years past, that my kids heard the words that were said as we spoke about Jesus and the incredible reason that we celebrate Easter. I hope those words sink into their hearts and that even though the message came more simply this year - that they know that Jesus loves them and that they can start building a relationship with him through their knowledge of his life, atonement, death, and ressurection.
My friend, Alex Morley, introduced me to the symphony/musical performance of the "Lamb of God". She told me about it and told me that this year I needed to find the CD and listen to the songs to prepare my heart for Easter. “Lamb of God” is a musical portrayal of the final days of the life of Jesus Christ, and is filled with touching songs and powerful testimony of the Savior. Her family ended up having two extra tickets to a live performance at the Eccles Theater in SLC and asked if David and I would like to come with them. (They bought these tickets months in advance. When her dad bought the tickets he decided to buy a couple of extra, but the people he had in mind didn't work out. The morning before, Alex had been thinking "I wish I had a ticket that Shantel could come see this performance with us" and only a little while later her dad called asking if she had anyone that could use the tickets. She said that she felt like the tickets were meant for us.) About the performance- It was amazing. We didn't know until we arrived at the theater but it was actually ROB GARDNER, the composer, as the conductor and all the people from the video performance singing. It was probably the most amazing musical performance I have ever seen and the words and testimony so incredibly powerful. I wanted to share these lines from the song "Make Me Whole" sung by Martha after her brother Lazarus dies:
Make Me Whole
Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, which should come
The Son of God
But I do not understand
Touch my eyes and bid them see
That my gaze might pierce the veil
And behold the wondrous scene
That, in dreams, I've long beheld
Oh, touch my heart and bid it know
That ev'ry sorrow here
Is but a moment's tear
And Thou wilt make me whole again
Touch my ears and bid them hear
All the glory of Thy truth
That my hope might come of faith
And no more require proof
Oh, touch my heart and bid it know
That, while in darkness here
The Light is ever near
And Thou wilt make me whole again
Then touch my lips and bid them sing
Songs of everlasting praise
That my soul might then believe
And give thanks through all my days!
Oh touch my heart and bid it know
That ev'ry breath I take
Is by Thy tender grace
And Thou wilt make me whole
And Thou wilt make me whole
Oh, Thou wilt make me whole again
The Son of God
But I do not understand
Touch my eyes and bid them see
That my gaze might pierce the veil
And behold the wondrous scene
That, in dreams, I've long beheld
Oh, touch my heart and bid it know
That ev'ry sorrow here
Is but a moment's tear
And Thou wilt make me whole again
Touch my ears and bid them hear
All the glory of Thy truth
That my hope might come of faith
And no more require proof
Oh, touch my heart and bid it know
That, while in darkness here
The Light is ever near
And Thou wilt make me whole again
Then touch my lips and bid them sing
Songs of everlasting praise
That my soul might then believe
And give thanks through all my days!
Oh touch my heart and bid it know
That ev'ry breath I take
Is by Thy tender grace
And Thou wilt make me whole
And Thou wilt make me whole
Oh, Thou wilt make me whole again
----
Egg Hunts
One of our favorite Easter traditions is to take some egg hunts to other people and surprise them at their homes. In years past, we've done a full easter egg hunt with Melissa and Zachary, but this year we weren't able to make it happen - so we drove to his house and hid eggs all around then knocked on his door to let him come find the eggs. I'm so glad that we did this.
We also did an egg hunt for the Young's and for a small family in our ward the Vanderlindens. (I let the kids pick someone and they picked their friends the Youngs, then I picked the Vanderlindens who have one 2 year old and a new baby.) I love that they get the chance to give and serve without the focus being on them getting the candy. And in fact, egg hunts are just as fun when you get to hide and surprise someone as they are when you get to find the eggs yourself.
The Sunday before Easter was spent in Morgan. We decided that we wanted to do an egg hunt with all the cousins while Juniper was here. We filled the eggs with only a tiny bit of candy, but included puzzle pieces and papers to answer a riddle written on the back of the puzzle. When the kids solved the puzzle - they found directions to a treasure, which ended up being matching "Cousin Crew" shirts.
They are so cute! Even Rugby and Melissa's new puppy, Ruby, got matching shirts.
Easter Morning we had an egg hunt in our house, with half the eggs being full of breakfast cereal for the kids to eat for breakfast. The Easter baskets were simple but fun.
We went to church where there was a special musical presentation all about Easter and it was wonderful. The kids sang with the primary and all the testimonies were shared of the Savior and His Victory, which is our victory.
We ended the day with a nice Easter dinner with the Peadens in West Jordan, which was delicious and lovely - even if I did manage to botch the Angel Food Cake I was asked to bring for dessert.
