Easter!

We had a wonderful Easter! We had all those who were in the bell number meet at our house at 8:00 am to run through the song and then headed to church to run through it one with in the chapel. The church program turned out really nice!! 

Opening Song: 199, “He is Risen” 
1 Youth Speaker Bridger Larsen
2 “This is Jesus,” sung by the Primary, Acc. by Jennie Rowan 
3 Musical Number: “It is Well With My Soul,” sung by Paige Allred and Christine France. Accompanied by Rebecca Gulbranson
4 Speaker: Megan Smith 
5 “He Knows/Gethsemane,” sung by the Young Women, Accompanied by Rebecca Gulbranson
6 “Son of God,” singing and handbells by small group (Rick Jensen, Ethan Allred, Andrew Rowen, Calvin Gulbranson, Jaiden Jensen, Jenna Jensen, Clarissa Williams, Bridget Layton) (4-5 minutes)
Closing Song: 200, “He is Risen” 

It was a spirit filled meeting and all of the songs and talks were really nice! I am in charge of the music and so I am always praying that everything goes smoothly! The bell number was beautiful!! We got SO many compliments on it! Even the congregational hymns were loud and powerful! 

We came home and the girls got their Easter baskets. We ate a quick lunch and then I went and interpreted for another ward across town as a last minute sub. I enjoyed their meeting also! Jase and Ellen came over with the kids. We took naps and then had a lovely dinner of ham, cheesy potatoes, salad, vegies, and dessert. 

We didn't have a family Easter lesson today, but we had already had a great lesson with our family mid-week and watched a touching Easter video. We visited with Josh during his mission zoom call while the kids dyed easter eggs and then had a big Easter egg hunt! We had filled a giant bowl with candy-filled eggs and then Jase and Ellen brought another big bag of eggs also! So they boys had a long hunt. They filled their baskets and them dumped them out into the big bowl so that they would have room for more! 

Then they did the egg bash. It was a wonderful day! I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ! I make constant mistakes and am so glad for the opportunity to repent. I am so grateful that we will see our loved ones again who have passed away! He is Risen!! 

Janika sent a picture of their cute Easter baskets...

Janelle sent a picture of their passover dinner! (It's a little blurry!!) 

Easter egg hunt

Ellen was busy all day today (Saturday) finishing up the last day of her responsibilities with the Washington County Fair. I reminded Jase that the city Easter Egg hunts would be going on today. He wanted to bring the kids and so I met them at Vernon Worthen park. It was nice that I was there because they did all of the Easter egg hunts at the same time. So Eli's hunt was going on at the same time as Evan's. So I went with Eli and Jase (and baby Elsie) watched Evan's hunt. 

There was an announcement that each group had some eggs with a paper inside and whoever got one of those papers could exchange it for a prize at the tables underneath the pavilion. The boys both got a good amount of eggs filled with candy and Evan got one of the prize slips. By the time we walked over to the pavilion there was a HUGE line of families waiting to get their prizes. Then we kind of wished he hadn't gotten a paper in one of the eggs! I suggested we just leave, but Jase said they didn't have any other plans that day and might as well wait. 

We finally made it there and Evan got a big bubble wand. I have several bubble wands at home already and could have just given him one, ha ha. By that time everyone had gotten their prizes and there were still some leftover and so they opened up the prizes to anyone else who wanted one (first come, first serve). Jase and Evan had just left the pavilion so they hurried back with Eli so that he could get a prize also. Then there was a mad dash from the kids on the playground! Jase and the kids came over to our house for a while so that the kids could play and eat lunch. 

Easter!!

We were fortunate to have several family members in town for Easter: Jase and Ellen and their two boys, Evan and Eli, Jared, and Janelle. Saturday morning Jenna, Josh, and I went to go clean the church, because it was our group's turn (again). We had gone the last two times without Rick since he had been out of town and so I thought, "finally, he will be there to help this time!" But apparently he had a meeting at 8:00 am which ended up going two hours and so he was not there again. I was a little miffed about that.  

We came back and ate lunch and then did a little Easter egg hunt for Evan, Eli, and Roze (Shantell Boulter's daughter). Janelle had gone to a bridal shower for her boyfriend's future sister-in-law, and so she missed it. Josh had gone to play pickleball, but made it back in time. It was fun watching the kids do their Easter egg hunt. Apparently this was like Evan's 5th Easter egg hunt, or something like that, ha ha. He had even done one at the park that morning. Rick went shopping and bought the food for tomorrow. Then I realized that I hadn't planned anything for dinner Saturday night and wished I had added that to the list. Janelle and I put together a pasta, chicken dish from whatever we had in the pantry and freezer.

Then Rick and I babysat the boys while Jase and Ellen went out. Grandpa must have the magic touch because both boys went right down for him at 8:00! He gave them a bath, put them in their PJ's, and had a mini movie party with popcorn, and then put them to bed! 

Sunday, March 31st was Easter. We had the kids come out for their Easter baskets. Ellen had put together cute baskets filled with toys for Evan and Eli. Rick had gotten Maracas for the kids in Mexico during this last cruise. Ellen made cute bunny pancakes for those who were eating. It was fast Sunday for us because of General Conference next weekend. I was a little disappointed that they put our fast Sunday on Easter because it messed up the usual musical program. I guess not all wards had fast Sunday today, and so maybe it was up to each Stake to decide when they would have it, I don't know. 

I had several musical numbers planned for Easter, but then we had to move it up a week, which changed things, since those who were planning on being in town for Easter were not planning on being in town for the 24th. So we only ended up with two musical numbers last week for our Easter program. Jenna, Clarissa and Audrey Williams, Kinzie Anderson, and Sophie Rasmussen sang "Risen." Rebecca Gulbranson had put it together and accompanied them. It is a really pretty song! It was nice of Rebecca to give up her time in order to put it together. Paige Allred also sang a beautiful arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed" with Brooke Ence accompanying. It was beautiful! It was a nice program last week though, and the talks were all really good. 

Today we had Rebecca and Shauntel Anderson do an organ and piano duet of "He is Risen" with the congregation singing for the closing song. That was really nice too. Even though I was a little disappointed at having fast Sunday today, it was a really nice meeting with lots of neat testimonies shared. Josh even shared his testimony, which was a very nice surprise, as that is the first time he has ever shared his testimony in sacrament meeting (I think anyway). Juanita Frei, a sweet older lady in our ward, passed away very early this morning and so several of the testimonies talked about that. They had been expecting it for a few weeks, but I guess she decided to wait until Easter morning! 

Jase and Ellen and their boys left to head home before church, but everyone else came. After church we came home and had a nice dinner with ham, cheesy potatoes, salad, vegies, rolls, and pie for dessert. I took a nap and went for a walk and then Jenna and I drove Janelle to Washington Fields to bring Janelle to meet up with Bryton, so that he wouldn't have to drive all the way to Santa Clara to pick her up. It was nice because Jenna got some driving practice and I got to meet most of Bryton's family, so that was fun! They seem like a great family! 

Rick had been out of town all week and it had been a busy, stressful week for me, with a lot going on at work. This was his second cruise this month. He and I got into a tense, emotional exchange over the weekend, which definitely put a damper on my Easter. We didn't even have an Easter lesson like we usually do. But we finally had a long talk Sunday evening and discussed a lot of things. We were able to clear the air and have an enjoyable evening together after that. I was glad that we could talk things out, because I hate it when things are tense! 

Happy Easter!!

Last weekend was General Conference -- one of my favorite weekends of the year! This entire week we studied the last week of the Savior's life -- ending with His glorious resurrection Easter Sunday! This morning we went to church. Josh FINALLY sang in church (a duet) with Rick, and it was beautiful! (I  had them scheduled to sing this song two or three times and each time Josh was sick and we had to postpone). They sang Rick's arrangement of "I Stand All Amazed." The other musical numbers were Lauren Cox on the violin playing "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul," and then the young women sang an arrangement of "He Knows/Gethsemane" with Josh Allred on the cello. All three numbers were beautiful. We also had two speakers, Julie Gubler, and Reggie Gates. They both did a great job also and the meeting ended right on time. 

After church we relaxed a bit and took naps and then we went to the Santa Clara cemetery for a special lesson that Rick put together. Here is what he posted on Facebook: 

NO BETTER PLACE TO TALK ABOUT EASTER AND THE RESURRECTION! On the way to church my son Josh said, “I miss doing Easter egg hunts.” I said, “We can still do one if you want.” He replied somewhat sarcastically, “What….. like a ‘spiritual Easter egg hunt’? Like you find a scripture in the egg or something?” I smiled and said, “Josh, that’s a great idea! I wasn’t even thinking about that, but yes!!! Let’s do it! I’m so glad you thought of that idea!!!!” He just rolled his eyes and said, “Oh my!”

When I came home, it all came to me what I wanted to do for our Easter lesson…… we didn't do an Easter egg hunt - - - we did a cemetery hunt and it was all tied to the resurrection! It turned out well I've put my lesson outline below just in case you want to try it with your own families.

Easter Headstone Cemetery Hunt

Each member of the family will be placed in a team of two or more. The team must have a pen and pad of paper for each person or per team. Place each numbered question in a plastic egg and have the family return to you for another egg when they have completed their mission. The last egg should be the egg that has information regarding the resurrection scriptures. When they have finished their study of the resurrection in the cemetery, have them gather back together and ask the questions at the end of the lesson.

Cemetery hunt questions

1. Find a headstone that has a quote referring to the resurrection.

2. Find a headstone that has a scripture on it. Note the scripture and what it has to do with the person or the headstone.

3. Find a headstone that seems to be more recent.

4. Find a headstone that seems to be the oldest.

5. Find a headstone where the person displays their faith in Jesus Christ.

What do you learn about the resurrection? (have the teams find a nice quiet place in the cemetery to open these eggs and read these scriptures together. After each question, have them write down what they learn regarding the resurrection, and any questions that may come to mind as a result of their study)

D&C 29:26

D&C 43:18

Alma 41:2-5

Alma 40:23

D&C 133:56

1 Thessalonians 4:13-16

2 Nephi 9:6-14

A resurrected body is not subject to pain or disease or exhaustion. There is no bullet that can harm it, poison that can pollute it, or cancer that can invade it. There is no resurrected being who suffers loss of limb, speech impediment, or failing sight. A resurrected personage has a glorified, immortal body, free from the destructive elements of this temporal world.

Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p. 169

In such a resurrected state one's countenance, one's outer glow and beauty will be but a manifestation of one's inner spirituality - thus, the inner and outer beings will be, in essence, mirrors of each other. Celestial bodies will radiate celestial glory; terrestrial bodies, terrestrial glory; and the telestial bodies, telestial glory.

Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p. 68

As another part of God’s “plan of restoration” (Alma 41:2), the Resurrection will restore “all things … to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). This includes the perfection of all of our physical deficiencies and deformities acquired in mortality, including at birth or by trauma or disease. (Dallin H. Oaks, "Cleansed by Repentance," April 2019).

Group questions after lesson

What did you learn about Jesus Christ and his resurrection on this cemetery hunt?

What are the feelings you feel when walking through a cemetery?

How does understanding the resurrection impact your feelings regarding Jesus Christ?

--------

The cemetery was really a neat experience. We had a very enlightening talk as we answered questions that came up. We were also able to visit Eliza's grave. I definitely the spirit during our experience and hope that the children did too. We came home and I hurried to finish up dinner. We ate ham, potatoes, broccoli, green salad, and rolls. It was delicious. The kids dyed Easter eggs and we did our weekly zoom call with Janelle. It was a lovely Easter day!  

Easter!!

Rick wrote a beautiful song for his Caroler girls called "Son of God" years ago and recently decided to write a new SATB arrangement of that song, that included bells, for Easter! We got permission from the Bishopric to sing this for our ward on Easter Sunday and started learning it! We had Rick, me, Jase, Ellen, Jaiden, Josh, Jenna, and Emily! They all did bells and I signed it. We practiced every Sunday for the past six weeks. Last Wednesday we went and sang it for people in the neighborhood and then passed out invitations to the Easter meeting. 

This morning we had everyone meet at our house at 8:00 to run through it a few times and then we sang it in sacrament meeting today! I think it went well and we received SO MANY compliments on it! There were three other musical numbers in our ward besides ours. The primary sang "The Miracle," the Wilde family sang an arrangement of "I Know That My Savior Loves Me/I Know That My Redeemer Lives," and Paige Allred sang "Come, Beautiful Savior," with her son, Josh on the Cello, and Christine France on the piano. All of the musical numbers were lovely! 

Later we prepared the Easter baskets. Rick got the kids food -- brownie mixes, peanuts, popcorn, pop or chocolate milk, and candy. I got the girls make up and I bought Jenna picture frames for her room. I also got the kids' some shorts for summer. The kids dyed Easter eggs and we had a nice meal of ham, baked potatoes, vegies, salad, and fruit salad. Later on we made brownies for Josh's birthday. It was nice to relax and spend time with family! Since it was Easter the missionaries were all given permission to skype home and so we had a great conversation with Janelle tonight also! 

Here are the kids looking sad because their Easter baskets were empty... just too much going on this morning to worry about filling Easter baskets!! We filled them later though! 

Today is the birthday of my sister, Kellie Sue Westra, who died when she was seven days old. Because of Christ's resurrection, we will see her again someday. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Because of Him we are not left to navigate this world alone. Because of Him death is not the end -- we will all live again! Because of Him we can be forgiven of our sins and return to live with Him again someday.  Because of Him our families can be together forever. This truly gives us reason to rejoice -- not only on Easter, but everyday! 

Easter 2021

 April 2: We were looking forward to the Westras coming for Easter weekend and so we were nervous when Jenna started throwing up Thursday night! She seemed to be doing better by Friday afternoon and Westras still decided to come. Friday night I had an interpreting job and Josh had a soccer game. We didn't go to this one since it was thirty minutes away and we had other commitments. We had enjoyed going to all of his home games though! The Westras arrived later -- around 9:00. Both Jaiden and Janelle were at work. We visited and got the beds set up for the kids. 

April 3: This morning we watched General Conference and Josh refereed some games in St. George. I had received a text from Suzy's Closet in Hurricane saying that they were having a big clearance sale. Suzy's Closet in the little shop that sells prom dresses out of their home. We decided it would be fun to check it out. So me and Alicia and Adria, Rella, and Jaiden drove out and tried on dozens of dresses. Jaiden ended up buying one for only $15.00! 

We finished watching conference and the kids had a "taste test" with a variety of Easter candy that Alicia had brought. Then we ate a yummy dinner of grilled hamburgers and side dishes and then those who were available watched the Priesthood Session.  

April 4: This morning we did Easter baskets and had our traditional Conference Crepes (cooked by Rick)! Jase and Ellen and Jared came for the Crepes. 

When the kids lined up I said, "Wow, can you imagine having that many kids?" Shane said, "You DO have that many kids!" "Oh, ya, I guess I do, ha ha!" Rella found this rubber shark head and made the shark center-piece with goldfish crackers on the "ocean."

In the church news there was a photo of this family all dressed in their Sunday clothes attentively watching conference. The caption said, "Send us pictures of your family watching conference." I thought, "I don't think they would want our pictures!" (No church clothes -- Jared sleeping, Jase and Ellen cuddling, the kids in their make-shift beds...) The kids played a couple rounds of croquet in between sessions. 

The kids also dyed eggs at our house today. We were going to do our annual egg bash, but had a photoshoot planned instead and so we ran out of time! The next day Jenna and Rella were invited to dye eggs with some friends the old fashioned Swiss way -- with roots, flowers, leaves, onion skin, beets, etc. This is a big tradition here in Santa Clara!  

After conference we had a lovely Easter dinner of ham, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, corn, salad, Brazilian cheese rolls (thank you Alicia!), and regular rolls. Then we had strawberry shortcake for dessert! Alicia had made a regular cake and also gluten free cake! Yum! 

Sunday evening Alicia did a photoshoot of Jaiden and Janelle. We wanted to get a few more headshots of Jaiden and some more Senior shots of Janelle -- including some in her cap and gown. Photos to come! Adria came and watched and so I took a few of her and Jaiden while we were waiting...

After we got back we had an Easter Egg hunt! Jaiden and Adria hid the eggs for the rest of the kids. 

After the hunt we gathered everyone together and went around the room and let everyone share one of their favorite talks from General Conference. We had a nice discussion! 

April 5: This morning Jaiden and Adria went on a double date. They went hiking up Snow Canyon and took a bunch of pictures and then they came back here and attempted to paint one of their pictures!  It was beautiful weather! I don't have Alicia and Lane's photos from their photoshoot, but I asked Jaiden to send me the ones on her phone of her and Josh (Larkin). 

                                            This must be the picture they tried to paint...

I thought we made it through the weekend without anyone else getting sick, but unfortunately Janelle started throwing up this morning! Ugh!! She called in sick and pretty much kept sequestered to her room all day! 

Rick, Alicia, and I took Jaiden to the new Contact Climbing Gym in order to borrow their Yoga studio to record Jaiden's talent number for the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Competition. It took about an hour and about ten takes, but we finally got a few good takes to choose from and her talent number turned out really well. I would send it to the family, but I think we are supposed to wait until after the actual showcase before having people watch it. 

Jaiden had dance tonight and the Westras went for a little hike. Tonight we watched the movie, "While You Were Sleeping." 

April 6: The kids all headed back to school (except Janelle -- she only went for her last period since she was feeling better by then) and the Westras packed up and headed back home. It was a wonderful Easter break -- I am glad that we had family to share it with!!