Happy Engage-i-versary!!

After we had our family scripture discussion Rick said, "Do you know what day it is today? Today is the day that Mom and I got engaged 26 years ago! We talked a little bit about that day at the Jordan River Temple when Rick proposed and later Jenna gave us this cute card that she made! She is such a sweetheart!!

Happy Easter!!

We spent Good Friday fasting as encouraged by our prophet in General Conference this past weekend. This past week for our family scripture study we have been studying the last week of Christ's life. As we studied about Friday's events I thought, "I can't even imagine being Mary, the mother of Jesus, and watching her son be tortured and murdered right in front of her!" What a sacrifice her sacred calling was to be the mother of Jesus, the Christ.  

Saturday: I spent three hours in the yard -- pulling weeds and cleaning up the ward (with help from the kids) in order to get things cleaned up for Easter. Rick was blessed with the inspiration to write a new song and decided to give it to all of the kids for Easter. So he spent all day in the studio writing it! It is a bell arrangement to "Oh My Father." He is really excited for the the kids to learn it! 

He and I went for a walk in the afternoon and it was pleasant, but getting a little too warm by that time. We had an Easter egg hunt with the kids. The kids filled their own eggs -- half for the hunt and half left out for their Easter baskets. I fixed a meatloaf dinner and then Rick and Janelle hid the eggs for Jaiden, Josh and Jenna to find. Then the kids and I delivered Easter eggs and bubble wands to the young women in my class with a cute note. The kids scattered the eggs on their lawns and had fun ringing the door bell and making a mad dash for the car!  

Sunday: This morning we did a quick clean up from last night's activities and prepared the food for our Easter lunch. Then we had the kids get their Easter baskets, which was really simple this year -- just stax potato chips, hot chocolate, candy filled eggs, clay, and Rick's new song.

Jase and Ellen gave the Easter lesson and did a great job! We had Janika and Brandon join us for the lesson over a Zoom call.

A couple of Janelle's work buddies stopped by the house and dropped off a little Easter basket filled with goodies for her! One of her friends also dropped off some flower seeds and a sweet note. 

Then we had a delicious lunch of ham, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, beans, and salad. Then everyone dyed Easter eggs!!

Then it was the traditional Egg Bash!! Jaiden's "Chick-Fil-Egg" won the tournament!! 

 

The girls were really excited about the song (Josh, not so much!) Our family gathered together in chairs around the piano to have our first practice today! I even felt a little emotional as we started to sing together and imagined where we might perform this beautiful tribute. Tonight the kids and I watched the movie, "The Fighting Preacher." It was good! What a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His glorious resurrection! What a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my family! What a precious gift!! 

Underground Project

Jenna's class did a Civil War project and Jenna was assigned the Underground Railroad. She researched it and then made her project with little clay figures. I thought it turned out really well! Way to go, Jenna!

Here is a video of Jenna's project! 

Cute and Creative Bunnies!

Jenna is so creative! We replaced our box springs because ours were old and not working well. Rick had the kids start breaking up the old ones so that we could throw them away. Part of the box springs included some small wood pieces. Jenna showed me one of the pieces and said that she wanted to paint it to look like a bunny. It turned out so cute! All of the kids got excited about it and so they all wanted to paint one too! We even gave a few to our neighbors along with a painted one and some paints so that their kids could paint some too. Fun project!!

 

Jenna dropped off a couple of her cute bunnies to Willene Bivens in our ward, who later gave her this sweet note and a cute little rolling pin with a "recipes for life" thought. There was also a wedding gift for Jase and Ellen. Jenna asked if she could keep the ribbon on Jase and Ellen's gift since it matched her bridesmaid dress and she wanted to wear it in her hair. She looks like her character of Jane in Mary Poppins!

March Painting of the Month Winner!!

Ellen won March's "Painting of the Month" contest! She and Jase had a double date with another couple and the activity was painting canvases. The painting with the cactus is Ellen's. The one with the fish is Jase's. The handprint is Jenna's, the hot air balloon is Jaiden's, the bench is Janelle's, and the gray one is Josh's!!

 Jaiden painted this lovely rock -- it isn't as big as it looks in the picture, ha ha! 

 Jenna's "Quilt Square" for school...

 Jenna's Dr. Suess art for school -- not yet finished...

More Chalk Drawings!!

Jenna made this cute chalk drawing in our driveway. They are learning all about Geometry in school -- triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, rhombuses... So I took a picture and sent it to her teacher, Mrs. Sparks, to show that Jenna was applying what she was learning in school!

Also, Jaiden and Emily did this one (not Josh, in spite of his note!) 

Day of Fasting and Prayer

Today we all joined in fasting and prayer for relief from the devastating effects of Covid-19. I have a strong testimony of both fasting and prayer and was honored to have our family participate in such a cause! It is awe inspiring to see not only members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints participating in a day of fasting and prayer, but people from all denominations joining together.

Today was our third Sunday of "Stay-at-Home Church." It was my turn to give the lesson and with General Conference coming up this weekend I decided to focus on the restoration and how we can receive personal revelation like Joseph Smith did. We had a wonderful spirit filled discussion. We then had sacrament meeting with our family. Again, I am so grateful for a Prophet of God and am grateful for the Priesthood in my home!

After church we skyped with Janika and Brandon to catch up with them. Janika and Brandon are now working from home. They are grateful that they still have their jobs! Brandon will be graduating  from USU in May, but the graduation ceremony is being postponed until August. However, Janika and Brandon have a cruise to Europe planned that week and so Brandon won't be able to "walk" for graduation. 

The Relief Society Presidency stopped by and dropped off some cupcakes and we visited outside -- six feet apart. I was happy to update them on the wedding and on Jared's missionary service. Our RS President's missionary is still in Peru on lock down. They are hoping he can return home in a couple of weeks.

Seeing all of the missionaries returning this week has brought mixed feelings of sadness and joy -- sadness that their service is being cut short and that God's work seems to be temporarily halted, but joy in seeing so many glorious reunions posted all over social media as family members are finally able to see and hug their missionaries! Here is a picture that was posted on social media of a flight filled with missionaries. There were also many awe inspiring pictures and videos of missionaries flying home and singing "Called to Serve" in different languages. God is in charge and has a plan for all of us -- including these amazing missionaries!

After fasting today we had a delicious feast of marinated chicken, steak, green salad, fruit salad, tater tots (just for fun), cottage cheese, tomato salad and apple crisp and vanilla ice-cream for dessert! Jenna and Josh played soccer and made chalk drawings outside and then we all played "Balderdash" (I won, ha ha!) and the girls and I watched "I Can Only Imagine," a movie I have been wanting to see for ages! It was a glorious day!