keeping easter-what we are doing

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     Easter is such an important and meaningful holiday to our family and to everyone, whether they realize it or not.  While the word Easter may come from non-Christian origins, the reason that we celebrate Easter is because it is now  recognized in  Christian religions as the designated time of year that we celebrate the Resurrection of the Savior, Jesus Christ, following his Atoning sacrifice.  
      This year we have taken on the challenge to remember, even more than before, the significance of that event in each of our lives.  The leaders of our church have especially suggested that this week, Holy Week, be a part of our sacred ponderings as we lead up to Easter Day, or Resurrection Day as some prefer to call it.  For the last month leading up to this Holy Week, I have pondered, studied and purposefully tried to keep my thoughts on how I could personally improve the way I Keep Easter in my heart.  Click Read More if you want to see how it has gone for me! Hopefully you will be inspired to purposefully strive feel the Spirit of this Holy Season! 

1. First of all, when I decide that something is important for my spiritual growth, I always wonder how I can also share those feelings with my family, especially my grandchildren.  I want them to be happy, and I know that the place to find joy and happiness is in a relationship with Jesus Christ.   In a past year, I've done a Spiritual Easter Egg Hunt by filling plastic eggs with symbols of the Savior.  This year, I thought that instead of bunnies or chicks, I would focus on lambs, a symbol of Easter that we don't see as often as we should.  I decided to focus on the Savior being the Lamb of God and also on the fact that He is the Good Shepherd.  I searched for lambs that I could give as gifts to my grandchildren.  Since I have a lot of grandchildren, I needed these gifts to be reasonably priced!  It wasn't easy to find lambs that fit that criteria, so I ended up crocheting lambs for them! 

     I actually crocheted 11 of them.  You can find all different kinds of lamb or sheep patterns online.  I found this pattern on 5littlemonsters.com.  

     I also found Lindt Lamb Shaped Chocolates.  They are a good price on Amazon right now, compared to the grocery store price!  

     In the little bag of treats, I included the lamb chocolate, some Mother's Spring Cookies, and a Hershey's Marshmallow Egg.   I attached the bag to the ribbon on the lamb's neck, along with a little tag that I created using scripture messages.  You can print them if you would like to use them on a gift that you give for Easter.  If you don't have time to crochet lambs, the chocolate lambs given with the little tag would be sweet.  If you click on the image, you can print them from the pdf.  If you upload it to your computer, you can change the size.  

I won't be able to see some of my grandchildren on Easter, but I had some of them in my home over Palm Sunday.  I gave them their lamb gifts then.   I was able to explain to them why I had chosen those and we did a little lesson about the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There is an excellent little play in The Friend magazine that worked really well with kids to teach them and keep them interested and involved. The included pictures are beautiful! You do not need to be a member of my church to use this magazine.  There is a pdf included to print the play from.

     2.  If you remember this post about the 40 Day Walk With Jesus, you may have printed off the 4 Gospels Reading Schedule that Lindsey created.  To those of us who have been in a group reading it together, she also created a Holy Week Bonus Schedule to finish us off.  I have loved keeping up with and studying these sacred scriptures as I prepare myself to celebrate Easter.  I have found new insights and understanding as I've participated.  With just a few days to go before Easter, it isn't too late to read along about the last days of Jesus' earthly life and what he has done for us. Try these scriptures:

• Wednesday-Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-11, Luke 22:1-6, John 12:1-11
• Thursday-Matthew 26:17-35, Mark 14:12-31, Luke 22:7-38, John, chapters 13-17
• Good Friday-Mathew 26:36- 27:56, Mark 14:32-15:41, Luke 22:39-23:49, John 18-19
• ​Saturday-Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21
• Sunday-Luke 24, Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:1-17

       3.   In Mesa Arizona, about 45 minutes from where I live, there is an Easter Pageant put on by our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, that has been presented for 87 years on an outdoor stage.  It is the largest annual outdoor event in the world with a cast of over 400.  Over 100,000 people go and see it every year.  It is a beautiful production!  My husband and I, 1 of our sons and some of our grandchildren were able to attend this year on the Saturday before the beginning of Holy Week.  It was a great way to begin the week!  

         4.   As I mentioned, we saw some of our grandchildren early.  They were here on Palm Sunday.  We attended church together in the morning and there were beautiful Easter messages shared and music.  Then, I made an early Easter Dinner to enjoy with them.  I wanted to illustrate that Easter is a very special holiday and worthy of a holiday menu and the fancy dishes! 
       5.   We will be spending Easter weekend at Lindsey's house, celebrating together and also watching a very special General Conference from our church leaders on television.  If you would like to watch it, you can find the broadcast on byu.org, on YouTube, or online here.
       6.  One thing that I have loved is that Lindsey has been sharing an Easter Hymn each day for the last few weeks.  They have been performed by various artists and have all been beautiful.  Music always touches my soul. 

     This morning, as I was out tending my garden, I realized that my thoughts are staying more focused on the reason for this Easter Season!  I felt peace in my heart and gratitude for my little garden that I started all from seed and is now growing so well and is in the very beginnings of producing food for my family and I recognized that God's hand is in my life and in these things that I do.  As I focus on the Savior, it is easier to see the good around me and the role that I have in promoting the good news to the world.  Jesus lives and because of Him, we will live!  Have a wonderful, joyful Easter everyone! 
Love, Helen, Lindsey, Alicia and Madalynn!