Mesapotamian Easter

Like I said a post or two ago, I am horribly behind on blogging our life. Mostly because I am really tired and some days it's easier to just change diapers and watch TV.

But we did go down to Mesapotamia for Easter. We got my feet fixed by Uncle Cameron -- and sidebar here, Colin got into Podiatry school. YAY! I told him, he's going to inherit my feet when his dad retires. I need a good podiatrist for the rest of my life. That however is a post on its own...

We also wanted the family to see Baby Jeffrey. Naturally, everyone loves him:



If I could hire Mere as a babysitter I would. And according to Melanie, when I asked her about the going baby sitting rates she coolly said, "I just take what they give me." Good to know. I will no longer worry about what to pay for baby sitting. Of course, I've only ever paid for baby sitting twice, so what am I fretting about?

Moving on....

Aunt Marie is the best aunt in the world. She set up the Easter Egg coloring and James loved it. I am not a fan of the boiled egg at all, so I've never do eggs at Easter. I suppose I also don't like boiled eggs for the mere fact that when I lived in Bulgaria, everyone gave us eggs at Easter. They were beautiful, too beautiful to eat. So I didn't. Then one July day we came home to find our apartment smelling most foul. All of our pretty eggs we'd kept on display on the shelf exploded. Not pretty anymore, not pretty at all.



We also had to obligatory egg hunt with plastic eggs. James loves plastic eggs. I don't, but for some reason I buy them every year and throw the halves away the rest of the year. I told Joseph he was to punch me in the store if I bought them this year. He didn't, because he wasn't with me when I bought them. However, I've already thrown all the halves away. I'm on top of some things!



James also loves Grandma's house because Grandma used to be a school teacher and has all sorts of great little goodies with which to play. He loves the letter and number beads. Joseph has taught him all of his letters, and we're working on numbers. Just so you know the number 6 comes after most everything, and 100 always comes after 10. Just so you know.



We also stayed at Uncle Dil's bachelor pad this trip. For the record, I LOVE his house. So cute, so user friendly and so very nice. He gutted the house and totally rebuilt things to be extra smooth and comfy. James fell asleep here on the couch after a fun day of playing and running around. However, James did get his comeuppance with Molly, Uncle Dil's kitty. Molly let James know she did not appreciate his invasion of her space. Lesson learned -- sometimes kittys are not nice, but most of the time they are.



We also were able to attend church for the first time since Jeffrey was born. I always love going to church at home. The talks were very heart felt and inspiring for Easter, and it's always nice to see everyone from the neighborhood.

It was a nice time for everyone...we'll come back, when it's not so hot. :)

His Sacred Name, an Easter Declaration

Happy Easter

An Easter Treat

An Easter Treat from Lincoln Hoppe and Kirby Heyborn. Yes, the guys from The Singles Ward. They have a website called KerBlink, it's pretty funny.

Thoughts on the Passover

I love Easter, you all know that. It's Easter week, and my thoughts have been turned toward the last week of Christ's life, sadly I should think about these things more often than I do, I'm sure you'll all agree. It's also been Passover this week as well. I love the feast of the Passover. I went to a Seder once, and I was hooked. Hooked on the story, the symbols, the food, the beauty of it. One of these years we're going to start having the Seder in our home, because the symbolism and story are important for Christians too. In my mind, the story of the Exodus is the story of our salvation.

I've been thinking of the lamb shank bone (zeroa) that sits on the Seder plate. It represents the Paschal lamb that was slain and whose blood the Israelites spread on their door posts. (See Exodus 12:12). That blood protected them. It was the blood of a real lamb. For us now, we don't spread lamb's blood on our door. But it is Christ's blood that protects us from physical and spiritual death. Christ asks that we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see 2 Nephi 2: 6-7).

When Joseph and the Children of Israel ended up in Egypt, it was a literal physical place for them, but it's also a symbol of the fall of man, the mortal world and the need each of us have of deliverance. The Lord physically delivered them to the promised land. But Christ also saves us from the fall, the mortal world, our sins and death. I like how Alma puts it in chapter 34:

8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

There is the line in the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant that says some thing to the effect of, "The human mind cannot comprehend the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ." No we cannot, however, we have the chance to participate in it every day thru repentance, faith, feeling the Holy Spirit and letting others know of the goodness of God. I'm very thankful that I have Jewish friends who celebrate the Passover and help remind me of what that "Passover" really means to all of us here on earth.

Beautiful Savior

When I got online this morning the first thing my tired Monday morning sensibilities were assaulted with was an article about the time line of Christian Easter celebrations. These "scientists" were quibbling over some discrepancies in the four gospels saying that this throws the whole way Easter is celebrated into question. As if the faithful will be worried about the thoughts of men!

Last year I wrote up an Easter Timeline taken from the scriptures, that I think is a very good study tool.

The story I saw this morning is just more of the typical assault Christians face every day in the defense of our faith and belief. It seems as well as we approach Easter the news stories and articles are peppered even more with headlines that read, "Did Jesus really exist?" "Who was this Jesus?" The TV has shows talking about the Holy Land, and people trying to find the exact manger Christ was born in. As if a lack of those things disproves His divinity and mission.

None of this matters. Because it's about our Faith in Jesus Christ that matters more. Our faith that he lived, that he taught, that he atoned, that he resurrected, that he loves us, that he is our friend and brother. That he is the Son of God and the center of the Plan of Salvation.

So barrage on "smart and intellectual" people, barrage on. It's not going to matter, because in the words of Nephi, "We talk of Christ, we preach of Christ, so that our children might know to what source to look for their salvation."

Enjoy this children's choir singing Beautiful Savior:

Slices of Life: April Edition

Here are some recent photos of life:

Say CHEESE!!


The Easter Basket


Investigating the contents of the Easter Basket


James is a big fan of the outside


Investigating the backyard


On the hill in the backyard

Easter Timeline

This week I've been studying the Holy Week, or the last week of the Life of Christ. I remember having lessons to this effect in seminary growing up, but that's about it. So I sat down and read all 4 Gospels on Sunday and then jotted down a timeline of the major events of each day.

The week actually starts before Palm Sunday and the Trimuphal Entry in Bethany, where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. On this Saturday (six days before the Passover) Jesus Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, which caused a commotion. Crowds began to congregate around him at Bethany, wanting to hear him teach and perform more miracles. They followed him as he entered Jerusalem:



Day 1 Sunday: The Triumphal Entry. Christ rides into Jerusalem on a donkey which no one has ever ridden. He is received by the crowds in a royal manner. They spread branches on his path and wave branches to him as he enters. The Sanhedron (collectively the Pharisees, Sadducee's and High Priests of the Temple) see this and conspire to have Christ killed. Christ returns to Bethany (or House of the Poor) to stay the night.

Day 2 Monday: Cleansing of the Temple. Christ cleanses the temple and rebukes the priests and those who are there.(This was actually the second time he cleansed the temple in his ministry) This further angers the Pharisees. Jesus also teaches in the temple.

Day 3 Tuesday: Prophesies of the Last Days. Christ returns to the temple to teach. He prophesies of his own death and resurrection and of the Last Days.

Day 4 Wednesday Christ is anointed. Christ is anointed by a woman. He teaches his disciples about the weightier matters of the gospel, specifically the Holy Ghost and why they will need The Comforter when he leaves them. He teaches them to care for the poor and washes their feet. Judas Iscariot goes to the Sanhedron and offers to betray Christ. The final plans for his death are set.



Day 5 Thursday The Passover. Christ gathers his disciples and celebrates the Passover with them. He teaches them that he is the Messiah and institutes the sacrament. He prophesies his betrayal and that Peter will deny him three times. He takes Peter, James and John with him to Gethsemane while he preforms the Atonement. He bleeds great drops of blood and is comforted by the Angel. He is betrayed by Judas and taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest of the Temple. He is questioned here and mocked by the Pharisees. Christ declares himself the Son of God as well.



Day 6 Friday, Good Friday. Early in the morning (before 9am) Christ is brought before Pilate, who finds no fault with him. Pilate sends Christ to Herod because Christ is a Galilean. Herod finds no fault with Christ and sends him back to Pilate. Pilate wants to let him go, but is pressured by the Jews to crucify him.



Christ suffers and dies on the cross and is removed by the 9th hour, which is 3pm. Joseph of Arimathea begs Pilate for the body of Christ. He prepares the body and buries it.

Day 7 Saturday The Sabbath. Jews celebrate the Sabbath. Guards are placed at the tomb to prevent any of Christ's followers from 'stealing' his body.



Day 8 Sunday The Resurrection. Christ's followers --specifically Mary Magdalena come to the tomb to dress and tend the body. She finds the tomb empty and meets the Resurrected Christ. She goes and tells the men, who don't believe her. Christ appears to his disciples and teaches them more.

In Bulgaria on Easter Morning you greet each other by saying: "Christ has Risen" the other person answers back by saying, "Indeed He truly has risen". It is my favorite way to start Easter, and I hope that you will greet someone this way. I know He lives and has risen, and because of this, all things are possible thru Him.

Happy Easter everyone!