Easter

This is not how it was supposed to be.

The plan was to be in Ferron right now, going to a wonderful Easter service with my family followed by a nice Easter dinner that I wasn't in charge of.  I would feel "a good tired" from "Eastering" out in the beautiful Utah desert, four-wheeling and rappelling and Easter-egg-hunting and cooking and visiting and basking in this gorgeous Spring weather.  My kids would be lined up in the pew in their new Easter clothes, a little pink from being outdoors and smiling with memories of one of their favorite weekends of the year.

Alas, I am here.  At my own house, at my own computer.  Jer and most of the kids are at church while I am home with Elli, both of us not feeling too great.  The van is in the shop after having problems on the way down to "Easter."  Friday was a day of packing and getting 8 kids ready (Xander went early with Uncle Matthew and Aunt Megan) and four hours of driving only to end up home with lots of tears on precious little faces.  Suitcases strewn about the house, baskets hidden in the yard instead of the beautiful red rocks, messes made here that were supposed to be made there, huge amounts of scotcharoos in our bellies that were supposed to be shared amongst all of the extended family, and no soft sand to dig new plastic shovels into.

Such is life.  

A life that we can have only because of what we celebrate today-- the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Every day, even the hard ones, is made beautiful through Him.  It is because of Him that we have our wonderful Easter traditions.  An Easter bunny to remind us of the abundance of life that He gave.  Eggs to roll. reminding us of the stone rolling away from the tomb and the new life that it promised.   Eggs to color, reminding us of the beautiful new life we will someday have with our loved ones.  Baskets of sweets to remind us of the sweetness of His gift to us.  FAMILY to love and spend time with.

So even though this was not the plan, I am grateful this Easter Sunday to be sitting here in my home, sick and with a messy house and lots of kids to take care of and with a knowledge of the Redeemer of the world and the event that changed the world over 2,000 years ago.  I love Him. 

Happy Easter, everyone!

Hey, at least I have my Easter weed!  (;

--Christianne

(Xander will get his basket when he comes home from Grandma's, and Elli wasn't up yet when we looked for baskets so I don't have a picture of hers, though she did happen to get the best basket this year!)