Saturday the kids found their Easter buckets. They each got a color by number book and a game.
They sat and colored and talked for almost an hour and then we sent them out to find their eggs so we could eat the hard boiled ones for breakfast. This year both the girls were out front and the boys were in the back (they had certain colored eggs they were supposed to find too).
Lila had a pink one hidden in our beautiful pink blossoms. And the train of kids following Steve who was trying to help the girls find their last couple of eggs.
Then we did some yard work. Steve trimmed a few more bushes in the back while I dug up some pesky dandelions. Then Ellie and I mowed the lawn while Steve edged and trimmed. Then we decided to do the pinata before the forecast of rain. The boys enjoyed helping stuff the pinata but left Lila to decorate it by herself.
Everyone took several swings.
After the girls the pinata was compromised so we let the boys have one more turn and Andrew split it pretty good then Marcus gave it the final blow. He didn't even go back for his bucket he just ran over to the candy and was grabbing it by the handfuls (pretty smart move for a rookie pinata guy).
Then we spent the rest of the day playing the new games they got and letting the kids watch Spies in Disguise again. It was a nice relaxing evening and we really like all of the games so far!
Sunday morning we did our family sacrament meeting and watched He is Risen then we did our Easter story Easter egg hunt where there is an item in each egg that represents part of the story and has a scripture to be read along with it. Then Steve gave everyone a father's blessing. It was beautiful. It was a much needed boost for this Mom, nothing earth shattering was revealed but just to know that my Heavenly Father knows my innermost concerns and desires for me, for my children, for my calling and doesn't find them frivolous or silly (even though I know some of them are). The kids all did a big group snuggle at the end.
"Whatever your struggle, my brothers and sisters—mental or
emotional or physical or otherwise. . .Trust in God. Hold on in His love.
Know that one day the dawn will break brightly
and all shadows of mortality will flee.
I testify of the holy Resurrection, that unspeakable cornerstone gift
in the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ!...
I bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew
to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us glorified
and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind.
What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether
we will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed
such a miracle or happier for them that they
are fully perfect and finally
“free at last.”
Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all,
may we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show “compassion one of another,”