Happy Easter

Happy Easter.  This is a day of celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Over the past week we have remembered His suffering, His atoning sacrifice, His crucifixion and death, and His glorious resurrection from death.  All this he did for me, for you, for all mankind.  What an amazing and beautiful thing Jesus did for us.  I am so grateful for that and for the plan of salvation.  This video is beautiful.
I hope you will view it.

In 1985 I toured Israel with my mother and a small group from the area.  There we toured the historical sites where different events were believed to have occurred in the life of Jesus.  It became more real to me at that time than ever before and even more so a couple weeks later when all that I had done, seen and felt really sunk in fully.  I was there where He was born, where He grew up, where He was baptized, where He taught, where He walked, where He died and was buried, and where He rose again.  I know Christ is risen and lives.

Last Sunday I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting in church today, Easter Sunday.  When President Rose asked me to speak about Easter traditions, I told him I'm sure I have a different view than some because of growing up Catholic.  He wanted that point of view and how it applies to us as LDS members and how it brings us closer to the Savior.  I prefer a two week notice to speak in church so was glad when I substituted at the school in the library three mornings this past week.  Those morning are spend supervising study hall.  I had time and full access of the Internet and used them to my advantage in preparing my talk.  By noon on Thursday, I had my talk researched, written, revised, and printed-ready to present on Sunday. The presentation of my talk went very well this morning and I received many positive comments.  What is more  important to me is that it be pleasing to the Lord.  I pray it was.

"Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen." (Luke 24:5-6)  He Is Risen.  Happy Easter.

Sister's Weekend



Arvilla (Mom), Dorothy, Phyllis (Sis), MaryAnn, Sister Rita


This past weekend my mother and her sisters got together from Thursday afternoon till Sunday morning.  These girls started this annual gathering 20 years ago.  There were seven girls in the family.  One passed away when she was 23 and another passed away since this annual gathering began. The youngest sister has Alzheimer's disease.  The sisters-in-law are also invited and the brothers and spouses join the girls for Saturday evening dinner.  They take turns hosting the event and do many different things.  This year my mother was the hostess.



 

    

                                 

During spring break her children gathered off and on over a 3 week period and helped her get ready for the gathering.  We painted the living room, painted the bathroom, and removed the old kitchen linoleum and Dad installed new industrial tile.  We helped her deep clean the kitchen, bathroom, and living room.  Mom bought herself a new chair since hers was falling apart.  Dad's chair was no better but he did not want to buy one but my sister found a lift chair for him and they brought it home the day the sisters were gathering. 

Dorothy, the youngest of the sisters, lives in Denver and before she became sick she used to make quilts for the homeless.  She has donated over 75 quilts and given at least another 25 to family and friends.  The girls are all avid sewers and quilters.  Mom thought it would be nice to make quilts for the homeless and send them back to Denver with Dorothy this year before she no longer knows what is going on.  The other girls were told of the idea and were fully on board.  Some made quilts, some made quilt tops to be tied or quilted, some brought out fabric to be made into quilts. 

  

Every year they have a show-n-tell evening to show what they have been working on during the past year.  They all do so many sewing and crafty things.  This year they showed all the quilts they brought out that were already finished and those that would be finished during the weekend.  It was amazing.  They had 33 finished quilts and quilt tops.  By the end of the weekend they sent 30 quilts with Dorothy and Frank to Denver for 2 different homeless shelters.  Sis took a couple home with her for a charity in Manhattan as well as a couple quilt tops to tie.  MaryAnn took a couple tops home to finish also.  Look at the pile of finished quilts they made.  The decision was made to continue to make quilts throughout the year and see what they can do by their next gathering.  These ladies are amazing. They are all beautiful seamstresses and quilters, and have huge hearts.

  I am blessed to have a mother and aunts that are such a good example to me of what family really is all about.  To come together as a unit and work together for good is only one way they have blessed the lives of our family and the lives of strangers alike.  I am grateful that I was able to spend some time with all of them over the weekend and watch them interact together.  I pray that one day my sisters and I will be able to do the same as my mother and her sisters.