Blessed Easter Sunday

Our Easter was blessedly simple and enjoyable. Evelyn helped me drag out the Easter decor the day after St Patrick’s Day. I am quite enjoying my changing holiday and seasons entry table. It is fun to see different things throughout the year. Many thanks to Amelia and Evelyn for the push. I find decor on steep discounts right after the holiday, an enjoyable way to add things to my theme. 

The week was rather mundane, just the usual rush of piano lessons on Monday from 4-8:30 pm. Tuesday a crazy blend of counseling with Nina, piano, clogging class (that Amelia takes the kids to), Hip Hop, Activity Days, dinner, and drum lessons. Wednesday with piano lessons from 2:15-6 pm and violin for Josie, camp YCL meetings, and Mom and Me time with the cute littles. Evelyn and I worked on gel nails for our time, which she later told me was not at all what she wanted. She got the stuff out just because she thought I would want that more than the spa night she desired. Thursday the insane rush of MCO from 3-8 pm. I am tired of dreaming up dinners to take that are delicious AND portable. I usually end up feeding a crew of folks from the back of my mini-van…sort of like a taco truck filled with kids. 

As a family we focused our nightly devotionals on the last week of Christ’s life following the content and videos suggested by the Come Follow Me lesson plan. I also had 12 plastic Easter eggs each with a symbol of His last moments between the atonement and crucifixion. I enjoy the discussions we have as a family, even the grumpy kids who give snarky answers, just grateful they answer. We read and studied 3 Nephi 11 as our Prophet suggested in conference. How can Good Friday be named when Christ went through so much suffering? That was a discussion worth having, how to find the joy in the middle of suffering. How it’s ok to ask for the cup to pass, when the answer is no, to allow God’s will to continue BUT then rely on Him to strengthen us. The best discussion was not asking God why things happen, but rather what we need to do and learn. Asking why is ok, but not dwelling on the why. We colored Easter Eggs with dye. I found an egg spinner thing to color eggs with food grade markers at DI, then got another one at Walmart. By far the spinners were the most fun mode of decorating this year. I was not impressed with the natural food dye I got to experiment with. The dye did not hold. 

The Easter bunny visited early Saturday morning much to Josie’s surprise! She is so excited about Easter, it is now her favorite holiday. The Easter bunny somehow managed to deliver lots of thrifted books to the kids! Phillip got 5 Weird but True books, Everett got 5 logical thinking books, and Evelyn got 3 Babysitter’s club books she really wanted! Amelia got a new pair of shoes. Phillip got an awesome professional yo-yo. Everett got a fun logic game sort of like a Rubik’s cube but with numbers and a game called Echoes. Evelyn had 2 ukulele straps in her basket and a Cam the Cat squishmallow. Josie about died when she saw a cute chick that hatches, complete with a cage. She immediately named her chick, Moe. Justin was intent on joining a motorcycle ride happening at 10:30 so he was not around long to participate in the kid’s secular Easter joy. The ward hosted a breakfast and egg hunt at the elementary school around 10 am. We breakfasted on muffins, fruit, milk, and juice. Josie brought along her camera she got on her birthday. She stuffed about 30 photos into her basket before the hunt even started. Sara and I were laughing over the poses Josie and her buddies were pulling in front of her camera. Phillip busted Josie’s bunny basket the prior day when he chucked the plastic bunny high into the air. Josie was devastated because her bunny had a large hole in the back. Phillip used white duct tape to patch up the large hole, they drew a fluffy tail on with permanent marker, all better! The attendance was quite low so the younger teenagers got to search for eggs. Candy is a huge motivator! Yay! Phillip and Everett were thrilled to score a bag full of easter candy. Amelia drove herself to the Smith building to help decorate for the 16+ Disney couples dance. She was disappointed with the lack of teenagers there to help, ended up staying much longer to help get the decorating done. Justin missed the group motorcycle ride, they left before he arrived, so he motorcycled the roads past Kuna. I had a newborn session right after the ward activity with a cute baby boy named Santiago. His Dad is Andrea Cortes’ brother, whom I’ve done about 6-7 sessions with from newborn to maternity! Santiago was the cutest tiny baby, took a bit but he finally relaxed into a deep sleep. After cleaning up and resting from that exertion I made a blueberry-lemon cheesecake. The crust was made of lemon Oreos…oh my…so delicious. Amelia and I went to a fun rental dress shop in Kuna called Cinderella Rentals. The gal who runs it only rents out modest dresses! 

Toward early evening Mom texted out that Grandma Jean was not doing well. She fell into a semi-comatose state last Friday after we headed home. She was in and out of consciousness for about 6 days. Mom said Grandma was awake most of the night Thursday, restless and agitated. Dad said she kept reaching her arms toward Heaven almost as if she were reaching for Lynn. The Hospice nurse said a period of wakefulness is common 24-48 hours before passing away. Mom texted the family at 8:31 that Grandma’s breathing was labored and her oxygen intake around 40, with a wildly fluctuating heart rate. Grandma Jean left her broken, cancer-ridden body behind around 9:23 pm, entered the glorious Heaven to reunite with her beloved Lynn, her parents, Joyce, and numerous friends and family. Evelyn and I even imagined Frank and Ruby barking a wild hello! As heart-breaking as it is to say goodbye, we would not have her suffer here on Earth another second longer. 

Ironically, I was in the bathtub fully clothed with the girls enjoying a spa experience. The little girls and I went to the Dollar Store earlier to get bins for Primary and picked up facial masks. The girls were in the bathtub pleading for me to come do a face mask. Indeed, I came in, stepped into the tub fully clothed much to the girl’s delight and amazement. We had bubble masks our faces, spitting water on each other when Grandma passed from this Earth to the next realm. Since my hair was all wet I decided to try out 90’s bangs with fluffed out bangs and half a bottle of hairspray. I did not get to my phone and texts until 9:45.  According to Jewish custom, it was the Sabbath at sunset, Grandma passed away testifying of her Savior on Easter Sunday. I can hear the strains of Alleluia as sung by the BYU Men’s Chorus. A fitting song that testifies with one word and soaring music of Heaven. We went to bed with tears in our eyes, remembering the life of an exceptional Grandmother and friend. We miss you Amelia Jean Call. 

Easter Sunday was a simple day of church. We sang prelude as a choir, over the loud chattering of the ward members arriving. Felt a little disappointing to sing such glorious songs when no one was really listening. Eliza said that angels were singing with us that day, made me cry thinking about our newest angel. Sister Finch and Sister Minor spoke about the miracles of Easter. We sang Peace, Be Still between the speakers. The sacrament portion felt especially sacred as we partook on the very day when His sacrifice was commemorated. We stopped at the nature park for a few Easter photos. I made challah bread pull apart bread and a lovely large loaf, green beans, and my dessert for Easter dinner. We went over to the Ostlers for the meal of delicious ham, mashed potatoes, and three more desserts! Yum. I used Mom’s Power Point presentation for a devotional, she had photos Dad took along with commentary about Jerusalem and Christ.