Easter Moments

 

The very day that baby Kate got out of the hospital we went to Danielle's parent's for a little lunch.  I wanted to do my part so I prepared this little Easter Bunny dip.  I thought it was quite cute if you ask me.  However, it only looked this cute for about 10 minutes.  As it was traveling out to the car, my very capable and helpful daughter who's name starts with an "A" was trying to carry too much.  The tray slipped from her fingers as she went to open the car door.  This poor bunny died on the driveway.  It's cuteness was destroyed and secretly I was so sad.  Ady, I mean the daughter who's name starts with an "A" felt so bad that she started crying and ran into the house thinking I would be mad at her.  To clarify, I wasn't mad at her, but on the inside I was mad that we had to now bring a dumpy looking food assignment to a family gathering... but we did and it was ok. 

It was so easy though, I think it might be a new Easter tradition.  He's cute though, hu?

My first time holding baby Kate and seeing her without the machines hooked up to her.  She had so so so so so so so so much thick hair she looked Mexican. 

Oh, she was teeny tinier in real life than just looking at her through a hospital glass window.

 

EASTER: Sometime during the night the Easter Bunny came!  

He left a web of yarn going from the kid's beds to their baskets.  Some places in the house you can see his footprints.

 

Sunday morning before church Jeff and his cousin, Stacey, and her newly adopted little boy came over for breakfast... waffles and berries.

The most cutest Easter children modeling their Easter attire. 

I really want to squish and love them all the time but I don't because they think it's weird.

We missed Maryn so much on this day!

We had our Easter dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house and then hunted for eggs.

Matchie cute cousins.  I'm so glad they are such  buddies that they want to match their Easter outfits.

All the cousins except for Maryn.

 

 

Our deviled egg chickies.

Kaden sure loves his new baby cousin wanting to kiss and hug her all day.

 

 

As a family we had some good discussions counting down the days to Easter and how they stood in relation to the last days of the Savior before He was crucified. 

 

In the last 4 years I have developed a realness to the Atonement that I didn't have before.  I am so thankful for it and how we ALL need it regardless of the differentness of our trials. 

 

I am so thankful that I can wake up in the morning and ask that the Savior carry my worries for the day, mostly worries about my children. 

I am thankful that I have the understanding that because of the Atonement I don't have to suffer my trials alone.  I know He understands and I have felt His sustaining influence. 

 

Because of the Atonement I have been able to LIVE instead of exist in my trials.  I haven't felt stagnate in life but have felt progression as I have desired to live life abundantly even when my trials could have weighed me down. 

 

Because of the Atonement I have desired to let my trials refine me instead of drag me down.  I am not perfect at this.  Absolutely, there are days when I am sad and weighed down by life and stress.  But, the Savior's Atonement  gives me hope for a better life.  It gives me hope in a future joy.  It gives me the desire to hang on until I can reach that finish line. 

I am more and more thankful for the Atonement and the tangible force I feel from it in my life.

Happy Easter!