Easter Festivities

We celebrated Easter with our wonderful family.  It can't get any better than that.  I also planned a little Easter program for the Primary and there was such a sweet spirit present.  Each week, I pray that those little children (some not so little) will feel the spirit and recognize those feelings.  This is such a crucial time in their lives - developing a knowledge that our Savior loves each one of them - no matter what they do, no matter what their circumstances are - they are loved!!  It went well, and again, my family were all there supporting my efforts.  How I love my family!!

After church we tried to have our bi-annual family pictures.  We didn't quite get everyone - but we did our best. 

(Brad feeling left out!)

How I love to capture the silliness of our family.  My girls are always a little crazy, but oh so beautiful!!

Afterwards, we headed over to Grammy/Grampy's home for an Easter Egg Family Hunt.  This year we had a mini hunt for the smallest cousins.  They thought that was the best!

Then, the big hunt begins. Only our Grammy would think to hide Florida Quarters in each of the eggs!! Why Florida quarters?? Because this guy is leaving for his mission to Florida in a little over one month!

Grammy thinks of everything!

Big kids help little kids.  Candy is swapped and nibbled on before dinner and all have a good time.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and afterwards...we all waddled around and relaxed.

I have reflected on the peace and contentment being with family brings.  I'm sure up in heaven, it was an hundred-fold and more.  When we experience moments like these today, we can glimpse the love and hope that our Heavenly Father has for us and His great desire for us to return "home".  How He loved us!  The greatest love, the greatest sacrifice - for us to return home.  My blessings are all around me.  But I will always acknowledge why I have those blessings.  A song in Primary expresses my thoughts the best:

"Hosanna, Blessed be the name of the Most High God!  Hosanna!"