Risen with healing in His wings - Easter weekend!

Easter weekend started Wednesday afternoon as that's when the kids got out of school.  We headed to Bozeman first for dinner at Ted's Montana Grill, which was SO good and we only spilled 2 drinks, checked out Bozeman Hot Springs and enjoyed splashing and soaking in the water and taking in the big sky. Then we got donuts and watched some TV at the hotel.  Fun night together. In the morning, we had the hotel breakfast and then drove to Idaho Falls for lunch and then Blackfoot to the Idaho Potato Museum.  I had been there long ago but long forgot i all.  The kids got a kick out of it and we learned many new things. We got to Utah evening and were so happy to see family again!  They were waiting for us with hugs and pot roast and potatoes.  

Sue had a stake fireside she invited us to go to. Susan and David Bednar gave a special fireside at the stake center.  Emma was able to come, and I'm so glad she did!  Shirley and Erin also came. It was definitely testimony building. They started out with a Beautiful Savior musical number which was beautiful.  The three sisters, pianist and organist sang and played with such conviction. Sis. Bednar asked us to "Walk with Christ". She discussed Jesus and His apostles on the road to Emmaeus. She talked about walking with Christ in our day.  Just as His apostles physically walked with him, she said we could walk with Him as well and have Him right by us all the way.  "Did not our hearts burn within us"? She said we could walk with Him through the scriptures, ordinances and covenants, in trials and adversity, living prophets, and relying on the atonement. She shared some personal experiences for each of these and was so real.  So real. She was soft spoken but Elder Bednar called her a rockstar, and said she was full of virtue. Elder Bednar talked about Good Friday a bit and said that sometimes we feel the atonement isn't for us or we are not worthy.  We believe in Christ but don't believe Him.  Truly, He did this for His accusers and those who killed Him, He did this for His apostles, and He did this for us!  Elder Bednar testified that what Sister Bednar said was true and told us he wished he could hold each of our faces and tell us "He did this for you!"  Powerful. Christ atoned for us to help us so we can do this life thing.  He can forgive us, lift us, help us through.  The Spirit was so palpable and strong.  Sue turned to me after and said "that alone was worth the drive down here."  And I told her I had the same thought and was just going to tell her that we could turn around and go home after that.  It was a powerful night and the best way to start off our Easter weekend.  

"The Road to Emmaus" by Liz Lemon Swindle

Picture of Sister & Elder Bednar, LDS.org

Dave and Randy went to the movie Shazaam and thought it was pretty good.  I love these fun traditions we have.  Jerry and Stacy arrived late and so we greeted them and then went to bed.  

Friday, the cousins hung out and we had a big breakfast party.  Then it was haircut and play time. In the afternoon, we went over to Grandma Di & Grandpa Scott to spend time with them and Boji who they brought down with them.  Amy & Kolby are almost done with their home they're building, it's looking amazing!  We went on a hike in NSL behind Ensign peak.  Cov led the way and did great. Some of the others were less enthusiastic and I ended up giving piggy back rides and pep talks.  It was neat to see everything from up above.  Then we played at the park there.  We ate dinner at their house and played games together.  Cov had his first sleepover with Boji that night and they had a blast sleeping in the bed tents that we used to have growing up and playing games and watching movies and eating snacks.  That evening, we made food and prepped for the baptism. And then the kids (not Lucy, she was too pooped from hiking) and Randy and Erin and I went on a walk/hike and to hang out at the park up the street.  It was a great day!

 Saturday was Lucy's baptism, it was so special and beautiful! After the baptism, all the Ryerses got together to take pictures as we were all there (except Todd's two kids) and Willey Honda in Bountiful asked us all to take a group shot with our families and our Hondas.  Dave convinced his Dad a long time ago to purchase a Honda, which He did, his Honda Accord, and since then everyone in the family has bought a Honda.  We are like the poster family for Honda, haha!  They wanted to put a picture of us all in the business.  So we're pretty much famous now.  Then we dyed Easter eggs.  Sydnie was amazed and said "woaaaa!" after each egg came out of the dye. She also tried throwing the eggs and got a kick out of breaking the shells.  The kids made some very pretty ones!  We had a dozen for each kid, so there were tons of eggs to decorate!  We went to Chuck-a-Rama for dinner.  The cousins and kids all wanted to go there.  They did this little chant and swung their fists up and down to make their voices heard.  Little Sawyer, who Cov started calling Soy Sauce on this trip, started doing it too but said "Chuck-a-rella!"  Made us all giggle!  We enjoyed some great conversation and some great food.  Then we had a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt.  Grandpa hid all the eggs of course with the help of some uncles, then Grandma gave all the kids a flash light. They did this last year but we were unable to come down.  It was a hit!  We had a blast finding the eggs in the dark!

Sunday morning, we got up saw if the Easter bunny came and sure enough, he did.  They all got a sticker/coloring book, the boys got bug nets and science slime, and the girls got necklace and a temple recommend/scripture marker, Sydnie got bubbles and they all got some candy.   We made creamed toast with a few of the hard boiled eggs for breakfast along with juice.  It was kind of colorful because of some of the cracks on a few of the eggs.  Everyone really liked it.  We went to Church with Dan & Sue to the Meadows branch Dan presides over.  They had a family from their home ward come speak and they did great and talked about what Easter meant to them as a kid and what it's come to mean to them as they've gotten older.  Then we headed to my parents ward.  They had two speakers, including a returning missionary.  My mom played the organ, and it was beautiful and she played for the choir as they sang "Consider the Lilies" and "He is Risen" and my Dad sang.  Then we went and took some pics with Mark & Mayela up near the temple.  They turned out okay.  The kids hate pictures, but know the faster they cooperate, the faster they could be done.  ;)  We went to my parents next and started getting everything ready for dinner.  The kids played, we talked, we prepped the meal.  We had cherry kolachies, strawberry spinach salad, sweet potato casserole, funeral potatoes, ham, jello eggs, and cute cake nests and ice cream for dessert.  Talk about stuffed after that!  Then we had a little program.  Dave and Mayela and my mom all shared some exceprts from "Easter's not about the Bunny, It's About the Lamb" and Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Then Mark talked about how the atonement is like one person taking the hit for everyone else because they love them and want to give them something better.  So Cal volunteered and he had to do 10 push ups for each person who wanted a treat.  By the end, he was getting tired and weak but he kept pushing through because he wanted us all to have that sweet.  That's what our Savior did for us.  He gave all He had so we could have so much more!  After that, we went back to the Ryerses to play games, do some Switch playing, and visiting. I shared my testimony on Easter evening in social media land along with this picture of our family - "Alleluia! Because of Christ's resurrection, this life will all be worth it. We will be compensated for the hard times we go through. Death is not the end. Family relations aren't severed at the grave. We find peace and comfort. Just as He extended "Peace be unto you" (John 20:19, 21, 26) to those who were with Him right after His resurrection, He offers a peace to us today that can only come through Him. He arose so we can rise above. 2 Nephi 25:13 - "they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulcher for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings." Family. Peace. Comfort. Healing. Eternal life. These are a few things the Savior brings to me. He did this for me. Hr did this for you. I am thankful for Him. I love Him! Happy Easter!"

On the way home the next morning, we did lots of reading and sticker books and eating more candy than we should've.  We stopped in Idaho Falls for some Culvers and to walk along the Snake River Greenbelt. The kids enjoyed the sculptures and art fixtures along the way, seeing the temple, and Cov was fascinated by the black lava rock.  Then we drove home the rest of the way and got cleaned up.  What a blessed Easter weekend!