More Spring Break

We said our goodbyes to spring break and welcomed back school in full swing. We caped off spring break with an excellent day spent together as a family. Once we worked out the "humm's" and "haaa's" about not playing with friends, they all let loose and we had a great time together flying kites, holding hands and having fun.  We lounged in several different locations across this great city we call home and thoroughly appreciated the warm temps.  

Love spring break.

Easter with a Purpose

Easter has always been a bit frustrating for me by no one else's fault but by own. I had succumb to the pitfalls of mankind and indulged the retail expectations for Easter which include all kinds of meaningless things such as Easter bunnies, those are not even real ... but very cute I must say and baskets, candy and eggs....yaada yaada..... Clearly the reason for my dislike is the real purpose for Easter is MAGNIFICENT! so WHY... oh why must we do all that other meaningless stuff or in my case feel the pressure to do all that. Sure I always have done the "eastery" stuff but a begrudgingly and always at the last minute, to squeeze it in because that is what I am "suppose" to do, right!? NO more, it drives me crazy... until now.. I finally figured it out. After some pondering and having a great conversation with 2 of my favorite buddies I finally finalized our families Easter approach. From this day forward until the ends of time, the Easter is out'a here! Bunny is fired! So sorry. But I needed to, to make room for more important things, Savior.

Below is a story I was given a few years ago on a "Christ centered" Easter egg hunt/activity you can have with your kids for family home evening. I love it. Also another idea, one of my brilliant friends had was to fill the eggs with notes of love and appreciation and opportunities to serve or be served. Examples might include * Date with Dad. * Foot rub from mom * help dad wash the car * free day of chores * help brother with homework * All of the above are things the Savior would have us do and what a better way to celebrate Him than by trying to BE like Him.

So here we go. I am all jazzed up. I got my Easter eggs early and a few minor candies to fill them with. There will be no high expectations for over the top Easter baskets, just a fun hunt for their basket with a simple testimony from Mom and Dad on the Savior, then an egg hunt where they will find all kinds of treasures that will make hearts feel good. I am loving Easter now. Please share any of your Easter traditions that have kept purpose in the holiday. I'd love to hear them.

CLICK ON THE PAGES BELOW AND YOU CAN READ THEM REALLY CLEARLY .

 

Thankful Thursday - "Real Life"

oh Golly.... Life has been nuts. I feel like Everything "hobbie" related has had to be pushed to the far right corner of my mind while "real life" has enthusiastically taken over. 

I am grateful I have a "real life"... meaning a life important in the grand scheme of things and somewhat other than "my own". I love my hobbies but not nearly as much as the things that pull me from them, that is the "real life" that I am referring to and love. The life that will go on through the eternities, forever. Busy "real life" as a mother can be intense, hectic and far from the type of mother I am in my dreams but I la-love being a mother and wife and that life I would give anything up for.

After coming home tonight from our big RS Bday celebration, my eyes itched, my back sore, I smelled beefy (Sweet Cranberry Beef Brisket) and I am sure I had beef grease in way too many unseen places but I did not care, I skipped right up the stairs to inhale the sleeping smells of my 5 darling people whom I have missed (even just for the past few hours). I took in a deep digestive breath of their pulsing necks and puffy lips, all of which left me lingering in a pause before each exhale, I did not want to let go of their aromas. If I am lucky, they will utter a few sleepy ramblings too, that is fun and yum! Their smells are alive in every way to me. In those intoxicating big whiff moments, of my sweet warm breathing baby bodies (even the big ones) my eyes roll back into my head as I am submersed in heavenly bouquets of  feelings, emotions, memories and spiritual interpretations of each child that I can not describe, even in my most articulate moments, I am speechless.   Each of my children ( husband too) posseses a flavor all their own in which I joyfully extract with each breath and I am in love!

Oh, I am satisfied. I do not care how busy and hectic life gets. I have what matters most. I could lose all the material things tomorrow, in a flash and I really truly would not care....as long as I still had breath there would be real life.

Grateful today!
Very.

"As we pursue our journeys, let us ever bear in mind that in train travel and in life, there are stations, there are departures, calls, schedules, and opportunities for being side-tracked and diverted. Wise is the individual who follows in his, the Savior's, paths. Safety and joy belong to those who will come and follow him. I bear witness to you today that God is eternal. We are eternal, and God never intended for us to travel alone."
Marvin J. Ashton, "What Is Your Destination?", Ensign, July 1972

Buckwalter Visit and St. Pattys Day

We started off spring break with more visitors. My cousins the Buckwalters from Haslet (Fort Worth Area). We really love having "family" close and so enjoy their visits. We did lots of fun things while they were here and once again still LOTS more to do that we didn't get done, so I hope they come back! Our kids have a blast playing together, no stop playing, giggling and games. Love these people! Thanks Buck's for the visit! XO

We had so much fun on St. Pattys day. Much like the rest of you that did and ate lots of green things! Matty made these totally fun rainbow cupcakes too.