Happy Easter

        This year, we attempted to do something different as a family the week leading up to Easter.  I bought an Easter creche, which I love that will stay up with my nativity year round. Each part of the creche represents different people whom were part of the Savior's final week."A Christ Centered Easter" is the book that accompanies it and the book offers different traditions and challenges that can be used the week leading to Easter.  Our family wrote what the Savior's sacrifice means to us and what we can sacrifice for him and placed it on a folded sheet of paper in a plastic egg and hung it on the branch of a tree.  We added a scripture that reminds us of Christ and placed that on the tree too and a ribbon after we have eased someone's burden this week. While we were not perfect at it, I am excited tonight or tomorrow to share some of these with one another.
        Here is quick breakdown of the people we referenced (and we looked up scriptures about them too): The people of Jerusalem- they found ways to celebrate Christ and show their love for Him. Palm leaves were used as he entered the city (which is why we used a tree branch as the symbol and the task was the find a way to celebrate Christ. Simon- he was compelled to serve in an unexpected way (symbol was a ribbon knot on our finger and after we lifted the burden of another (the task), we tied the ribbon a branch). Joseph and Nicodemus- they sacrificed all they had and gave their very best (symbol was the plastic egg with a message on the inside of what Christ sacrifice means to me or what we will sacrifice for Him). Mary Magdeline- the first to see the resurrected Lord and went to tell others (the task is to share your testimony of Christ with someone). Thomas- symbolizes waiting and home, so we were tasked to find something in our home to remind us of Him. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus- felt the love and learned of the love through the Scriptures, even when Christ was right there with them, so we write a scripture that we cherish about Him and hang it on a branch. Like I said, it was not perfect but hopefully it strengthened us some.
       It was very odd not being able to attend church Easter Sunday or go to my parents but we watched a stake service in our home and uploaded a video to the branch facebook page.  Several families in the branch posted musical numbers on the page to share with others. I so enjoyed watching them and felt more love for them as I watched.  Although it was not the "ideal" Easter, we found ways to invite Him in and remember Him. We dressed in our Sunday best and observed the Sabbath.