Saturday, March 30, 2013

Happy Easter

 
We had fun with an Easter Egg hunt and BBQ.  I'm also glad the kid remembered our Easter in Eggs reading we did last year.  (#7 was the favorite this year)
 
1.    And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39. (sacrament cup)
 
2.    Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.  Matthew 26:14-15. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zachariah 11:12-14 that Jesus would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.   (three dimes)
3.    When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. Matthew 27:1-2.  (knotted twine)
4.    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then he released Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:24-26. Do we also wash our hands? (soap)
5.    And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. Matthew 27:28-30.  (piece of red velvet)
6.    And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. Matthew 27:31-32. And He was crucified...nailed to the cross.  (small cross, tiny nail)
7.    And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet...And sitting down they watched him there. Matthew 27:35-36. (pair of dice)
8.    Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent: ...Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27:50-51,54.  (crushed rock or potting soil)
9.    When the eve was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph...He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus...And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ...And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock. Matthew 27:57-60. (piece of white cloth)
10. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Pilate said unto them (the chief priests and Pharisees), Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. Matthew 27:60, 65-66. (stone)
11. And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel..,said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:2,5. (spices - bay leaf, clove, etc.)
12. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Matthew 28:6  (scripture written on picture of the resurrected Christ)

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Marriage Equality

In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”  I remember studying the doctrine shared, and feeling strongly how much my Heavenly Father loved me, and how important families were to that happiness.   At the end there is a call to do what we can to support the family.  In 1996 I was a missionary in Austria, asking people to read this proclamation.  That was one way that I could help support families.  My opportunity to get married took a lot longer than I ever anticipated.  I often wondered what I could do to strengthen families.  As I prayed about it, I would often be directed to find ways to be a better Aunt, reach out to mothers raising their children alone, be a friend, listen to those struggling, or do what I could to magnify my callings.  I am now married to a wonderful man with five children.  It's sometimes tough with the multi-faceted affects from the divorce, but even more critical that I continue to pray about what Heavenly Father would have me do to strengthen our family ties.  I still firmly believe that "marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan".  And I'm so grateful to have an eternal marriage and the blessings that come with it.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

National Harbor and Mount Vernon

It's been a cold March.  But not too cold to get out and explore.  I've been to National Harbor before, but it's been a while.  It was good to get out, and just go across the river.  Of course we didn't mind just sitting out by the water.
 
James and I have a year pass to Mount Vernon, and we got one for the kids as well, knowing that there will be plenty to see and do.  We are not so sure we enjoyed the smell of the sheep, but we definitely had fun with the exploration maps, the mansion, and blacksmiths shop.  




Saturday, March 2, 2013

Visiting a Lighthouse


 
 

Unfortunately Jenna was been sick this week, but we were happy to be able to take the rest of the kids to our local lighthouse.  Our big bean bag was also a favorite.