Easter and Women's Conference

I love Easter, I think it's one of my favorite holidays. This year was neat because Livvy was old enough for us to teach the reason for the season. We did the egg hunt and coloring Saturday so that Sunday we could focus on Easter's true meaning. Sunday morning she searched for and found a little egg basket with a picture of Christ and Mary at the tomb, a note with our testimonies of the resurrection and eternal families, lots of chocolate, and an Easter dress. She loved it and was so excited about it all. She would unwrap a chocolate (or three) and carry her little basket with her note, picture, and candy all in place. It was so cute. After church, we had Mom and Dad, Marc, Paka and their family come over and we watched a couple of videos about the resurrection and the kids found Easter eggs with little pictures that had to do with Easter and of course, more chocolate! They had a great time.
I am so grateful for the knowledge I have that because of Jesus Christ we will all live again after this life, and especially that we will be with our loved ones again. Families are eternal, what an incredible blessing that understanding is to me.


Rob got really into egg coloring this year. We went all out and purchased the cool coloring kits with the little dissolving tablets. Beautiful colors, Rob's did turn out pretty groovy (it's the purple and white one). Livvy was excited about the colors, and even more excited about dropping the eggs into the dye several inches above the cup, unintentionally sending a rainbow of colored water everywhere. Good times. Not quite sure about Rob's expression. Nervous? Excited? Traumatized?

Getting down to business.

So proud!

Gorgeous colors eh? What would the world be like without color?

Brooky was content to just sit and watch and smile randomly.

This past Friday, Rob and Steve were sweet enough to take the kiddies so Brittany and I could go to Women's Conference. As always, it was wonderful and uplifting, and the roasted cinnamon almonds were, yet again, exquisite. This year's theme was, "By small and simple things great things are brought to pass." Here are some little nuggets I gleaned from the occasion.

Favorite quote: "Your future is as bright as your faith!" (Pres. Monson)

*Sister Beck's opening remarks: The identity of a daughter of God is rich and full and precious beyond compare. We are essential in building the kingdom. Relief Society isn't just a feel good, get together. It has a specific purpose, it needs a specific outcome. It provides a system of watchcare and discipleship. Jesus Christ is our advocate. The Lord needs His daughters looked after and cared for.
*Elder Bednar's closing remarks: The Lord brings about great things by small and simple means. Like drip irrigation. The valve is placed close to the plant and the water drips little by little, and consistently, onto the root. This method is most effective. If we are consistent in receiving spiritual drops, our spiritual roots will produce extraordinary and delicious fruit. Spiritual drops include daily prayer, daily scripture study, temple attendance, kindness, etc. Steadiness in small things are much more effective than spurts of spirituality, then slacking. "Be not weary in well doing...for out of small things cometh to pass that which is great."
Other classes:
*We are magnificent by design, even in our fallen state. Remember your divine origin. Having that truth woven into the fabric of our thinking will give us faith enough to rid our hearts of fear and anxiety.
*How do we build our children's foundation of faith? Start with the basics and build on them. God lives. He created all things, including us. We are His children and we are divine. Do they know we know? Love your children as He loves them. See them as He sees them. At dinner time have meaningful conversations. Listen to them. Pray individually for them at family prayer. Text them sweet messages. When you want to wring their necks, wring their bodies in a hug.
*"Enfold me in thy quiet hour." Do I invite the Lord into my busy life? We could accomplish much more, and more successfully if we could find a time to search the scriptures and pray. "Let us be silent that we may hear the whisper of God." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) The more often we approach our Father in Heaven in sacred settings, the more acquainted we will be with Him on earth.


We were rushing to our next class and I turned to ask the lady beside me if we were going to the right building, and lo and behold, it was one of my mission companions!! Sister Verlene Fonua, who I served with in Omaha, Nebraska, and we made quite a scene, yelling each others names and hugging and gushing. She was one of my favorite companions because she was so bold and firm in her testimony of the Savior. Truly great woman! I also ran into Jayne West, an old friend from BYU, though we couldn't quite figure out which ward and exactly where we knew each other. It was great to see her too.