Last weekend we enjoyed a sun filled Easter Sunday. The kids found the most colorful eggs from around the barn, the blue green from the araucanas, chocolate brown from the marans and the light brown from the rest of the flock. These were boiled up for breakfast and then they were off to church.
I got to spend the morning resting with sweet little Naomi sleeping in my arms while tender thoughts reflected on the significance of the date and day. It was 14 years ago that day that my sister Julie passed away, I allowed myself to really miss her and wonder at how fast the years have passed. I went back and watched President Uchtdorf's message from this last conference, it was one of my favorites and felt comfort in remembering the truth of his message, "The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful" .
Easter is a day of remembering, renewal and great hope so I sunk into that while sinking into the healing glow of newborn eyes. I pondered on the life, love and sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ, the miracle of His resurrection, and the infinite blessing of eternal life offered to all who have ever lived.
Later in the afternoon we had an Easter egg hunt that Paul's parents had so thoughtfully prepared for us. A few of the kids helped spread the eggs and we started youngest to oldest. Among the findings James discovered a hidden nest of chicken eggs and George spotted a half eaten bunny. He screamed, "Aghhhh, the cats killed the Easter bunny".
For dinner we feasted on a meal of ham and potatoes that was also generously prepared by Paul's mom. Our mealtime discussion bounced from how many goodies they collected, to what the learned and discussed in church that day. Out of nowhere the question was dropped - "so what is the connection between plastic eggs and goodies and the resurrection of Jesus?"
I did not have a answer beyond that of new life, fresh beginnings and hope. I then amused them with an experience from my childhood.
When I was a little girl we had a cabin up north and on one occasion along the drive home there was a box of bunnies for sale. My dad stopped and picked one up for us girls to share. I remember my sister Emily tucking the fury creature into the front pocket of her hooded sweatshirt for the remainder of the drive home. We loved that bunny and named her Taffy. That summer she was the focus of our attention, dressing her in bonnets, pushing her in doll strollers, feeding her parsley and flowers from the garden and letting her hop around the yard while we kart wheeled and searched for 4 leaf clovers. Unfortunately she did not live through the next fall. My brothers helped us bury her in a shoe box in the woods next to our home. I was only around 6 years old but had a sure knowing that Taffy would live again, I didn't know how but knew it had something to do with Jesus and Easter. So the following Easter I went back to the woods and waited by the site where she was buried fully expecting her to hop out of her grave and into my arms. It did not happen so I went back every Sunday for a couple weeks only to end up disappointed. I cried to my mom and asked why Taffy did not live again. I can't remember my mom's exact response but I do remember feeling comfort in her arms as she shared her testimony of eternal life.
This experience gifted me with a life long wonder of eternal life. Since then I have lost a few more pets, and said good bye to grandparents, a few school mates and then my sister Julie. Each of the experiences presented a series of despairing "why's?" and "how's?" all leading to to faith and hope in the same answer, "because of Him". We shared this video with our children that evening. Paul and I shared our personal thoughts and testimony of the Savior. And then a miracle happened - our children were actually reverent and listening for almost 5 minutes. So if that is all they get out of years of noisy family home evenings, I am pleased.
We finished the evening with our regular bedtime routine which was soon interrupted by the stomping of farm boots up the stairs - Yulemae had given birth to three babies! What a joyful way to say hello then good night on Easter Sunday 2014 - welcome to this beautiful world little goats!
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