Happy Easter!

When you have little ones, you get through with all the silly and fun things about Easter early. There is more reflection on the true meaning of Easter later in my post, but the kids are pretty darn cute so I'm getting the pictures out of the way first.

Ayden came in our room at 6:30 to tell us the Easter bunny had been to our house. We managed to hold him off until almost 8:00. The four older kids had already ransacked the baskets and eaten some candy but the Easter bunny had left eggs out in the backyard! Ayden was ready to go get them. Bobby and I forced ourselves out of bed and down the stairs. The rest of this story can be told in pictures:

Dillon loved his bunny, well, before he realized there was candy too.
Caleb went after the Easter bunny's tail!
Seth has already had too much sugar.
Then Daddy helped Dillon discover the candy.
We headed outside to find some eggs, Ayden wasted no time. I couldn't even get a clear picture of the kid.
Caleb wasted no time and already knew what he was going for. The Easter bunny visited his bike.
Seth wasn't even looking for eggs, he missed one right in front of him. Can you see it?
Dillon wanted the candy INSIDE the eggs.
They weren't too hard to find for Brooklyn.
Ayden found the rest of his!
It was fun for the children to hunt for the eggs and discover the chocolate and jelly beans. I love to watch my children enjoy the beautiful spring weather after a cold winter. However, Easter is so much more than candy, toys, and the Easter Bunny. I know this. I have talked to our children about this, though probably not enough. All of the symbols: the eggs, the chicks, the bunnies, the lamb - they all celebrate new life, rebirth, starting new, clean and fresh. Because of the sacrifice of our Savior, we will all be able to be resurrected as he was. Many Christians use the cross to celebrate and remember this day. It is significant, I know that, but I was taught to remember two additional things on this day that represent, to me, what Easter is all about. First, I remember how Christ suffered and bled in the Garden of Gethsemane for my sins. That act is why my sins can be forgiven. I also choose to focus on the idea that even though he died, he rose again! He was resurrected on the third day and that is why we celebrate Easter. So, as we look for the eggs in the yard, we need to remember the women who came to his tomb on that third day to discover he was not there. I can not imagine how they felt when they saw the stone rolled away and the ache in their hearts, only then to actually see him, in the flesh again. This is what gives me hope. Even though I am imperfect and have sinned over and over again, I will have that chance to be made pure and perfect again. I am grateful for the sacrifice of my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I am grateful that He came to set the example for us and I love to have a special day each year where I can reflect on this sacrifice and what it means in my life and the life of my children. This is my testimony. Thank you for letting me share that and Happy Easter everyone.