Hippity-Hoppity, Easter's On It's Way!

Easter is just around the corner and it's got me thinking about this very special holiday.

Growing up, I always loved Easter.  It was a special day that I got to be surrounded by my family.  As little girls, my sister and I got a new dress with a hat and gloves from our Nana every year.  It always made me feel so fancy.  We'd have a special Easter brunch of eggs and sausage and hot cross buns when we'd get home from church where we'd have hard-boiled egg battles (it's called egg tonking and everyone takes a turn "challenging" someone by "tonking their egg on top of the other person's, end to end.  Whoever's egg cracks loses.)  My parents would hide our baskets and leave clues to help us find them.  It got more interesting as there got to be more kids.  I loved watching my little brothers get all excited when they found their baskets.  We didn't have a lot of money growing up, so it was kept simple.  A few Easter candies and a special treat for each of us.  I think that because my parents didn't go overboard with the commercial side of Easter, we were able to also remember what that day is really about.

I think it's easy to get caught up in the egg hunts and Easter baskets and bunnies and pastels and forget why we're celebrating in the first place.  Now, if you aren't religious, then Easter really is just about those things, but for those of us who are, Easter is the day that we set aside to remember the remarkable gift our Savior gave to us through His ultimate sacrifice.  Christ suffered pains we can't even begin to imagine in the Garden of Gethsemane and later, suffered more as He hung in agony upon the cross, where He drew his last breath.  Then, three days later, He triumphed over death and rose again.  When I think of the amazing gift of the Atonement and the power it has in my life, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and love for my Savior.  One of my most favorite hymns, "I Stand All Amazed" talks about that awe and love.  For those of you unfamiliar with the song, here it is (you can also listen to it here):

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me

Confused at the grace which so fully He profers me

I tremble to know that for me, He was crucified

That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine

That He should extend His great love unto such as I

Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of His hands, pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion, can I forget?

No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Now, I still love the pageantry of Easter.  We hide the little guy's basket Easter morning and help him find it.  I love seeing his little face light up when he finds his goodies.  But, I try not to let all of the candy and the hype over-take the true meaning of the day.  Of all the goodies and gifts we receive on Easter, the gift from our Savior of the Atonement is truly the greatest.

You can learn more about that awesome gift and what I believe about Christ here.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hop blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

{Proud}

I often don't share much of my personal life on this blog.  I think it's mainly because I created to be separate from my personal family blog in the first place.  That, and I'm kind of a private person.  I do share tidbits here and there, but while reading through my blogroll, I came across this post on one of the blogs I read and it struck something in me.  I wanted to share it with all of you.

I took this picture of the Orlando Florida temple on one of my visits there last fall.  It's one of my favorite places to visit.

You may or may not know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints.  Most people know us as the Mormons.  I have been a member my entire life-both of my parents were converts who joined the Church as young adults, and raised us kids as Later-day Saints.  They always encouraged us to learn for ourselves and to really study and seek out the truth-they didn't want us to just take their word that the Church was true.  As a teenager, I struggled, not only with my faith, but with just finding out who I was and through all of that, I did learn for myself that my Savior is real and that He loves me.  I couldn't imagine who I would be without the things the Church has taught me.  I have challenges in life, as all people do, and my life is nowhere close to perfect.  I think this blog is a testament to that, as sometimes my chaotic life takes over and blogging gets put on hold.

On top of being a "Mormon," I'm a mommy. That puts me in the Mormon Mommy Blogger category, one that includes a lot more bloggers than you realize.  I am proud of my faith and I am proud that I am able to stay home and raise my son and whatever future children come to our family.  I love my "job"-I get to see the rewards of it every day when my son gives me a big hug and a sloppy kiss and tells me he loves me or when I see the joy in his eyes when he discovers something new.  I wouldn't trade that for all of the high-paying, prestigious jobs in the world.  

I'm sure some of you saw that article from Salon magazine about Mormon Mommy Bloggers.  Apparently it's a big deal.  Then I read this post on, of all places, Mormon Mommy Blogger's blog and it really hit home.  I am not ashamed of who I am or what I do or what I believe in.  I don't want any of you to think that because I don't share much of my personal life that I'm embarrassed by it.  I am proud of all of those things.  I really encourage you to read both of those posts-they are full of great things and things I needed to hear.

Would you like me to share more personal things mixed in with all of the crafts and recipes and fashion?