Friday, April 12, 2024

Happy Easter 2024!

 It was my first Easter in my new house, so I took pictures of how I decorated so that I can reference them in the future. It's been a pleasant surprise to me that most of my holiday decorations fit because my new place is a lot smaller than my previous houses were, but somehow they do, and without looking cluttered! I've only had to set aside or get rid of a few things so far.





I should have had a pretty dishscape going when I took this picture!



That week my ministering sisters dropped off a pretty bouquet of tulips for me.

Here's Sam's Easter basket. Unlike John's, I did spend money on this one!

And I did a basket for me, too, because who else is gonna do it? πŸ˜‰ I got myself my favorite chocolate bunny from Harbor Sweets and a new pair of pajamas (which I needed and were on sale) from Lands' End.

On Easter morning, Sam and I did our special traditions, which is always so nice and meaningful. 
I really missed John being there. 😒

I hosted Easter dinner in the afternoon for my family. My mom had gotten these pretty sugar cookies for the occasion, which I put out on one of my Sydenstricker plates. Because I'm such a good hostess and all. πŸ˜†



This is my Easter selfie with Christ. 😊

And here's my Easter selfie with my not-so-little-man Sam AND Christ!

I don't have a fancy dining room anymore, but I still have my nice table and buffet and a pleasant, light-filled dining space. It's a little tighter than what I used to have and I don't like the carpeted floor, but it works well.
I'm so grateful for my home.

I'm glad that the Church has been emphasizing Easter and Holy Week a lot more in recent years. I love how the focus is so much on Jesus Christ. This is what it's all really about.

He has done this for me.

And this. I've experienced it for myself.  
My trials have helped me turn to Christ in ways that I never really had before, and my relationship with Him has grown much deeper over the last several years as a result. I'll be eternally grateful to President Nelson for his guidance in helping me to understand better how to do this. I know he's a prophet of the Lord because following his counsel has brought me so much closer to the Lord and has helped me to come to love the Lord's house, the temple, which has also helped bring me closer to Him.

I love my Savior so much, and I know the day is coming when I'll see Him and live with Him again. Until that day happens, He is with me every day as I abide in Him and He abides in me. It's a beautiful way to live life—in fact, it's the best way to live life!