Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Eggs

          Kinder Ovos.  Or Ovos de Pascoa (Eggs of Easter).  The most evident traditional token of giving on Easter in Brazil was chocolate eggs with little surprises or toys inside.  The bigger the egg you received, the higher claim you had to bragging rights.  Hooray for chocolate AND surprises inside!  How can you go wrong with that?  Um, not possible!  However, I was disheartened by that fact that KinderOvos and chocolate eggs were more of a focus on Easter than the real cause for celebration—the glorious resurrection! 
I remember one Easter Sunday when I was a missionary in Brazil.  I was with a Brazilian companion and we were in a bus station on our way to an appointment after church services.  Hundreds of people in various lines.  It appeared to be just an ordinary day.  Ordinary clothes.  Mundane conversation.   Nothing appeared to be special about the day.  People were going through the motions of the day and I wondered if they even considered what they day really meant.  I wanted to stand on the hand rail and shout to everyone, “Do you know what today is?  Do you realize what happened on this day?  You will all one day be resurrected because of Easter!  We will all live again after this life!  We have reason for hope because of our Savior’s resurrection!”  I didn’t shout.  I didn’t even shake anyone, even though I felt the urge to shake everyone around me into a realization of what the day meant. 
I have thought about that day many times.  Do I go through the motions of life without pausing to reflect on what my Savior has done for me?   
President Henry B. Eyring opened his remarks in the April 2013 EnsignFirst Presidency Message, “A testimony of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a source of both hope and determination.”   Hope and determination.  I feel that because of the atonement, I do have hope.  Hope that there is more to my existence than this mortal life.  If I don’t have the privilege of marrying and having children in this life, I will still have an opportunity to realize that blessing.  Determination.  I feel that because we will live again and this life is not the end, I must demonstrate through my life a determination to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ—and not only for myself, but I am determined to meet my obligation to help others learning about the Savior and his teachings. 
I have tried to be more conscious of casual times to testify when I am with my nieces and nephews, with other children in my sphere of influence, and with my Young Women.  This last week my sister was visiting with her five small children.  Each night as she struggled through the motions of putting them to bed, I wanted to make sure they had some scriptures read before they fell asleep.  Unplanned, I found an Easter book with some Gospel Art pictures of Jesus on the shelf.  Of course!  This week is Easter—that is what we should read scriptures about!   Much easier was the task of describing some of the events in the last week of the Savior’s life with the visuals.  If you don’t have a Gospel Art picture book, I encourage you to get one, however, I guess if you have easy access to the computer when you are reading scriptures, you can access any picture you want.  We read Mosiah 3:5-10 and I was able to explain what it meant that Jesus bled from every pore.  That concept is so commonplace to me, that I didn’t realize my nieces and nephews didn’t know what it meant.  I was grateful for pictures and quick inspiration that created a sweet teaching moment about the Savior.
At this Easter time, in addition to savoring my seasonal favorite Cadbury Eggs, I want to share with those I love (maybe with a little more reverence than shouting in a bus station) that I know that Christ does live. 
How can we each personally celebrate this great event?  In the conclusion of President Eyring’s April 2013 message, he shares four suggestions we can ponder during the Sacrament:

“I have found [during the Sacrament] God can give me what feels like a personal interview.  He brings to my attention what I have done that pleases Him, my need for repentance and forgiveness, and the names and faces of people He would have me serve for Him.” 


Because of the life and resurrection of Christ, my life has focus.  I have hope and “determination to serve him to the end” (Moroni 6:3).  I know He lives! 


Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind!

O hope of ev'ry contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!

Jesus, our only joy be thou,
As thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now,
And thru eternity.








I put pictures to the arrangement of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" for a Young Women Lesson earlier this year.  This song was arranged my friend, Michael Hicks and it is from the 2001 EFY album.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

45 Reasons for a Successful Marriage



       My parents celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary this week.  I composed a list of 45th things my parents have done that have strengthened their marriage.  Each item has its own story.
       I also composed a list of 45 attributes they both have that had has led to their enduring and endearing relationship.  
Both lists are below. 

45 Reasons Why My Parents Have Had
45 Years of Marriage

1.         Holding Hands
2.   6 Kids
3.         Honey-Do-Days
4.         Best Cook in Captivity
5.         22 Grandkids
6.         "Avon Money" (When ever Mom made a purchase and Dad inquired where they got the money, Mom said it was Avon Money--she sold Avon when they were first married...but somehow she always had "Avon Money")
7.         Reading Sunday Comics Together (They refused to take the Desert News for the sole reason that they said the Tribune had better Sunday comics).
8.         Meisha and Snuggle Time (the dog would heard them into the bedroom to sit on bed and snuggle with them).
9.         Going to the Temple Together
10.      Home Teaching Together
11.      Madame Alexandra Dolls
12.      New Soft Reclining Chair and Flat Screen TV  (they snuggle and hold hands while watching shows).
13.      IHOP, Marie Calendars, Red Lobster
14.      Plastic Lobster (hiding it around the house)
15.      Trips to Lewiston and Cedar City
16.      Daily Prayer and Reading Scriptures in Bed Until Elaine Falls Asleep
17.      Traditions
18.      Disneyland and DisneyWorld
19.      Jerusalem
20.      Diane Decker and other inside jokes
21.      Books on CD
22.      Dad’s Gravy
23.      Hospitals in Hawaii
24.      Dad Getting the Ground Ready for Mom’s Garden and Bringing Up Boxes and Boxes and Boxes of Mom’s Decorations
25.      Free Wendy’s Frosties
26.      Monk, Jagg, Bones
27.      Family Reunions
28.      Taking Mom’s Banana Bread and Meals to People
29.      Mom's Gingersnaps
30.      KOSY 106.5, Free Movies, Free Plays, Free Wii, DVD's etc.
31.      Knight in Shining Armor
32.      Copykuahs (They call each other every time their speedometer reads like a palindrome)
33.      Desert Storm (Dad served in the Gulf War and they realized what they could lose, so they really worked on their relationship when he got home).
34.      Kohl’s Coupons, Rebates, Sharing Restaurant Meals
35.      Breakfast with Santa and Cinco De Mayo Parties
36.      Attending Children and Grandkids’ Performances, Games, Programs, etc. Together
37.      Dad Shoveling Snow and Helping with Mom’s Garden
38.      Lunch Love Notes on Napkins
39.      Jake and The Pirates
40.      Grandpa’s Fruit Snacks and Grandma’s Treat Jar
41.      Mom Letting Dad Go Flying
42.      Motorcycle to Salvation Army (Mom was scared of motor cycles and she didn't want to be a widow raising 3 small children if Dad got into an accident, so one day when Dad was at work, she called the Salvation Army to take the motorcycle.)
43.      Front Sight (they attended a fire arms conference together)
44.      UASBO  Trips and District Visits
45.      Sharing "3 Good Things"  Daily  


45 Attributes for 45 Years of a Successful Marriage

1.      Selflessness
2.      Tolerance
3.      Sense of humor
4.      Ability/Willingness to share
5.      Dedication
6.      Cherishing each other
7.      Charity
8.      Honoring each other and the others’ needs/wants     
9.      Gentleness
10.  Forgiveness
11.  Willingness to Sacrifice
12.  Patience
13.  Humility
14.  Kindness
15.  Submissiveness
16.  Faithful to each other
17.  Compassion
18.  Commitment
19.  Devotion
20.  Understanding
21.  Affection
22.  Communication
23.  Flexibility
24.  Support
25.  Ability to make each other laugh
26.  Love
27.  Long suffering
28.  Sympathy
29.  Dedication to religious beliefs
30.  Ability to enjoy life
31.  Dedication to children
32.  Didn’t hold grudges
33.  Equally yoked
34.  Vision
35.  Union
36.  Long suffering
37.  Continually learning
38.  Allowing each other hobbies/interests
39.  Work
40.  Seeking out ways to build each other
41.  Service
42.  Endurance
43.  Foregoing own wants/needs
44.  Spending time together
45.  Honesty