He Is Risen! Easter thoughts and activities

"There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Easter 2013

This week has been emotional. I have tried to completely block out the thoughts of little girl’s Easter dresses. So, mostly my emotions have been of gratitude for my Savior. A kind of gratitude I have never felt. More than just a sincere thank you. Like soul-rejoicing praise and honor.

My testimony of the Savior and his purpose on earth have grown immeasurably. Because of the events of this week 2,000 years ago; I will have my daughter again. Because of His ultimate sacrifice He can empathize with me. Because of His pain I will never be alone. Because of His death and resurrection, Jane will live again.

I will have my daughter again!!! I can't say that enough or have too many exclamation points!

I have wanted Ethan and Nate to understand how relevant Easter is to our family now. I wanted this week to be more about Christ and less about chocolate bunnies and plastic eggs. I want them to know why we will see Jane again.

Here are a list of some things we did, if you want to try some in your home too. I would love to know if you do. I would love Jane to be used as a visual for your testimony or your children's testimony about this topic. I would love Jane Love to grow in your home! In fact, I am going so far as to start using a hash tag: #elizajanelove

Share your pictures of anything and everything you do, see or think about with Jane Love. It brings me comfort knowing she is still alive in your hearts and thoughts.

I asked a friend of mine what some of her Catholic traditions are this Holy Week and we have implemented some of them in our home.

-We read scriptures together every night, and these were the scriptures we read this week:

Palm Sunday: Mark 11:1-11.

Monday: Mark 11:15-18.

Tuesday: Mark 14:3-9.

Wednesday: Matthew 26:14-16.

Thursday: John 13:1-5.

Friday: Mark 15:21-39.

Saturday: Mark 15:42-47.

Sunday: Luke 24:1-9.

- She shared this link with me with great kid-friendly Easter activities and lessons:

http://www.biblewise.com/kids/char_topic/easter.php

- We were going to do a Passover dinner but that day ended up being a pretty bad one for me. I plan on doing it next year.

- The darling Activity Day girls in our ward Easter egg’d our house and put out 24 plastic eggs for us to find, they left 1 egg empty to represent Jesus’ empty tomb. I

Favorite Mormon Messages:

His Sacred Name, An Easter Declaration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXrOG02NMB0&list=PLAD2B4B644506DFDB

None Were WIth Him (ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc&list=PLAD2B4B644506DFDB

Sunday Will Come: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlc5RvmWN4s&list=PLAD2B4B644506DFDB

Because of Him (new this year, SO SO GOOD!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU

Mormon Channel Bible Videos:

He is Risen (A 7 minute video, that is a synopsis of all the below videos): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAuaSpJ7zGs

Chronological videos of the Holy Week:

The Lords triumphal entry into Jerusalem : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdUw_E-tGjE&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=63

The Last Supper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=997ni1xcmKw&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&feature=share&index=60

Jesus Warns Peter and Offers the Intecessory Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL5jobrN3ck&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=61

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goR5FO1vge8&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=60

Jesus is tried by Caiaphas, Peter Denies Knowing Christ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMaHYMs6NB4&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=59

Jesus is condemned before Pilate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs-nHYYmors&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=58

Jesus is Scourged and Crucified: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlALmOx8Sk0&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=57

Jesus is laid in a tomb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPfC9kSPP_Q&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=56

Jesus is Resurrected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlKetn7ZiNU&list=PL4A73DDEE675FBC39&index=55