Time to update

It's been way too long since I posted--but I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to download pictures. So I thought I would take some time today to download pictures and make a quick post about the last little while. I started my post with three pictures I got a week or so ago (back when it really was spring...) at Temple Square. It is so beautiful in the springtime, with the flowers and budding trees. I'm hoping it will be warmer this week so I can get some more pictures.

We had a great Easter this year. On Saturday our whole family got together at Mom and Dad's for the annual Easter Egg hunt. We had everyone there--all 19 kids--and it was so fun to watch them. Jan gathered them all around before they went out to find the eggs, and talked to them about the real meaning of Easter, and then told them the rules for finding eggs (we divided them up into three groups so the little kids would have more time). I didn't get very many good pictures, but here are some:

These two pictures are of all 10 kids gathered around listening to Janice. It was hard to get them all in one picture!

As I said, I didn't get too many good pictures of the hunting--but here' s a cute one.

Then here's one of the kids looking at their loot. It's so fun to have so many little ones together. I love my babies!! (Well, I guess a lot of them aren't babies any longer, but they will always be my babies).

On Saturday night we got together with Dave and Melissa to color Easter eggs. The kids were so cute, and had tons of fun. Here are some pictures. I especially love Mieka's "Ahoy Matey" face she's making below. So. Totally. Cute.

On Sunday I taught a lesson in Relief Society about Liberty Jail. It turned out really good--I was able to tie it into Easter by talking about how the Atonement of the Savior helps us to endure anything we have to suffer. I loved this quote by Elder Holland:

"Whenever these moments of our extremity come, we must not succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that He does not hear our prayers. He does hear us. He does see us. He does love us. When we are in dire circumstances and want to cry “Where art Thou?” it is imperative that we remember He is right there with us—where He has always been! We must continue to believe, continue to have faith, continue to pray and plead with heaven, even if we feel for a time our prayers are not heard and that God has somehow gone away. He is there. Our prayers are heard. And when we weep He and the angels of heaven weep with us.”

On Sunday afternoon we had dinner at Dan and Emilee's house with Mom and Dad, and Dan's mom Tamara. Here are some darling pics I got of Matthew and Emma:

Work has been SO busy this last week. I am loving it, but these new responsibilitites I have keep me super busy. I worked yesterday from 6:30-5:00 (not counting commuting time). I am grateful for my good job though, and for all the great people I get to work with. Even though it is busy and stressful at times, I feel like I am able to do so much good at my job, and I love being right up on Temple Square. There is always such a great spirit there.

Jan, Ems, Mel and the kids came up to see me on Tuesday, and I was hoping to be able to walk over and see them at the "I Am a Child of God" exhibit. It ended up being too busy for me to get away, so I missed some really cute pictures (hopefully Ems will blog about it!) But thankfully I was able to get away to have some lunch with them. Mieka had a hard time during lunch with all the people around, but I did get this cute picture of her playing hide and seek:

These next two pictures are from Thursday, when it snowed 6 inches--where is spring?? I had to wait ten minutes for the bus, standing in the snow in my Sunday shoes. But there was a beautiful sunrise!

Last night we went to dinner with Mike and Janelle. We went to IHOP, which was really quiet--and I was grateful, since yesterday was such a long day at work. It was relaxing to talk and play with the girls. Kate told me a whole story today about when she got on the wrong bus, and how she went up and told the bus driver, and the driver took her to the right place. Later I took Lizzie and Brina to the bathroom. Brina just danced around while we waited—in her bare feet, since she had kicked her shoes off. Lizzie-Beth had to show me how if you waved your hand, the paper towel would come out. They were just so cute, and I don't get to see them as often as I would like, so I was glad to see them. I didn't get any pictures though...what was I thinking? I guess I was too tired to think about taking pictures. :)

Well, this post is getting too long. That's what I get for waiting so long to write. I need to go clean my house now--since Saturday is my only day off. I'll write again soon!