Easter Week Day 2 - Cleansing the Temple

One of my favorite family traditions is Easter Week Celebrating.  We started off the week with a lesson by Jessica on Palm Sunday.  The Browns came over for dessert and making of Palm Leaves.  Jessica had us all write on our leaves who Christ is to us.  I wrote on mine, "Christ is Perfect, so I don't have to be."

On Monday night we had a picnic dinner at the park across the street from the temple.  We talked about how Christ cleansed the temple of Monday.  We talked about how we need to keep things out of our bodies that can keep up from feeling the Spirit.  

After dinner and our lesson we ran into the Browns who were also having FHE at the park.  We got Sarah to take some pictures of our family in front of the temple.  It is great to know that we have been sealed together as a family in a temple of God.

An end to "Cruisin" and Easter Festivities Begin

Winterguard came to an almost official end this week.  Melanie's team attended the State Competition on Saturday and came home with 2nd place.  She was tickled they all got ribbons.  The danced in the morning in the preliminary competition and then again in the afternoon in the finals.  In between they went to a park and took pictures.  There were some tough times, like when she did't think she would ever learn to toss and catch a flag but all in all I think she found that dancing is one of her talents.  This will be her one and only year in the sport because she will be at UCAS next year.  They will do their dance a few more times for show but competition season is over.

On Monday, Warren invited over some neighbors that he and Tyler home teach to color Easter Eggs.  It ended up only their two cute kids came but they did a lot of eggs.  It was Maria's first time to color eggs.  I was pretty sick with a cold and mostly laid on the couch.  I am feeling much better now.

We began our Easter Week celebration today with Palm Sunday.  We invited the Browns over to help us celebrate.  Jessica did a devotional for us about Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  I never realized that "Hosanna" means "God Save Us"  We cut out palm fronds out of paper and wrote on them who we think Christ is because in the scriptures someone asks of Jesus, "Who is He?"  I wrote, "He is perfect so I don't have to be."

Orchestra Concert, Maria's Birthday, Swim Team Banquet

The Lehi High School Orchestras had their concerts this week.  Tyler was looking good in his black shirt and black pants.  They played well.  What a blessing it is to have a good music program in our schools.

 It was fun to help Maria celebrate her birthday this week.  She turned 17 on Friday and had her day all planned out.  She wanted a big party up the canyon with a fire.  Tyler loaded up the back of the van with wood and they invited all of the swimmers up for the party.  I think her day was everything she was hoping it would be.

The annual swim team banquet was on Saturday night.  Tyler didn't ask for the night off work in time so he missed most of it.  Warren, Jessica and I were there to cheer on Maria.  She was awarded the MVP for the girls team.  Tyler was awarded "Everyones BFF" by the captains.  They said he is just nice to everyone.

Regional Solo Festival and another Colorguard Competition

Jessica got home just in time to be Tyler's accompanist for the High School Regional Solo Festival.  I haven't been to a music festival in a few years.  It was really great to hear them play together.  Tyler was really nervous. Maybe all the piano festivals he played in helped him keep his cool and just keep playing.  He was excited to hear he advanced to the State Festival the end of April.

The Lehi Junior Color Guard team has placed at every competition this season but up to now the first prize had eluded them.  In fact, the first place win has gone to the same team all 4 of the previous competitions.  Last week they got third place.  When they didn't get called as the 2nd or 3rd prize winners they thought they had been shut out of the winners circle this week.  They were thrilled to instead hear their name called as the first place winners.

Tyler's Birthday, 9th grade dance, Daddy Daughter Date

From her report, the 9th grade dance was as fun as Melanie was hoping it would be.  They had a circus theme and there were lots of carnival type games and food along with the dance.  Melanie spent all day on Saturday at a color guard competition.

Jessica worked full time this week at doTERRA.  She has quickly adjusted to taking phone calls and everyone has lots of praise for how well she is doing.  She went to GRE classes two evenings this week and went to FHE and institute the other two.  On Saturday morning she and Warren tried attending the Spanish session in the temple only to find out it is next week.  They had a good session anyway.  Later that morning the went to a ward singles activity where they were shooting.  Jessica was a little better shot than her dad.

Tyler turned 17 this week.  He partied for three days.  On Thursday a girl from school took him to lunch because she was going out of town for his birthday.  Thursday evening Maria and Tori took Tyler to dinner and then they went back to Tori's house to eat the cake they made him and to watch a movie.  Friday, Tyler came to doTERRA to each lunch with me.   Friday evening was MORP.  He went with a group to "Hang Time Sports" in Provo and had a blast.  They didn't ever go to the dance. They went to someone's house to play games after.  On Saturday, I took Tyler shopping for some new clothes (he is growing again) and then we came home in time for his cousin birthday party.  He said it was a good birthday.

Maria has been in Las Vegas with Tori's family all weekend so it has been a little quiet today.

Be Patient and Trust the Journey

 This week started off with a surprise visit from our friends the Drapers.  They were very sweet to write Jessica each week on her mission.  Jessica wasn't working in the morning this week.  The Drapers wanted to suprise her with a visit and so I set it up for Monday morning.  I told Jessica I was expecting a delivery and to please answer the door.  She was very surprised to find the Drapers hiding around the bushes.  I got to see them when they came over to have lunch in the doTERRA cafeteria.  It is great how God brings wonderful people into your life.

Melanie had her name drawn in the UCAS lottery.  This week was the orientation meeting where they try and give the kids an idea of what attending UCAS will be like.  At the end of the meeting they asked the kids to give them a "Yes" or "No" commitment about attending next year.  Melanie thought really hard about it, consulted with her friends,and then checked the "Yes" box.

Melanie continues to get more beautiful each day.  She is very excited for the 9th grade night dance coming up this weekend.  She decided she needed a new dress so she and her friends planned a shopping trip to the mall.  Sara Brown and I went as the drivers but were given strict instructions not to hang around them.  We did some power walking around the mall while we talked and then got pedicures. 

True to form, Melanie bought the highest, sparkliest shoes she could find and very fancy blue dress.

Tyler and Maria are in the same Physics class.  They spent Saturday morning working together on their bridge.  We call these two the "twins" because they are best friends.

Melanie spent all day getting ready for and then participating in another color guard competition. Her coach took feedback from the judges and decided to make some major changes to their show.  For the most part I like the changes.  They got another 2nd place win.  When they get their new routine all "cleaned" I think they will be contenders for 1st place.  Warren and I went and watched Melanie dance in the early afternoon and then we went back in the evening to see the varsity girls do their shows.

I have been a little discouraged with some things that are happening right now.  Sometimes I feel like despite my best efforts, I am not making progress towards my goals.  I have wondered to myself, "What is the meaning of all this?  What is the purpose?"  This morning I ran across a quote, "Be Patient and Trust the Journey".  Sometimes I feel like I get little messages from God and this was one of them.  Even though I sometimes feel frustrated and discouraged life does have meaning and purpose and I have lots of people who love me, most of all a loving Heavenly Father.