Easter 2013

Easter this year was by far way better than last year.  Mainly because Eric & I were not sick.  Yeah, last year was kind of ridiculous for the number of times we got sick from Christmas to Memorial Day.  But not this year, which means that we spent the Easter enjoying in the many festivities with our families.

The day before Easter Eric & I went to Glendale to decorate Easter eggs with my two brothers (Nate & Tyler) and their wives (Christina & AmiCheri).

Tyler & AmiCheri

Nate & Christina

I have to say that I was way excited to do this activity.  As far as I know, I have never decorated Easter eggs ever in my entire life.  Now, I could easily be wrong since I don't remember every single Easter from my childhood.  But for all I can  recall & remember, decorating hard boiled eggs was never a tradition in my family.  Growing up my mom would hide the plastic eggs in the backyard.  Every child had a specific color egg to look for.  Upon finding all of our eggs, inside each one was a clue.  We had to arrange all the clues in order such that it created a phrase/riddle to be solved.  The riddle would then lead us to our "Easter Basket" - which typically was a brown lunch sack filled with goodies.  Looking back now, it was a great tradition that I really enjoyed, especially as a child.  Once again though, never painted the hard boiled eggs.  So this year was the first for me.. and I believe Tyler too.  Christina might have helped Nate cross the land from virgin egg dying a couple of years ago since she grew up dying/painting eggs and has a strong passion for it.

  I have to crack up sometimes when all three of us couples get together and all of our spouses talk about growing up doing certain traditions.  The 3 of us just look at each other, raise our eyebrows in confusion and state with pure honesty that we've never done anything of the sort.  Doesn't matter what holiday it is, somehow there is some traditional activity that we have never participated in, yet everyone else in the world has.  Guess we were the lucky ones having a more unconventional childhood than all the rest.  Way to keep things interesting mom!

Anywho, I was a virgin egg dyer & I finally crossed that hurdle, and it was awesome!

My very first dyed Easter egg!

I cannot wait to do it again next year.  Having all the little kits that they sell from Walmart certainly helps to simplify things, that's for sure!

 I learned a lot of really cool techniques from Eric and Christina (who are master egg dyers having done it every year since young childhood).  I am a huge fan and feel an annual family tradition in the making.

My 6 masterpieces!

I am so proud!  They turned out awesome!

Eric's creations

Eric really does have some serious skill!

Our beautiful final products!

 
On Easter Sunday itself a niece and nephew of ours (Norah - daughter of Eric's sister Natalie & Joshua - son of Eric's other sister Connie) were having their baby blessings.

Norah & Joshua on their blessing day.

This was the first time that I have ever attended a baby blessing that was not held in a church.  The blessings were performed in Connie & Dave's home in Gilbert.  It was a sweet event and a lot of family members were in attendance.  I love attending things like this because it just solidifies the teachings of the gospel so much more into my heart.  Family is so important and I love that our church is one that teaches this principle.

My in-laws Steve & Jan with Jan's parents: Lew & Jeanne Myers

Eric's oldest sister Natalie w/her husband Matt & their 3 kids: Jonas, Henry & Norah

Eric's 2nd sister Audrey w/her husband Marcus and their 3 girls: Adeline, Lydia & Penelope

Eric's older brother Kevin w/his wife Amber & their son: Jake

Eric's 3rd sister Connie w/her husband David & their 3 boys: Luke, Seth & Joshua

4 generations of the oldest girl!  Amazing!

Gma & Gpa Myers with the newest additions to the families

David's dad Dan with his 2 grandsons

David's mom Miken with Luke & Joshua

Adeline & Lydia

Little Penelope holding baby Joshua

All of the Roach grandkids in order of age from oldest on the right to youngest on the left.

We had a great time visiting with Eric's family and enjoying everyone's company.

Following the blessings we went to Matt & Natalie's ward where we were able to watch their ward's Easter Program (having missed ours due to the timing of the blessings).  It was really nice to go to church & feel of the Easter spirit presented through music & the spoken word.  We went to their house afterwards and spent some time talking with them.  It had been quite a while since we had seen them and had the chance to talk.

We finished off the evening by going over to Eric's parents place to spend some time with them and just once again chit-chatting.  It is kind of sad, but even though we live only 30 minutes away we don't often see Eric's family as much as we should.  We are starting to feel a pressure to change that considering the fact that within 1 year Eric will be graduating from ASU, commissioning in the Air Force & enter active duty where they have the potential of sending us literally anywhere in the U.S.  In my own personal family, within the course of one year my mom is going to have 4 of her 5 kids moving away taking all but 1 grandchild to differing states. This summer my oldest brother Ryan is moving from Texas to Kansas with his wife Angela & their 4 children and my 3rd brother Nate is moving from Glendale, AZ to Michigan with his wife Christina & their 2 kids.  Next summer my 4th brother Tyler will be moving somewhere for residency in the Army with his wife AmiCheri and their 1 son while Eric & I will be going somewhere with our little Gummi.  Needless to say, we are feeling the need to take advantage of living so close to family while we can.  Time flies by so fast and times like these of living close to one another need not be taken for granted.

I am glad to report that we did a good job of spending time with the family for the Easter holiday.  We created many amazing memories & I look forward to repeating some new family traditions.

I do have to say that ultimately, the best part about Easter was spending some time alone with Eric discussing the true purpose of the holiday and what it means in our lives... celebrating the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We spent the month leading up to Easter reading scriptures that pertained to the Atonement.  It was a wonderful activity and really helped to expound our personal testimonies of the Atonement.  Makes me all the more grateful for this true church on the earth.  I know that it is true & that makes it all worth it.

Our 2nd Anniversary

Two years ago today Eric and I were sealed in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, Utah as husband and wife for time and all eternity. I know that we are only at the beginning stage still in the eternal perspective of things.  Yet it is wonderful to know that we already have 2 years under our belts.  That is quite an accomplishment.  Yes, it has not been completely blissful since we both said yes.  There have been a handful of times that have really caused both of us to stretch and grow in ways we didn't know possible, not only personally but as a couple. But the majority of the time has been amazing and wonderful.  I would say that our adjustment to marriage was really pretty easy compared to most people.  I didn't feel that all that much changed after we said yes and walked out of the temple.  The only thing that had really changed besides being sealed one to another by proper priesthood authority and having all the perks that come with finally being married (all that that entails... no more details needed...ahem...) was trying to figure out how to sign my new name.  I know that this is because Eric and I were as real in our relationship when we were friends, dated and then engaged as we are now 2 years later in the marriage.  Being married really is the best!!  No joke, I thank Heavenly Father every day for allowing me to be sealed to the perfect man for me.  I can only hope that every spouse feels as lucky as I do on a daily basis being sealed to their eternal companion.  So yes, in the real world here, there are good time and bad times.  But, the good times more than make up for the bad.  It is the hard/difficult/trying times that cause our relationship to develop depth and substance.  I wouldn't have it any other way because it makes our marriage real, not just a lovey dovey "fantasty" romance that is projected from Hollywood.  Our love is real, and will only continue to get more real as we go through this life and the eternities together.  So, bring it on life, we are ready!  Happy Anniversary to us! 

Spring!

I love Spring!  I love the promise of newness that is held as life is being born/created.  I love to see all the flowers blooming everywhere.
 


That is one thing that I miss from my time spent in Utah.  I loved feeling the seasons change through the weather and mother nature.  I loved watching all the new growth on all the trees, flowers and bushes as I would walk around Provo.







In Arizona we don't quite get the same sense of season changes as in other places in the U.S. and world.  We have amazing winters, don't get me wrong.  Just sometimes in the early months of Spring I desperately cling on to the idea that perhaps, just maybe, the summer won't be quite so blistering with highs that would only reach the 90's... but those are wishful thoughts, especially considering we live in the middle of a desert.  That doesn't stop me from enjoying these wonderful Spring months before the real heat wave does set it. I do love the nostalgia I feel knowing that Spring leads into Summer.  Summer to me brings on so many memories of relaxation, fun, and adventures.  Even though I am out of school and have not been on a school schedule for 2 years, I still feel the anticipation in the air of the coming months of Summer.  I look forward to warm evenings around a campfire having a BBQ and making smores and peach cobbler and knowing that we can stay up late because we have no responsibilities or school the next day.  The long sunny days spent by a pool-side having many underwater adventures for hours on end.  Looking forward to the upcoming trip/vacation to unknown lands and destinations with friends &/or family and the memories that will be created.  The lazy Sunday afternoons spent on the couch in the company of loved ones discussing old memories and years gone-by.  Ah yes, Summer is indeed on its way.  For now though I will continue to bask in the beauty of Spring.