Happy Easter--Christ is Risen!

I tried to incorporate some Ukrainian/Russian traditions this Easter. I made these Eater cakes called Paska, which means Easter. On my mission everyone would make them and give them to each other on Easter. The Russian Orthodoxes would take them to their church to be blessed before eating them. We put out all of our painted eggs from Ukraine, to decorate for Easter (after all it seems the strongest association people make with Ukraine is Ukrainian Easter eggs). The one with Christ in the front is especially for Easter. The back has the Russian letters X B for Христос Восскресc--Christ is Risen. Notice the 3 little bunnies in front, Adriana put those there.

I am so grateful for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and for the gift he has given us to be reunited with our mortal body after death. I am also grateful for his suffering for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Golgotha. Without these amazing acts of sacrifice there would be no hope in the world or faith in my life. I feel so blessed to know that I will see Sarah and Grandpa again and all of our loved ones. I try to use his healing power of forgiveness in my life and to turn away from sin and embrace his Gospel everyday.
On to our more secular celebration, the Easter Egg Hunt! The Easter Bunny came while the kids were taking a nap after church. It was the best nap they have had in months!

Dallin crawled right over to a bunch of eggs and started playing with them.
Annika posing with her piggy that the Easter Bunny brought her.
Ariel opening eggs.
Adriana showing me a Care Bear shoe charm she found in an egg.

This was Saturday when Nikolay was putting the benches together, Dallin was so glad to help.