Easter Sunday 2015

 First off: I love any holiday where I get to wrap up a present of some sort. I am aware that my almost 3 year old daughter wouldn't notice the difference between a basket and a cardboard box (actually, if you know Amelia, that statement may be up for question) but its one of the small creative outlets I allow time for these days. This is also documentation of how good Amelia had it when she was an only child. Live it up kiddo;)

We also surprised her with 5 baby chicks, which was like...the most entertaining thing to watch EVER. Poor little peeps. 

But really, getting your kid a chick on Easter is like one of those parental bucket list things, like a puppy under the Christmas tree... or a car on your 16th birthday? (Nope not happening). So we were like "high five" and put a check on our cool parenting list.

 This counts as good for like the next 10 years right?

 Chris and Amelia, both on cloud 9 <3

* Noteworthy: Chris set up a video camera over the box where our chickies live, which he checks through his phone periodically throughout the day, and sometimes in the night. Pretty much, if he's on his phone, that's what he is looking at. I obviously have to do a prank. 

After watching General Conference, we went to my parents for dinner and an egg hunt:

 Amelia always likes to put her arms around both of our necks, and pull all 3 of us close together until our cheeks touch (she is currently trying to figure out how to get the baby peeps to do this with her). It's one of my most favorite things in the whole world, which is why I love some of the pics below so much!

(It's a hard knock life)

 Somehow Amelia and Archer showed up in matching outfits. it was too good. 

During the hunt Archer kept on giving Amelia his eggs, which she gladly accepted. Also he was barefoot and kept on getting pine-needles in his foot, so he was tiptoeing around, which was the cutest thing ever. 

Amelia on a MISSION:

Below: Hansel and Gretel show off their eggs.

Then we had dinner, and Scott (Madi's BF) got my dad to play some weird game where you try to knock each other over. And my dad kept loosing for a lot of reasons. I'm pretty sure it was some sort underlying gang initiation though- so welcome aboard Scott. You passed. 

Also: I have no idea what Amelia and Archer had for dinner that night, I'm pretty sure Amelia just had some olives off the table, and easter candy from her eggs? And that folks, is indication that the gathering was a success;)

I usually keep spiritual thoughts to myself, but: The last couple years I have become so aware of how easily I  let fear dictate my life. I have always been this way to a degree, but once I had Amelia, the feeling magnified by 1000, and at times seems almost paralyzing, especially when I think about everything I can't control (which is pretty much everything;). During this pregnancy especially, I have had such a high degree of fear and anxiety that something would go wrong with the baby, or that my delivery would have complications, that in January I decided my new years resolution would be "my year of no fear". For the most part I have tried to stop negative thinking, and just push forward any time I start to feel fearful about the future, but there has been nothing that has lifted me more than my relationship with Christ. I have knelt down so many times the last few months, when I have felt overwhelmed and unsure, or when any amount of logic couldn't surpass the negativity, and been completely enveloped in peace. In a book I was reading called "Power Vs. Force" by David R. Hawkins, is a chart on consciousness. At the bottom of the chart is shame, and at the very top of the chart (before "enlightenment") where I thought there would be "love" is actually peace. The concept of the ability to travel through this life with peace even through all the pain we will most likely encounter (which is a theme that travels through both Eastern and Western religion), is so beautiful to me. All throughout Easter Sunday, I just felt such an enormous amount of gratitude that no matter what hardships I have to bear, or grief I experience, there is a source of light I can turn to, that will lift the weight and replace it with peace. There isn't room for fear if we truly believe that. I'm working on always believing it. The faith part is a work in progress. I believe that Christ is real. It's something that every fiber of my being understands, and the more I lean into that, everything falls into place. No amount of words could adequately describe my feelings toward him. He is the Prince of Peace, he is the ultimate healer, and the symbol of mercy and forgiveness. I need every bit of that. My gratitude couldn't ever be enough, but I'm glad that we have one day a year especially set aside to remember his sacrifice.  

xoxo-Steph