HAPPY EASTER!

We are getting ready to go down to Socorro for Easter. So, I wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. This is one of my favorite holidays. I wanted to share this picture. It was painted by one of my favorite artists, Liz Lemon Swindle. She captured so much in it. The first time I saw it I was in Deseret bookstore and I was looking through the paintings and when I came to this one it sent such emotions through me. I Love it. I hope we can all remember the true meaning of Easter and what it truly means for us....

" But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou?....."

(John 20: 11-16)

How fitting that one of His most devout disciples was the first to see Him after He had risen! Mary Magdalene knew Him well. She had followed Him throughout His ministry and loved Him deeply, yet in her grief she didn't recognize Him. Was it her tears that blurred her recognition? Perhaps it took a moment to recognize Him because of the glory of His resurrected body. We don't know.

Aren't we all a bit like Mary? When we struggle the most, we are reluctant to look up and see His face and let Him bring us peace and comfort and direction. possibly one of the greatest lessons we can learn in life is to know He is there and to go to Him immediately.

I Love You all! Have a wonderful Easter! We will be thinking of you.