Happy Easter! We celebrated by singing Easter songs as a family. The boys loved it. Part of me really wishes that we could just go “caroling” to our neighbors: just imagine Wesley and the Off Tunes singing “That Easter Morn” in minor key a Capella to sweet people who just want to be left alone. Maybe next year? Probably not. Tomorrow we’re doing the social culture stuff the cheap way by going to HEB and buying Easter candy and eggs half off. We may go to a park and hide it, depending on how everyone feels. All week we’ve enjoyed a special spirit of the reality of Christ and His life and that He lives now. The boys have tons of questions. My favorite part of the week has been when they tell us the story of Christ’s resurrection. I walked in on the boys looking at pictures of Jesus and Levi explaining the tomb to Lincoln. In the midst of mortality, the craziness that it can be, the heartaches it often requires, what great peace comes: I know that my Redeemer lives! And that deserves the exclamation.

The last six months or so have been kind of crazy with my siblings and parents. I love Texas. I love our life. Yet I worry about my family and wish I could be there to share the joys and the sorrows, or at least take them meals and offer babysitting! One of my friends told me that when she can’t help her immediate family because they’re far away she tries to find people around her who need the same thing and serve for both people. I know that Heavenly Father sends us angels and teaches us to be angels. Being “anxiously engaged” does not mean that we need to be wracked with anxiety. Like my neighbor I’ve decided to “give it to the Lord,” and be His servant as best as I can while praying for them.

We’re all working on controlling our emotions and not screeching when unnecessary (so often our house sounds as if someone has a broken neck or is at least falling off a cliff. Usually the issue is something more like having the wrong fork…) Self-discipline and patience are virtues I need. I’m trying to appreciate gaining them.

We’ve had two amazing sleep nights in a row. Miracles! Wesley has a couple different sicknesses going on. Levi’s catching one of them. We’re doubly grateful for the sleep. Wesley and I have determined that—as lame as it sounds—exhaustion and sleep deprivation is a trial to strengthen us and we need to “submit cheerfully.” We’ve been studying Alma’s people and the enabling power of the atonement this week as we prepared for Easter. We have been strengthened; we are being strengthened. It’s an amazing process.  I pray to be a good student so I’ll stop whining so much.

On Monday Bo and Shu Zu came over for Family Home Evening. They are both from China, so we asked them to come and tell us about it. Bo’s family moved to Canada when he was 14ish, so he steps back from both cultures and comments in fascinating ways (Americans are too chaotically open in information, media, and opinions, Chinese could be a little more open, etc.). Shu loves his country and it’s quite inspiring to listen to his patriotism. The boys loved them. All week we’ve heard “Shu Zu is?” from Lincoln. Bo and Shu are both only children due to Chinese law (now they can have two kids); I think they were overwhelmed by the noise and general enthusiasm. Bo had a lot of questions about religion and a few about politics. Good conversation. Wesley ordered some Books of Mormon in the first languages of some of his friends/coworkers a few months ago, so he gave a Chinese one to Bo on Tuesday. Heavenly Father loves all His children. I love learning about them and feeling that same love for them. So cool.

 Wesley has a good friend named Robert Bush who is an artist. He’s in his eighties and has some major health issues. Robert’s wife joined the church while we were in Manor and Wesley home taught her which led to their special bond. A few months ago, Robert gave us three prints of his paintings. Gorgeous! We’ve been working toward having them matted and framed. Finally, we remembered our brains, invited Robert along and asked for his help. We ordered a frame for one and took notes on options for the others. Levi wanted to be involved in picking all of the colors. Lincoln wanted to run around—but was strapped in his seat. As a result, he pulled off his socks and shoes and cackled about it. “Get me out, Robert Bush! Get me out, Robert Bush!” he grinned. Our kids are so cute and goofy it can be hard to be firm.

Friday we had the missionaries over for our ham, potatoes, rolls, salads, etc. dinner (leftovers for today since I’ve stopped cooking much on Sundays). We love the missionaries. We hoped to have someone join us, but it didn’t happen. We should have pushed ourselves more. How can we have such feelings in our hearts yet momentarily forget them when talking with others? How can we forget to open our mouths when we covenant to “always remember Him”? We have work to do.

Yesterday we went to the temple. Wes stayed with the youth for baptisms and I drove the little boys home. They screamed all the way to help me stay awake. Count your many blessings! We’re all very much alive and well.

Aside from running, rolling, screaming, and dancing, the big event of the week was when we reconstructed the Cozy Coupe into a garbage truck. They wear gloves. Lincoln rides on the side as the “helper.” They moved the landfill of toys completely out of the toy room into the living room (and back with a lot of encouragement). “I will work with garbage all day because that is what garbage men do,” said Levi. They even packed a lunch (Gatorade and ramen noodles). They tried to add Keller to the landfill—he was very willing. Alas, the mother was not.

Lincoln has complete body control for the bathroom, but prefers the diaper. Ugh. “It’s stinky in here! Keller pooped!” Nope, it was Lincoln, buddy. Today he actually acknowledged his action (moving forward, eh?) “I’m stinky! I pooped!” I helped in nursery today as they’ve jumped from 10 kids to 19 in a couple of weeks. Lincoln played, came back to me with a cheesy grin, then played some more. I asked what happened in nursery today. “Mary so sad! Peter so sad! Jesus so happy! Played football! With Mom!” The kids loved when Keller joined us. Keller loved singing time.

Keller rolls and rolls and slobbers and sings. He tried his first rice cereal today and loved it. The others took a while before they were convinced. Not little Keller. He reached out for my roll yesterday. He’d probably try to down the ham if given the opportunity. He loves life. He gives us all perspective. 

I went to the restroom for three minutes: Lincoln climbed in the crib to cuddle Keller. Good grief! No one's safe. Or we all are extremely protected!