Holy Week

I've had a beautiful lenten experience that's led up to a very spiritual
and fulfilling holy week.  I might get around to sharing some of the insights
I've received, but they just may be too personal and in that case I'll hold
onto them.  In this post, I talked about why I love Lent and what I hoped
might happen this year as a result of some intense spiritual discipline and
focus.  Let me just say, I've been richly blessed.  The days leading up to
Easter have fed my soul.

I loved that General Conference was held this year on Palm Sunday.
What an amazing way to start holy week.  Listening to our church
leaders share counsel and words of encouragement left me overflowing
with love for the Lord.  I feel so grateful that through the gift of
technology, we can sit at home and watch by satellite a conference that
is being held in Utah.   Two days of messages that addressed topics
on many subjects, will be of help to families and individuals who
love the Lord and are striving to live his gospel.  It was a spiritual feast.

This was where I sat for hours.

Me and Cecil.  He helped me take notes.

This chocolate cake was enjoyed on Sunday and will become our new

traditional "conference weekend" dessert.  Oh man, was it good.  With

eight ounces of scharffen berger chocolate in the frosting alone, you can

imagine how deeply rich and chocolatey it was.  I could have just eaten

the frosting by the spoonful...but I didn't.  Decadent, oh so decadent, but

perfectly acceptable twice a year.

Each morning I started my day, by reading passages from the gospels on

the last days of the Savior's mortal life.  I pondered what he would have

been doing on each day and tried to take those thoughts with me through

out the day.  I especially loved that on Wednesday, he was teaching in the

temple and I was in the temple worshipping and learning from Him as well.

This is the first time I've been to the temple the week of Easter, but I

hope it won't be my last.  It was a perfect day and I enjoyed spending 

it with my friend Linda.

On Friday evening, I prepared a Passover meal to honor the Savior's

Last Supper.  Christ would have had that meal on Thursday with his

disciples, but Mark and I were both at meetings on Thursday, so we 

had our meal on Friday, which just so happened to be the first day of

Passover. Our Jewish brothers and sisters were enjoying a similar, and

definitely more authentic Seder meal in their own homes.

I was excited to use my seder plate that I purchased in Jerusalem.

Isn't it beautiful?

We had matzah

and lamb, along with lentils, cucumber and yogurt salad,

and pita bread.  Yes, I made that pita bread!  My first attempt and not so 

bad if I say so myself.  Thanks to my friend Jeannee,  for the recipe.

We had goat cheese, figs, dates and raisins for dessert.

I sat the table with a plate for Elijah, which is a traditional part of the 

Passover meal.  I love having this meal during holy week.  We talked about

how Christ fulfilled the passover and instituted the sacrament at this time.

The symbolism of the food and the wording of the hagaddah (Jewish text

that sets forth the order of the seder) is so beautiful.  I love everything 

about it.

On Good Friday, I made hot cross rolls.  These are a favorite with 

fresh lemon and orange zest and currants throughout the sweet dough.

Easter morning, I woke up before the sun and hiked to the top of Jump Off

rock to enjoy the sunrise and a Sunrise service.  This is becoming one of my

favorite things to do.  There is nothing quite like standing on the top of a

mountain, singing Christ the Lord is Risen Today, while watching the sun

come up and hearing the birds join in.

It's a lovely way to begin the day and I felt a kinship with the women

in the scriptures who came at dawn to find the tomb empty.  

Jesus has risen.  Yes, indeed.  

After a beautiful church service and an afternoon of rest and relaxation,

we enjoyed a wonderful sabbath meal with family.

The traditional Triple Lemon Cake, made only on Easter was enjoyed

by all.  The perfect ending of a lovely celebration of Christ and his 

resurrection. Of course we know, because of Easter... it's only the beginning.