Good Friday Fast and Easter Sunday

Family pictures shared on the group text for Easter Sunday:

Caitlyn and Nate

Greta, Bridget, Crista, Matt and Ruby

Jennie and Jordan

AJ, Gunnar, Ollie, Finn, Adrienne and Ila

Andy, Max, Mav, Bevy and Elise

Effie, Ori and Avie

Another one of the kids since it was hard to see one of them in the picture above:
Max, Mav and Bevy

I had a lot of thoughts this week of my Savior and the events that led up to His glorious resurrection.  With millions of others, our family fasted as our prophet had asked: “I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.” 

My thoughts were drawn to my Savior as I contemplated the need for this particular fast.  I realized that the impact on my own life is not that bad.  Roy still has a lot of work, most of my kids are still working, I have a very nice home to quarantine in, and I even have plenty of toilet paper J  I read a news article about a family in Woods cross, our neighbors really, who had lost a daughter due to the Covid19 virus.  She was 24 year old.  I realized I may not be suffering right now, but many are.  The Savior was always concerned about the needs of others, even when he knew His time, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, would soon be upon Him.  He sacrificed His life for us.  All we were asked to sacrifice was a couple of meals. 

I also found myself thinking about the Children of Israel being led through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.  We don’t celebrate the Passover, but the events associated with it are very significant.  The Hebrew people were told to mark their homes by putting the blood of the lamb on their doorways so that the destroying angel would pass them by.  Our Savior died for us, so that by looking to Him, we can also be saved. Our ancestors compared themselves to the Children of Israel—they suffered greatly as the Lord led them to their Promised Land.  We know, of course, that the eventual Promised Land is Eternal Life.  I loved the Come Follow Me lesson for Easter.  It had us read through many scriptures about Christ’s suffering and His Atonement.  The lesson asked the question, “What did the Savior suffer?”  The answer—He suffered pain, hunger, thirst and fatigue—“even more than man can suffer.”  He felt anguish.  He was mocked, scourged cast out and disowned by His own people.  Ultimately, he was crucified and slain—“He was despised and rejected of men.”

The next question was, “Why did He suffer?” Answer: To gain power over death so that He could intercede for us.  He suffered to satisfy the demands of justice.  He suffered to redeem us, to have compassion for us, that we might find Grace through Him.

Then the lesson asked us, “What does this mean to me?”

Even at the ripe old age of 60, or maybe because I’ve reached that age, I feel that my understanding of my Savior and His atoning sacrifice is very limited.  I know that He died for me—for all of us, and I know that He suffered greatly.  I know that because of Him I can repent and work towards my salvation (though it is by Grace we are saved after all we can do).  I know that because of Him I can be reunited with Thomas and with my parents and grandparents and others who have gone on before me.  But even knowing all of this, I know I can never understand the depths of the Savior’s suffering.  The closest I ever came to even an inkling of understanding was when Thomas passed away.  I felt that if I had suffered anymore, I would have died.  And yet, that’s only a very small part of the Savior’s suffering.  His sacrifice and suffering is incomprehensible to me. 

What I do understand, is that I can turn to Him and He can and He will heal me.  He will comfort and guide me.  I am so very grateful for the atonement and for my Savior. 

I loved General Conference last week.  I haven’t yet dived into re-reading the talks, but I am ready to do it.  These few weeks have been interesting.  Our world was instantly changed.  We have had a lot of time at home, and hopefully, with that extra time we are doing a little better with our scripture study and other spiritual pursuits.  I do find that the time still goes by just as quickly as it did before, and I still go to bed at the end of the day thinking of all the things I didn’t do. 

I read an article this week about the Good Friday Fast and what significance it has.  It was worth reading.  Here is the link: Contemplating Calvary

We have really been obedient to directives and stayed home.  We’ve also mostly stayed away from family, though I admit, we saw family a little more this week than last because we had so many birthdays.

Finn on his birthday

Ila (a few days before her birthday) we gave her
a little Tupperware baking set).  Adrienne and AJ
bought this bounce house for their birthdays, since
they couldn't go anywhere or have any parties.  They ended
up getting it for free.  They picked it up, and then
got another notification to pick up their order.  A couple of
days later they were notified that they'd been refunded since
they didn't pick up the bounce house.  They called and said
they did get the bounce house, but the store said, "well, we can't
do anything on this end, so it's yours."

Finn and Ila wearing the sweatshirts I embroidered for them.  I've
finished one for almost everyone in the family.  They say "Rasband
Clan 2020" and each person picked their own design. They are
for Aspen Grove in June, but we're starting to doubt we will be going this year.

Finn said his birthday was ruined because of the virus.  It looked like he still had a pretty good birthday to me, but I guess it's a bummer when you can't celebrate with your friends.  They did miss their Spring Break in Disneyland and I think that was probably kind of a bummer.

Finn's birthday breakfast

Hyeji on her birthday, with Yuna and grandma

The next group of pictures are from conference Sunday, last week.

Roy and Catharine during our Sacrament Meeting/Come Follow Me

Caitlyn.  She didn't know we were taking her picture

The Green's watching conference

The Vance's watching conference

The Dan Rasband family watching conference

 The Nick Rasband family watching conference

Doyeon eating (and watching conference?)

Ruby and Greta moved their conference watching to downstairs

The Jackson's watching conference

A few more pictures from the week:

Ila ran to give me a hug when we went to see her for
her birthday.  That's a rare treat for me!

She was so excited to get both Ana and Elsa for her
birthday!

Dan and Roy got away for a Saturday morning rabbit hunting trip.
They didn't get anything.

I think this one is Roy

 And finally: The Dan Rasband kids took a break from their house for a few minutes and played in our backyard.

Yuna (she can't make a normal face for the camera--it's impossible)

Dojin

Doyeon

Hyeji

Easter was definitely different this year.  I didn't even put out one decoration.  I figured no one would see them but Caitlyn, Roy and me, so what was the point?  I didn't shop for candy either.  It was still a wonderful Easter with all of our focus on the Savior.  We had our sacrament meeting, listened to Andrea Bocelli's special Easter concert from the Duomo in Milan.  We also listened to the Messiah that was recorded previously by the Choir at Temple Square.  We took a short walk and we had a family visit on Zoom. Life is precious and wonderful.  We have so many blessings to be grateful for.