Spring Break

Spring Break was a blast! It was an insight to what being a SAHM would be like. Christmas Break wasn't so much as we were traveling the entire time, but Spring Break, we mostly stayed home as Justin worked throughout the week.

I had participated in an Easter Swap hosted by Peculiar Treasures. We were paired up and to get an Easter treat, preferably local treats and a card with an Easter scripture. I gave a gift to Kinberley from Peculiar Treasures and I received one from Emilie.  She is part Brazilian, so she sent me her favorite Brazilian white chocolate Easter egg. It was huge and delicious! I am so glad to have gotten to know Emilie!

Last Friday, March 27th, was my last day of teaching. So, that night, we went to my parents' house in Farmington. Rhys was already there, as my mom watched him while Justin and I worked. He was just having the time of his life with his aunts and uncle and puppy cousins! It was a fun weekend of relaxing, going through childhood mementos as my parents started cleaning out and simplifying their household. Saturday, we went to Texas Roadhouse as my sister has a job there. Afterward, Mom, Dad, Paige, Rhys and I went to a local park and had a fun time enjoying the good weather.

During last week, Rhys and I stayed home, enjoying each other's company. We also went shopping for new clothes for me, and were somewhat successful. I also started getting up with Justin and making him breakfast. I thought to myself this week that I could get used to living like this.

This past weekend, we went down to spend the weekend with Justin's brother and his family. The last time we were down there was for Thanksgiving and Rhys was almost 5 moths old and was just scooting around. He was so excited to see his cousins again, crawled after them, "tackled" them, and gave them a barrage of kisses. He had the time of his life playing with them and their toys. Justin and I enjoyed their company, as well as Jason and Rachel's, watching movies after all the kids were in bed.

He didn't actually eat any candy ;)

How was your Easter? How did you celebrate?

Easter and General Conference

I want to wish you a Happy Easter weekend!

And, I want to invite you to listen to prophets, apostles, and disciples of Christ as they teach and uplift our souls this weekend during General Conference.

You can stream it live on this website or watch on the BYUTV channel. Sessions are today 10 AM and 2 PM and tomorrow at the same time.

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Now, for your weekend reading enjoyment:

** I talk about why blogging makes me brave
** Justin talks about lemonade and steak
** See what my motivation is to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight and shape

**Whitney shares some awesome tips on getting your own stock photos while on vacation!
** While watching Conference this weekend, take a break and make these delicious Easter Rice Krispy Treats by Tiffany!
**If you are graduating college, Madison has some great truths you need to hear!

Also, I am looking for sponsors! Please check it out! You won't regret it!

Because of Him

He is Risen! He is Risen!

Via

I absolutely love Easter season because of Him. Christ, our Savior, bled and died for us and was resurrected so that we, too, can live again. Because of Him, so many good things can happen in our lives.

Because of Him, we can be resurrected and reunited with our loved ones in the eternities. We can be sealed together for all time and eternity and always be a family. This poignant part of the great plan has been at the forefront of my mind this Easter weekend because my sister-in-law, the baby of my husband's family, got married.

We went to Idaho with Justin's family to witness this joyous occasion. We were able to attend the temple with Jenny, her fiance, Kendell Marquiss, and the rest of the Morrell and Marquiss clan the night before the wedding. It was such a special experience to see the last of the Morrell's go through the temple for the first time. (My siblings are all still too young to attend the temple.)

The next morning was their wedding, to again, take place within the temple. As Mormons, we believe that if you get married within the temple, you can be sealed to your spouse for all time and eternity, so it was a special occasion. Sadly, that means little kids and relative/friends not members of the Church can't witness the ceremony. But, what was very special for my Mother and Father-in-law, and very neat for me to witness, was that all the Morrell children and their spouses were able to attend and witness the youngest join the ranks of being eternally married to her love.

Again, this could only happen because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Because of that resurrection, we will be together as families forever.

Mother and Father-in-law, and all of the Morrell children.

But, it's not a free ride. We have to work towards being together again in the highest degree of glory after death. My mother-in-law was inspired by President Ezra Taft Benson who was the Prophet of the LDS church in the 80s: "As parents and grandparents in Zion, it has been the shared hope of my wife and me that all of us will be together in the eternities—that all will be worthy, without a single empty chair."

Since that talk, my mother-in-law has had little chairs made to represent each member of the Morrell family to place on her mantel. Each time a child is married or a grandbaby is born, a new chair is put up to represent them in hopes that each new Morrell will keep their covenants so that we can all be together in heaven. 

I absolutely love this idea. When Justin and I got married in August 2012, I was presented with a chair that day. I was able to hold it and know I was accepted into the Morrell family. (Of course, my mother-in-law took it home with her to put on her mantel, but it's the symbolism that counts). It was really neat to see Kendell, the newest "Morrell" (even though Jenny will take his name) receive his chair as well. And to know that the next one to receive a chair will be Justin and my son, Rhys.

Because of Him, I can have an eternal family, both my Christiansen family with my own parents and siblings, as well as my new Morrell family. I can be with them during life and after death. Time has no meaning, family has no end Because of Him.

So once again, Kendell and Jenny, congratulations!

Easter and Christ's Ressurection

Today, Justin and I spent Easter with my family. We woke up to Easter baskets full of chocolate! (Due to me asking if we were going to have Easter baskets.) Sometimes, I miss being a kid and want those fun memories to stay alive.

We had creamed eggs on ciabatta bread. My favorite Easter breakfast!

We went to church with my family and had a wonderful Sacrament Meeting and great talks from their bishopric about the Atonement.

When we got home, Justin, Bobby, and I played some volleyball. Grandma came over and we had Easter dinner: apricot-glazed ham, cheesy potatoes, almond green beans, fruit salad, orange-glazed rolls. We then played a rousing game of Apples-to-Apples. It was Grandma's first time playing and she won!

We then had dessert: Angel food cake with strawberries!

We have also been watching the last episode of the Bible series on History channel. I am so sad that Justin and I don't have television at home because I would have loved to watch it all. I'm a History channel fanatic! I am really enjoying this last episode--trying to make it more of a continuous scene rather than a documentary. It is very engaging! I love it!

But, what I really love about Easter is the Resurrection of our Savior. I bear my testimony that Christ is our Messiah, our Redeemer, our Savior. He sacrificed His life for us that we may live again like He does. If we follow His Gospel and try to be like He is, we can be resurrected and live with our families, whom we have been sealed to, for eternity. We celebrate Christ's resurrection rather than His crucifixion because it gives us faith, hope, a believe that has been held onto for the past 2000 years and has been spread throughout the world. His Gospel is true and His Gospel is full of love. I love my Savior and I love the prophet Thomas S. Monson who leads the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in doing His will. I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter eating chocolate and celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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A Reception and Colored Eggs

Today was the beginning of my Spring Break! YAAAY! I felt so relaxed.

I woke up without an alarm around 8:40 and felt wide awake. I made Justin and me dirty eggs and bacon and he was so stoked to have bacon!

I watched a couple episodes of How I Met Your Mother, and intermittently worked on my internship Teacher Work Sample. There was some house cleaning while the husband went to BYU spring football scrimmage.

Then there was 50 cent tacos at Del Taco for lunch. Ya. We bought a total of 8 tacos and 2 $1 shakes and got an extra taco for free! All about $6!

A nap ensued, and more work, reading, TWS, cleaning.

Then, it was time to go to one of my good, dear friends Ron's wedding reception. Ron and I met in Welsh class and we traveled to Wales with our friend Liz for study abroad. Ron has been like a big brother to me for the past 3 years and I was so happy he got married.

It's kinda windy. Orange shirt and cute brown/yellow floral skirt (Wal-Mart) brown wedge heels (Payless), blue cardigan (Target)

The reception was gorgeous. Ron was so happy and his new wife was beautiful. They also had amazing food: sushi and rice balls, pasta, croissant sandwiches, fruits, veggies, and desserts! Awesome! We also saw some of my study abroad friends and we reminisced about Wales.

We went up to Farmington afterwards to spend Easter weekend with my family. My siblings and I decided to dye eggs! I love dying eggs! It's one thing I will never grow tired of.

Can't wait until tomorrow! It's Easter!!!!

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