Easter-General Conference

It was delightful to have all of the Utah families with us over Easter and Conference weekend. We were able to play with Talisa and Kira for a little while on Friday night while Keith and Kim went to the Durban South Africa Mission Reunion. Afterward, Phillip Blackburn (a former missionary companion) and his wife, and baby visited with Keith's family at their home in Riverton. Saturday evening John and Keith went to General Priesthood in our stake center. Kim and her girls went shopping with her mom. Talisa is excited about ballet lessons and Kira crawls around the floor and pulls herself up to the furniture. Still no teeth for her yet.

It is always a treat to have Julie and Jason visit us. They stayed overnight at Jason's home. While the men went to Priesthood, Julie went to dinner with Jason's mom and sister.

It's fun to have Kristilyn, Grant and James visit us on Friday afternoon. James' reply now to "How are you?" is "Pretty good." Kristilyn directs the music for Primary and she makes sure that everyone in the Jr. Primary gets a turn to hold a picture or particate in front of the rest every week. A week or so ago, Grant was chosen to help from the "reverence jar" then after a few others were chosen, James' name was also chosen for the same activity. James was so excited and called, "Grant, we get to go together!" The pianist whispered to Kristilyn, "I wonder if that was their reaction when they discovered that they got to come to earth as twins!" Most of the time it is amazing how well they play together and how polite and kind they are to each other. "Actually" is one of their favorite words. Their blessing on the food in stereo is memorable.

I enjoyed talking with Melody on Saturday night. She said that Daniel Carter's response to "How are you?" is "We're hanging in there." Children repeat what they hear.

It was a surprise to have the ground covered with snow on Easter morning. We are expecting 2-4 inches of snow in the valley tonight. Grant and James are excited to see the daffodils "hatching." I made freezer strawberry jam, Grandma Rasband's rolls, strawberry cheese cake, and we had ham and Cub Scout potatoes for dinner after conference. I always appreciate the willing help I receive in preparing, bringing, and cleaning up after meals.

This has been a wonderful time for the DuPaix family. Mollie was sealed to Meredith and Shane Jacobs in the Jordan River Temple on March 27, 2010. Shane has a good job in Arizona so they will be moving from the Chicago area after they sell their home. Roger, Edie, Meri, and Mollie drove up to Canada to be with Angi for the birth of her second baby, Nixon Steven Owen Gerrie, who was born in April 1, 2010. Their other cute little boy, Deakon just turned three.

This has been a special Easter season. It was a blessing to prepare six musical numbers with the Elijah Choir for the Easter Devotional last Monday. The feeling was "strong Holy Ghost" as my student last week described it. Pres. Simmons' words were tender and profound. General Conference talks and music have been marvelous as always. Never do I remember such emphasize on the home and family. Easter Sunday's sessions were time of sacred remembrance. In stake conference, we were asked to read the Easter story from the New Testament in preparation for Easter so most nights John and I have been reading to each other. It has been like reading a brand new story because there is so much more there that I understand from the last time I read it. The message is so plain. That has been a treat and a blessing. The following quote helps me remember the importance of daily prayer and scripture study as well as the importance of monitering our thoughts:

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." ---Henry David Thoreau