Kage's Soccer Game

Jesus' Last Days

My favorite institute teacher of all time (who is more like a dear friend/mother/wonder woman than just an institute teacher), LeAnn Whitesides, put together a list of scriptures and other readings to study during the week leading up to Easter.  I've loved it ever since she gave it to me, and I've tried to incorporate it into my Easter celebration each year.  I was happy that I found it in my notebook just in time to start the reading on Saturday.  While it's a couple of days late for you, dear reader, to start on Saturday, I decided to post it anyway, in case you have the yen to read along.  Happy Easter!

suggested reading for April 16 - April 24, 2011

Jesus’ Last Days

It is not always evident from the scriptures exactly which events happened on which days.

Our calendar is different from the Jewish Calendar.  For the sake of consideration the dates are given as we reckon time.

Saturday (Day of Anointing): Jesus is anointed in Bethany by Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus).
John 12:3-8; BD, “Anoint” 609; Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage, ch 29, note 7.

Sunday (Day of Popularity also known as Palm Sunday): The first day of the greatest week in history.  The Savior left the small village of Bethany where He had spent the Sabbath with Mary, Martha and Lazarus and began to walk toward Jerusalem, less than three miles away.  Matthew records that ‘a very great multitude’ had come out to greet the Master, spreading their garments and palm branches before Him and crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matt 21:8-9 -- known as the Triumphal Entry).
When the Savior came nearer to Jerusalem, He wept over the city as he contemplated the future destruction that would come upon its people.
When evening came He went back to Bethany with the twelve (Mark 11:11).
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-36; BD, “Hosanna” 704-5; Jesus the Christ, ch 29, note 8.

Monday (Day of Authority): Jesus returned to Jerusalem.  He curses the barren fig tree and cleanses the temple.
Matthew 21:12-18; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48.

Tuesday (Day of Conflict and Teaching): Jewish leaders devised barbed questions to ask the Lord, hoping that they could discredit Him.  Jesus teaches in the temple and on the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 21:19-46, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26:1-16; Mark 11:20-33, 12, 13, 14:1-11; Luke 20, 21, 22:1-6; John 12:27-50; BD, “Parables” 740-41; Jesus the Christ ch 19.

Wednesday (Day of Rest): Jesus probably spends a day of rest with His friends at Bethany.  Elder Talmage says a reverential curtain is drawn over that day.

Thursday (Day of Fellowship): Jesus partakes of the “Last Supper” with His Apostles and offers the great Intercessory prayer, praying to the Father for His Apostles and all who believe in Him.
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane where He ‘took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world’ (James Talmage).  Around midnight, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss and Jesus is arrested by the chief priests, scribes and elders.
Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-65; John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18:1-27; Jesus the Christ ch 33, note 3.

Friday (Day of Suffering): At about sunrise, Jesus is officially condemned by Caiaphas and the Jewish Sanhedrin.  He is taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, about 6:00 am.  Pilate sends Jesus to Herod.  Herod returns Jesus to Pilate, who releases Barabbas and delivers Him to be crucified.  Jesus is crowned with thorns and mocked.  Simon the Cyrene helps Him carry the cross to Calvary.  Soldiers part Jesus’ garments.  Darkness lasts from noon to 3:00 pm.  Jesus dies.  His side is pierced with a spear.  Jesus is buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.
Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 22:66-71, 23:1-56; John 18:28-40, 19:1-42.

Saturday (Day of Silence, the Jewish Sabbath): Guards are placed at the tomb.  Jesus ministers to those in Spirit Prison (1 Peter 3:18-20; D&C 138:29-37).  Savior spoke out of the darkness to the Nephite survivors on the American Continent.
3 Nephi 9:12-22; Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:56.

Sunday (Day of Triumph): Jesus victoriously rises from the dead.
Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-12; Luke 24:1-49; John 20:1-23.

Above material adapted from an exercise by Anne Woodbury Moore, New Era April 1994 and A Christ-Centered Easter by Janet and Joe Hales.  Prepared by LeAnn Whitesides March 2010.

Golden Corral Warm-Up

A little photo documentation that proves we're enjoying our spring break Logan style.

Ah, yes.  Clouds and mountains.  Life is good.

The first tree dropping of the season ... a tradition continues.

Domination.

A sampling of Gregg's photography skills.  Just lovely.

Green!  Makes my heart happy.

I call this one "A Girl and her Dishy Husband"

For this I have no words.

Mountain majesty.

I will eat them anywhere!

Inspired by my aunt, Kathryn, Gregg and I enjoyed a nice dinner of this

to celebrate Dr. Seuss's 107th birthday.

Snowshoeing in Green Canyon

Gregg went skiing today.
I spent the morning in the lab.

But before you feel sorry for me, let me just show you what I did after my cells and mice were taken care of:

Yeah, it was a good day with my sis.

Miss Moo comes to visit

We got to spend Saturday evening in the company of a mighty adorable 2 1/2-year-old niece. And what a fun evening it was!

She kept us entertained by showing off her

letter
and number
and color
and animal (complete with sounds)
and body part
identification skills.

Miss Moo is one smart cookie.

We colored and stickered and read stories and watched Despicable Me.

And we may or may not have taught her a new cheer: "Go Aggies!"

And then she put herself to bed on her pink hippo pillow/sleeping bag combo.

Talk about easiest babysitting job ever!

Thanks for coming to play, Melia!

And a note to any other nieces or nephews who may be reading this blog:

we'd love to have you come visit and play, too!

As Good as it Gets

No sense wasting time with words, I'll let the pictures do the talking. Just know this, when you combine warm weather, soft sand, the happiest place on earth, good food, temples, sunsets, and a rock-awesome traveling partner...let's just say, its hard to beat.


Day 1 - Walking through the surf at Newport Beach. Just after we hit up In-n-Out before soaking it up in the hot tub before a rather early bedtime.


Day 2 - Disneyland! Woot! On the bridge in Tarzan's treehouse. The lines were great all day. Most rides had about a 5-10 minute wait. Both Space Mtn and the Matternhorn were around 15-20. Autopia was about 25 but we were lucky enough to go at the absolute busiest time. Go figure.


Lunch of some bodaciously large corn-dogs at a little spot by the Golden Horseshoe.


Waiting in line (fast pass of course) at the Indiana Jones ride.


Walt has a mouse to pose with. I get a cute girl.


The Autopia hillsides flying by at over 5mph.


We wanted a picture with Mickey. The only way to get one these days is to wait in a super awkward line at his house and be escorted into his presence by two...um...interesting Disneyland staff guys.


Dinner of Steak Gumbo (for Kim) and Clam Chowder (for me) in breadbowls. Tasty viddles indeed.


Day 3 - We spend the day at the beach watching surfers, collecting shells, and playing a little frisbee. Kim's ultra-fabulous photography skills even captured this rather awesome shot a Huntington Beach local.


Also day 3, we got to see a pretty amazing sunset. The next picture shows the colors a little better. This picture was taken from the Seal Beach pier.


Surfers and sunsets, a snazzy combination. Right after Kim snagged this shot we headed to Kinda Lahaina in Seal Beach (where we ate last year as a family) for some seafood.


Day 4 - We caught a session at the Newport Beach temple to start our day before heading back to Anaheim for the afternoon.


We spent the evening in Downtown Disney, window shopping a bit. Legoland was particularly cool.


And finally, a nice California Pizza Kitchen dinner to end the week. Quite tasty.