Happy Easter, Sugar Bush, and lots of pics :)

 This has been a great day. Groceries were cheaper than normal, and I got to wear PANTS because we went to a maple farm!! Here, it's called going to "sugar bush". I had been pretty scared to try on my jeans, but I can still pull them on! Albeit, it isn't a comfortable fit, but it's better than I was expecting.

Some members in the ward offered to take us and the Elders to sugar bush because it's such a Canadian thing to do this time of year, it was so fun! Experiences like that are the reason my jeans are too tight. 

 It's this all you can eat deal where they just keep bringing you food and you put maple syrup on all of it and you learn about how they make the syrup and at the end of the meal, they give you "taffy in the snow" which is when they pour the syrup into some snow and then roll it up on a stick and you eat it. Sugar overload. But I feel very Canadian.

And then we dyed Sister Johnston's hair :) It was already reddish and now it's redder.

Easter weekend has been really special. They had school and work off here for the Friday and the Monday around Easter, which I think for most people was just fun because vacation is fun, but it was cool seeing the way the members chose to use that to more fully observe the holiday and make it a time to really strengthen their families and relationships with Christ. And it made it really easy to talk to a lot of people! There have been more people out, especially because the weather is slowly getting better, and we have shared the Easter video with all of them. I absolutely LOVE people realizing that we are actually Christian, and we actually have the same fundamental beliefs about Christ as they do. I love Easter.

The holiday also gave me the chance to reflect on last Easter -- my first and only time attending general conference in the conference center, and the day I opened my mission call. That was one of the most memorable days of my life. I bore an emotional breakdown in Relief Society on Sunday about the way that decision has changed everything about me (except the things about me that were already good...there were a few of those). I don't even remember how all the little decisions happened that led up to that one...I only know there had to be divine intervention. I am so very grateful that He intervenes. I am so grateful to be on a mission, and I am grateful that I associate that decision with such a wonderful holiday. I'm grateful to associate my decision to serve the Savior with the events manifesting his infinite service to us. I love Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for holidays that give us the opportunity to express our love for Him, joined by millions of people everywhere.

I love Sister Johnston! I tend to take my companions for granted because I'm with them all the time 

but just so you all and future me are aware, I have a wonderful companion. She spoke in Sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday and it gave me more of an opportunity to realize how blessed I am to be studying and serving and friendshipping every day with someone so anchored to Christ and Heavenly Father. She's fun and she has the most genuine heart I have ever encountered. I love her.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things to tell you. Ummmmm I've eaten an amazing amount of food in the last

few days. Members here express their love by force-feeding us.

I love you! Souvenez-vous qui vous êtes!
We're off to another dinner appointment! Happy Easter!

Sister Lonas

P.S. I might be a little hyper after going to the maple farm...