He is Risen

He is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia! 
It's such a joyful greeting to have on Easter morning.  We feel that Easter is the most important holiday in the church because it is when we celebrate our salvation.  It's a humbling and celebratory day for our family.  A gift that we didn't earn, and don't deserve but are given out of pure unconditional love by God.  Wow!  What a blessing to spend Holy Week focused on just that precious gift.

In our family's celebration, we began the morning with dolling the girls up in thier Easter best to go have breakfast at church.

Kaitlyn's Sunday School class had an egg hunt.  It was a bit wet that morning, so they had to do it inside.  She was allowed to pick 6 eggs, and of course went for all of the princess decorated ones - but only the pink ones of course.

Christine decided to get in on the action too.

During communion, everyone brought up a flower to place on the cross.  The finished product is beautiful, and provided a great backdrop for several family pictures.

Including our own!

Happy Easter!

Resurrection Story Cookies

This year, we received this recipe for these meringue type cookies from Kaitlyn's preschool.  It was sure fun to try them out!

Before you do anything, preheat the oven to 300
Ingredients
3 egg whites
1 c whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
pinch of salt
1 c sugar
ziplock baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Place pecans in the baggie and have the children beat them with the wooden spoon.  Tell them after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3

Let the children smell the vinegar, and put in the mixing bowl.  Explain this is what Jesus was given to drink when he was thirsty on the cross.

Read John 19:28 - 30

Add egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life. Explain Jesus gave his life to give us life.

Read John 10:10 - 11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest in the bowl.  This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus's followers and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

Add 1 cup of Sugar.  This is to represent the sweetest part of the story - Jesus died because he loves us.

Read Psalm 34:8 & John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 - 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed (don't stop early - they won't turn out right).  Explain the color white represents purity in God's eyes for those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons on wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Explain each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus's body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:57 - 60

Put the cookies in the oven, give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.  Explain Jesus tomb was sealed.

Read Matt 27:65 - 66

Turn oven OFF  and GO TO BED.  The children may feel sad about leaving their cookies overnight.  Explain Jesus's followers were in despair when his tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 & 22

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!

Read Matthew 28:1 - 9

Then get ready for church!

OK, so they didn't turn out like they should have for us, party because we didn't beat the egg whites enough I think.  So hopefully next year they will be hollow!  But it was fun anyway, and Kaitlyn heard the Easter story in a new way.

Decorating Eggs

Kaitlyn had a great time decorating her Easter eggs this year.  She really liked getting creative with the colors and coloring them with the 'magic' crayon.

writing her name - of course :-)

Choosing just the right color

So Pretty!

Perfect Timing

Today was just one of those days.  Our air isn't working well, so the house has been between 85 & 90 degrees all day.  With the pollen in the air, I had to do a deep clean of the downstairs so poor Christine's nose will stop running, and the girls were not being all that cooperative ... just one of those days.

By the time I finished their bath, my patience was hanging by a thread.  Of course Kaitlyn decided to sing the most annoying song she possibly could - repeating a nonsense word in a high pitched tone as Christine pulled at my shirt while I tried to get her ready for bed.  Ok, I had had it! 
"Kaitlyn, that's enough singing.  Please put your jammies on." 
"Mommy you would like me to get dressed?" 
"You know what I would really like???" 
Before I had the chance to answer, Christine succeeded in lifting my shirt and planted a big raspberry on my belly. 
All three of us giggled through a couple more raspberries, then got ready for bed. 
I am reminded that God shows up in surprising ways.  Just when I felt like I was at the end of my rope, He blessed me with one of my favorite sounds - my girls' giggles.

Holy Week

Yesterday Holy Week began with Maundy Thursday service, which is the Last Supper, and the night Jesus taught his disciples what we call communion.  Sean delivered the message for the service at church, and talked about Jesus washing his disciples feet.  At the conclusion, he told them to wash each others feet.  To serve each other.  I was really moved by Jesus - the creator of the universe, the son of God kneeling to wash the feet of his students.  A completely selfless act done out of love.
Whenever we talk about the actions and sacrifices of Jesus, I am reminded of the responsibility that comes with my salvation.  I don't know exactly what I will do to serve my fellow man, but I do know that I will be more open to, and aware of opportunities that arise around me.  One of the ways we emulate the love of God is through service to His children, and I am honored to spread the love!