It feels like these past few weeks have been a whirlwind around our house. {more so than normal.}
Our family seems to be dealing with one thing after another. We get one thing settled, checked off our list, only to turn around to another issue. It's more than getting a necklace done, a photo shoot, school conferences, our yard cleaned. I mean emotionally draining issues.
There are times I look back to see all we have dealt with and wonder how we are still {relatively} sane. But then I know. We believe in a God who is constant. A God who is faithful. A God who didn't promise there would never be rough times but a God who promised to be here with us as we deal with them.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Knowing we aren't alone, knowing God is in control, knowing God is shaping us through our struggles makes it hard to have a bad attitude. Sure there are times I would love to throw my hands up in the air, stomp my feet and yell "WHY? We don't do things to put ourselves in the situation we are in. Why are we having to go through these trials? Why God why?"
However.
It's hard to be upset and play the victim role when you know God knows what He is doing. So we choose to trust in Him. We choose to stay positive. We choose whether we allow outside drama into our lives. We choose whether we allow ourselves to take our eyes off God and instead look at the worldly ways. We choose to find the good along with the bad.
While we may not always be able to choose our circumstances, we can choose our reaction to them.
We can choose our attitude.
..........I love the following quote by Charles R. Swindoll........
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.
So.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
what do you choose?
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
{ what to expect? }
In honor of Earth Day I thought I'd finish and post this post I started a month ago. {grin}
.............................................................................................
There is one thing for certain...You never know what to expect when you come to my blog.
Some days you might find sweet pictures of my girls, other days a recipe, even a sappy story once in a while. You just never know.
Try living with me.
Poor Tim was telling me the story he was telling a co-worker the other day.
I just never know what to expect when I come home at night. Some days the house is super clean and supper is waiting, other nights no one is home, and then there are nights when as soon as I pull in the driveway I get a call saying, "Honey? We are clear down at the end of the gravel road. Can you come pick the girls and I up? Oh and bring the van because I need the room to put stuff. Do you see us? We are in the ditch. Don't ask. Well we walked down here. Seriously it will all make sense when you come. Can you hurry?"
The end.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kidding.
The rest of the story.
I have been running on our gravel road the past few weeks. Since winter is just ending the ditches are lots of dust covered dead brown grass. A far cry from late in summer when they are filled with tall green grass. Because the grass isn't tall now, I have been noticing all the garbage in the ditches. It drives me crazy.
So I had a brilliant idea! I'd take the double stroller and jog up to the highway. {2 miles total} I'd let the girls walk in the ditch and throw the garbage up to me. Not only would we get to enjoy the beautiful day and get some exercise, it was a great teaching moment for the girls, how even though we weren't the ones who threw the garbage out, God wants us to take care of His world.
It started off well. The ditches weren't wet as I thought they might be. The girls thought it was tons of fun. I had told them they could keep the $ from the cans so they were running/fighting to get those. Leaving me to jump down in the ditch to grab the garbage.
What I didn't count on was the sheer amount of garbage/cans. A little over 1/2 way our garbage bags and two Target bags were full so we decided to turn around and head back home. At that point the garbage bag was sitting on one side of the side by side double stroller and Kenna decided to sit on the other side. The can filled Target bags were on the canopy. Kinz just kept picking up more and more cans. We were piling cans around the garbage bag, in the canopy, on in the pockets, on Kenna. To get the full effect I should mention it was super windy and it was right as people were coming home from work covering us in dust. My hair felt like straw and we were soooo covered.in.dirt. And Gunner went with us. Trying to keep him next to us really added to the stress.
Finally we made it back onto our {less busy} road when we see a bunch of cans on the opposite side. Kinz decides I should go grab them while she pushes the stroller with the unbuckled Kenna in it. All the sudden I hear yelling and look over to see the stroller rolling down the ditch with poor Kenna wide eyed. I manage to throw my hand against her chest and stop her from falling out and having the stroller fall on top of her. The stroller is stuck half way up the ditch, Kinz is on the road trying to hold the stroller from rolling and I am standing there trying to get Kenna out while all the garbage and cans fall out all over the ground and all over me. It was this point a neighbor drives by and waves. Great just great! I swear aren't so broke we have to pick up cans, I'm just trying to teach my kids a lesson!
I had absolutely no idea what to do at this point other than leave the stroller and walk home when I see Tim pull in the driveway in his work van. We start yelling although we are too far away for him to hear us. Then Kinz has a brilliant idea that we should call him. For the only time ever I actually took my phone. I dug it out from under the pile of cans and he came to the rescue!
The end of the conversation with his co-worker.
I pull up and see my entire family of women completely covered in dirt, in the ditch, picking up garbage, laughing so hard they can't pull the stroller out of the ditch. They were as all happy as can be. I'm not sure I understand it but my wife sure keeps our lives interesting.
And you think you don't know what to expect with me.
.............................................................................................
There is one thing for certain...You never know what to expect when you come to my blog.
Some days you might find sweet pictures of my girls, other days a recipe, even a sappy story once in a while. You just never know.
Try living with me.
Poor Tim was telling me the story he was telling a co-worker the other day.
I just never know what to expect when I come home at night. Some days the house is super clean and supper is waiting, other nights no one is home, and then there are nights when as soon as I pull in the driveway I get a call saying, "Honey? We are clear down at the end of the gravel road. Can you come pick the girls and I up? Oh and bring the van because I need the room to put stuff. Do you see us? We are in the ditch. Don't ask. Well we walked down here. Seriously it will all make sense when you come. Can you hurry?"
The end.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Kidding.
The rest of the story.
I have been running on our gravel road the past few weeks. Since winter is just ending the ditches are lots of dust covered dead brown grass. A far cry from late in summer when they are filled with tall green grass. Because the grass isn't tall now, I have been noticing all the garbage in the ditches. It drives me crazy.
So I had a brilliant idea! I'd take the double stroller and jog up to the highway. {2 miles total} I'd let the girls walk in the ditch and throw the garbage up to me. Not only would we get to enjoy the beautiful day and get some exercise, it was a great teaching moment for the girls, how even though we weren't the ones who threw the garbage out, God wants us to take care of His world.
It started off well. The ditches weren't wet as I thought they might be. The girls thought it was tons of fun. I had told them they could keep the $ from the cans so they were running/fighting to get those. Leaving me to jump down in the ditch to grab the garbage.
What I didn't count on was the sheer amount of garbage/cans. A little over 1/2 way our garbage bags and two Target bags were full so we decided to turn around and head back home. At that point the garbage bag was sitting on one side of the side by side double stroller and Kenna decided to sit on the other side. The can filled Target bags were on the canopy. Kinz just kept picking up more and more cans. We were piling cans around the garbage bag, in the canopy, on in the pockets, on Kenna. To get the full effect I should mention it was super windy and it was right as people were coming home from work covering us in dust. My hair felt like straw and we were soooo covered.in.dirt. And Gunner went with us. Trying to keep him next to us really added to the stress.
Finally we made it back onto our {less busy} road when we see a bunch of cans on the opposite side. Kinz decides I should go grab them while she pushes the stroller with the unbuckled Kenna in it. All the sudden I hear yelling and look over to see the stroller rolling down the ditch with poor Kenna wide eyed. I manage to throw my hand against her chest and stop her from falling out and having the stroller fall on top of her. The stroller is stuck half way up the ditch, Kinz is on the road trying to hold the stroller from rolling and I am standing there trying to get Kenna out while all the garbage and cans fall out all over the ground and all over me. It was this point a neighbor drives by and waves. Great just great! I swear aren't so broke we have to pick up cans, I'm just trying to teach my kids a lesson!
I had absolutely no idea what to do at this point other than leave the stroller and walk home when I see Tim pull in the driveway in his work van. We start yelling although we are too far away for him to hear us. Then Kinz has a brilliant idea that we should call him. For the only time ever I actually took my phone. I dug it out from under the pile of cans and he came to the rescue!
The end of the conversation with his co-worker.
I pull up and see my entire family of women completely covered in dirt, in the ditch, picking up garbage, laughing so hard they can't pull the stroller out of the ditch. They were as all happy as can be. I'm not sure I understand it but my wife sure keeps our lives interesting.
And you think you don't know what to expect with me.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
{ I have a problem. }
Clearly I have a problem.
It's obvious
I take,
edit,
and post,
way to many
photos.
However I am more concerned
with knowing
my daughter
is already
this pretty
at age 4.
We are going to be in a world of hurt in 12 years or so.
I {think} I know which is my favorite.....Which is yours?
It's obvious
I take,
edit,
and post,
way to many
photos.
However I am more concerned
with knowing
my daughter
is already
this pretty
at age 4.
We are going to be in a world of hurt in 12 years or so.
I {think} I know which is my favorite.....Which is yours?
Friday, April 16, 2010
{ mud. }
Spring makes everything look filthy. ~ Katherine Whitehorn
In the spring, at the end of the day you should smell like dirt. ~ Margaret Atwood
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
{ Rainbow Cupcakes }
Aren't these the prettiest cupcakes you've ever seen?
They are actually really easy to make.
........................................................................................
You start by mixing up a box of white cake mix.
Then divide the batter into 6 equal parts.
Add food coloring to each bowl.
{Anywhere between 6-12 drops. I didn't count. Shocking, I know.}
Then it's as simple as layering the colors one spoonful at a time.
Reverse rainbow color order.
purple. blue. green. yellow. orange. red.
Make sure your spoon isn't heaping or you'll run out of room by the time you get to the top color.
After each color spread it around so it covers the majority of the color below.
{like the ones below on the left}
I realize the photos would have been much prettier with a un-stained pan but you use what you have. I have stained pans.
Bake according to box instructions.
Sit and watch because you are way to excited to see the finished result.
This part is optional. I cleaned the kitchen.
cool. frost. sprinkle.
taste a rainbow.
Friday, April 9, 2010
{ one sweet party }
When I say Kenna loves candy, you really have no idea how much. This girl loves her candy. My mom can't manage to get her coat off when she comes to visit before Kenna is asking for gum. One of my daycare moms made the mistake of bringing candy once. Now twice a day, drop off and pick up, Kenna says with the sweetest little smile, "Did you bring me any candy today?"
It was only fitting her birthday have a candy theme. {and with Easter so close it was pretty easy too.}
Each child was given a gift bag to fill with their favorite candies to take home. {You are welcome parents! I just wanted to make sure the sugar high from the cake and ice cream didn't wear off.}
We played candy games...
Musicalchairs pictures of candy and hot potato candy filled balloon with none other than the song Lollipop being played.
The kids had to pop their balloons to get the candy out of them.
Some kids weren't that great at getting their balloon to pop.
{ps. the previously mentioned birthday girl dressed herself for her party. Wasn't exactly the outfit I had ready for her}
Presents...
They played pin the stick on the lollipop.
They broke a pinata to get even more candy.
{my dog was a little nervous with all the bat swinging. Heck, I was a little nervous. That is why I stood in the far corner taking pictures.}
The kids frosted and sprinkled their own cupcake,
Kenna blew out all 4 candles and then
they bit into these....
It was such a sweet day for a sweet girl!
{super easy Rainbow cupcake recipe coming!}
It was only fitting her birthday have a candy theme. {and with Easter so close it was pretty easy too.}
Each child was given a gift bag to fill with their favorite candies to take home. {You are welcome parents! I just wanted to make sure the sugar high from the cake and ice cream didn't wear off.}
We played candy games...
Musical
The kids had to pop their balloons to get the candy out of them.
Some kids weren't that great at getting their balloon to pop.
{ps. the previously mentioned birthday girl dressed herself for her party. Wasn't exactly the outfit I had ready for her}
Presents...
They played pin the stick on the lollipop.
They broke a pinata to get even more candy.
{my dog was a little nervous with all the bat swinging. Heck, I was a little nervous. That is why I stood in the far corner taking pictures.}
The kids frosted and sprinkled their own cupcake,
Kenna blew out all 4 candles and then
they bit into these....
It was such a sweet day for a sweet girl!
{super easy Rainbow cupcake recipe coming!}
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
{ black and white wednesday...a time for everything }
Alternatively titled: yet another post that I mention my Grandma Deutsch's passing and my baby turning four. {Stick with me readers, I swear I'll get on a new topic soon!}
It's Wednesday?!?!? Already? How did that happen? I feel like I just posted a black and white photo for The Long Road to China and here it is Wednesday again.
It's been such a long jam-packed draining week. I could tell you everything I've been doing but frankly I doubt you really care, so I'll just leave it at Easter {Sunday}, my Grandma's funeral {Monday} and Kenna's birthday {Tuesday}. That's a lot of planning and a lot of details in three days.
Monday instead of working/going to school our family went to my Grandma's funeral which threw my days off, making me think it was Tuesday today, not Wednesday. It's actually surprising you are getting this post today at all and not tomorrow {Thursday} which in my mind should be Wednesday. {grin!} Did you follow that? I'm not even sure I follow it so don't feel bad. I'm tired and I'm to lazy to re-write it.
If you read yesterday's post you already know my baby, my youngest child, turned 4 yesterday. You can't pretend 4 is still a baby. Three still sounds kinda babyish. Four {sniff sniff} is just a big girl.
I watched her get dressed yesterday and my eyes filled with tears. 4 years ago she relied on me for everything and now here she is with her chubby little hands pulling her shirt over her head, sliding her toes in her flip flops and putting a hair clip in her hair that she just sprayed with detangler and brushed. She's so indepenent, which I do lalalalalove!, but it's still bittersweet to think of my baby growing up.
And growing up she is! She's already planning the next stage in her life. Just today she took her little purse filled with bracelets, play rings and chapstick to preschool. I made sure she knew she was not allowed to a} share chapstick with other kids and b}take the items out of "the purse" unless the teacher said. She informed me she would only take the ring out at playtime when she would be marrying her friend Owen. She and Owie have had this marriage in the works awhile. She is planning to move into his house. I told her I didn't think Owen slept with the lamp on and that did worry her a bit but not quite as much as the fact that he may not remove the ladybugs in her room before he goes to sleep. So we'll see how long this marriage lasts.
All day yesterday she talked of being 4. The things she could now do since she is older. How she is growing and catching up with her sister. She's all about being four until bedtime rolled around. That's when she popped her thumb in her mouth and was told 4 year olds can't suck their thumb, that I don't even care if she tells me, "my fumb is healthy and full of milk and I am bery firsty for milk." It's a rule. Four years olds can't suck their thumb. She slowly takes is out and says, "I don't wanna be four anymore. I'll just stay free."
If only that's how it worked, I'd keep her small forever. But we know better. In life, babies are born and grow up one birthday at a time. Seasons change. Loved ones pass away.
I mentioned our Monday was spent honoring my Grandma's life. There was a beautiful flower arrangement filled with white and pink roses and pink Easter lilies. The girls were each given a flower from this arrangement. Kinz was given a pink lily in bloom with an unbloomed lily on the same stem. It wasn't two seconds after being handed that flower stem that she tore off the pretty blooming flower to keep and handed me the remaining stem with the tighty closed flower. I didn't hold out much hope it would bloom but put it in a vase with some other flowers when I got home. Imagine my delight when I walked past my kitchen table this morning and saw this gentle reminder that life goes on....
There is a time for everything, and
a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to love.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4,8
While this week there has been mourning and and sadness, there is also laughter. To watch our newly turned four year old bloom where God planted her. To dance along side her and to love.
No matter the season, always love.
It's Wednesday?!?!? Already? How did that happen? I feel like I just posted a black and white photo for The Long Road to China and here it is Wednesday again.
It's been such a long jam-packed draining week. I could tell you everything I've been doing but frankly I doubt you really care, so I'll just leave it at Easter {Sunday}, my Grandma's funeral {Monday} and Kenna's birthday {Tuesday}. That's a lot of planning and a lot of details in three days.
Monday instead of working/going to school our family went to my Grandma's funeral which threw my days off, making me think it was Tuesday today, not Wednesday. It's actually surprising you are getting this post today at all and not tomorrow {Thursday} which in my mind should be Wednesday. {grin!} Did you follow that? I'm not even sure I follow it so don't feel bad. I'm tired and I'm to lazy to re-write it.
If you read yesterday's post you already know my baby, my youngest child, turned 4 yesterday. You can't pretend 4 is still a baby. Three still sounds kinda babyish. Four {sniff sniff} is just a big girl.
I watched her get dressed yesterday and my eyes filled with tears. 4 years ago she relied on me for everything and now here she is with her chubby little hands pulling her shirt over her head, sliding her toes in her flip flops and putting a hair clip in her hair that she just sprayed with detangler and brushed. She's so indepenent, which I do lalalalalove!, but it's still bittersweet to think of my baby growing up.
And growing up she is! She's already planning the next stage in her life. Just today she took her little purse filled with bracelets, play rings and chapstick to preschool. I made sure she knew she was not allowed to a} share chapstick with other kids and b}take the items out of "the purse" unless the teacher said. She informed me she would only take the ring out at playtime when she would be marrying her friend Owen. She and Owie have had this marriage in the works awhile. She is planning to move into his house. I told her I didn't think Owen slept with the lamp on and that did worry her a bit but not quite as much as the fact that he may not remove the ladybugs in her room before he goes to sleep. So we'll see how long this marriage lasts.
All day yesterday she talked of being 4. The things she could now do since she is older. How she is growing and catching up with her sister. She's all about being four until bedtime rolled around. That's when she popped her thumb in her mouth and was told 4 year olds can't suck their thumb, that I don't even care if she tells me, "my fumb is healthy and full of milk and I am bery firsty for milk." It's a rule. Four years olds can't suck their thumb. She slowly takes is out and says, "I don't wanna be four anymore. I'll just stay free."
If only that's how it worked, I'd keep her small forever. But we know better. In life, babies are born and grow up one birthday at a time. Seasons change. Loved ones pass away.
I mentioned our Monday was spent honoring my Grandma's life. There was a beautiful flower arrangement filled with white and pink roses and pink Easter lilies. The girls were each given a flower from this arrangement. Kinz was given a pink lily in bloom with an unbloomed lily on the same stem. It wasn't two seconds after being handed that flower stem that she tore off the pretty blooming flower to keep and handed me the remaining stem with the tighty closed flower. I didn't hold out much hope it would bloom but put it in a vase with some other flowers when I got home. Imagine my delight when I walked past my kitchen table this morning and saw this gentle reminder that life goes on....
There is a time for everything, and
a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to love.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4,8
While this week there has been mourning and and sadness, there is also laughter. To watch our newly turned four year old bloom where God planted her. To dance along side her and to love.
No matter the season, always love.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
{ four. }
fun.
fashionable.
fantastic.
fearless. {well minus ladybugs}
fiery.
faithful.
fabulous.
forgiving.
funny.
free.
Four years ago today I met this little girl face to face for the first time. I'd wondered if what others said was true. Could I really love another child as much as I loved my firstborn?
I shouldn't have worried.
Your hearts love doesn't divide, it multiplies.
How I love this girl with her open spirit. Seeing the joy that radiates from her is an honor. She brightens each and every day of my life. She makes my world a better place. She added something to my world I didn't even know was missing.
Fortunate.
How fortunate I am that four years ago, God gave us Kennacie Grace.
Happy 4th birthday baby!
.......................................................................................
Party pictures coming soon!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
{ Jesus Eggs & Jesus Cookies }
The Easter bunny made his annual visit to our house this morning. Of course he had to have some eggs to hide. At our house last night was spent taking plain white eggs and transforming them into masterpieces.
No clue at all why Kinzly is wearing her Halloween kitten ears. Perhaps she got her holidays mixed up? Weird I know.
This morning the girls put on their Easter dresses {thanks Grandma Decie!} dug into their Easter baskets, ate a breakfast casserole {and a Reese's peanut butter egg} and headed to church to celebrate the real reason for Easter.
After church we headed back home for lunch, a change of clothes, a mini-birthday party and an Easter egg hunt.
Kenna was so excited she ran right out of her shoe!
Kinzley ran out of room in her basket so used other options.
We had perfect weather this Easter. Notice the green grass? First time for everything! {grin}
The girls played outside allllll day and were filthy when I made them come inside tonight to shower then lay down to watch a new birthday present, The Squeakquel.
I'm guessing give or take a few details a fair number of homes around the US had a similar day; decorating eggs, baskets from the Easter bunny, an egg hunt.
However Easter Sunday is much much more than a few colorful eggs around our house. No Easter Sunday is the day when our Savior rose from the grave!!! As fun as the bright eggs are I don't want my girls to think that is what Easter is about.
A few years ago on a trip to the Christian book store I came across Resurrection Eggs.
Each egg contains a token. A leather whip to represent the whipping given to Jesus, nails in the cross to show the nails that were used to hold him on the cross, a stone to respresent the stone that was rolled in front of the tomb and the last egg containing nothing, to represent the empty tomb.
The girls look forward to hearing the Easter story with these eggs every year. I totally recommend them!
We also made Easter Story cookies or"Jesus cookies" as Kenna called them.
To start you need: Bible, 1 c pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch of salt, 1 c granulated sugar, ziplock bag, wooden spoon, tape
Preheat oven to 300 and line cookie sheet with wax paper.
First, have your helpers crush, smash, and beat the pecans and while they do it share with them that this is what the Roman soldiers did to Jesus’ body. Read John 19:1-3.
Before you add the vinegar to the mixing bowl let the children smell the vinegar. Explain to them that this is what Jesus was offered to drink. Read Read John 19:28-30
To the vinegar, add egg whites. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11. They weren't found of the smell. {grin}
Sprinkle a little salt into each childs hand and let them taste it. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27.
Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
As you can see, they liked this much better!
Next beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3.
Fold in the broken nuts. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20.
The next morning…
open the oven and remove the cookies. Notice – the cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
If anyone one else has any other Jesus Easter activities, I'd love to hear them to use next year. While I do love the chocolate the Easter bunny brings, at our house, Easter isn't about the bunny!
No clue at all why Kinzly is wearing her Halloween kitten ears. Perhaps she got her holidays mixed up? Weird I know.
This morning the girls put on their Easter dresses {thanks Grandma Decie!} dug into their Easter baskets, ate a breakfast casserole {and a Reese's peanut butter egg} and headed to church to celebrate the real reason for Easter.
After church we headed back home for lunch, a change of clothes, a mini-birthday party and an Easter egg hunt.
Kenna was so excited she ran right out of her shoe!
Kinzley ran out of room in her basket so used other options.
We had perfect weather this Easter. Notice the green grass? First time for everything! {grin}
The girls played outside allllll day and were filthy when I made them come inside tonight to shower then lay down to watch a new birthday present, The Squeakquel.
I'm guessing give or take a few details a fair number of homes around the US had a similar day; decorating eggs, baskets from the Easter bunny, an egg hunt.
However Easter Sunday is much much more than a few colorful eggs around our house. No Easter Sunday is the day when our Savior rose from the grave!!! As fun as the bright eggs are I don't want my girls to think that is what Easter is about.
A few years ago on a trip to the Christian book store I came across Resurrection Eggs.
Each egg contains a token. A leather whip to represent the whipping given to Jesus, nails in the cross to show the nails that were used to hold him on the cross, a stone to respresent the stone that was rolled in front of the tomb and the last egg containing nothing, to represent the empty tomb.
The girls look forward to hearing the Easter story with these eggs every year. I totally recommend them!
We also made Easter Story cookies or"Jesus cookies" as Kenna called them.
To start you need: Bible, 1 c pecans, 1 tsp. vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch of salt, 1 c granulated sugar, ziplock bag, wooden spoon, tape
Preheat oven to 300 and line cookie sheet with wax paper.
First, have your helpers crush, smash, and beat the pecans and while they do it share with them that this is what the Roman soldiers did to Jesus’ body. Read John 19:1-3.
Before you add the vinegar to the mixing bowl let the children smell the vinegar. Explain to them that this is what Jesus was offered to drink. Read Read John 19:28-30
To the vinegar, add egg whites. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11. They weren't found of the smell. {grin}
Sprinkle a little salt into each childs hand and let them taste it. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27.
Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
As you can see, they liked this much better!
Next beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:1-3.
Fold in the broken nuts. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20.
The next morning…
open the oven and remove the cookies. Notice – the cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
If anyone one else has any other Jesus Easter activities, I'd love to hear them to use next year. While I do love the chocolate the Easter bunny brings, at our house, Easter isn't about the bunny!
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