EASTER

On Friday the kids colored Easter eggs; we tried to let Corinne help, but after letting us help her with the first egg she wanted to "do it by self" and proceeded to try to drop the eggs in from way above above the cup, so she had to watch. On Saturday we went to my mom's for the day and had an Easter egg and basket hunt. I took lots of pictures of the kids together with their cousin, but couldn't find even one where everyone was looking at the camera (much less smiling); I'm hoping maybe my sister captured a good one with her camera. On Sunday morning we went to church and then came home to another Easter egg and basket hunt, spent the day as a family, and enjoyed a nice dinner.

EASTER STORY COOKIES or RESURRECTION COOKIES

I was given this recipe by two different people and wanted to share it with you:

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14

Making cookies with your children to teach the true meaning of EASTER!

RECIPE
You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon or rolling pin
wax paper
masking tape
Bible

1. Preheat the oven to 300 (this is important-don't wait 'til you're half-done with the recipe)
2. Place the pecans in the baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon (or rolling pin) to break them into pieces; set aside. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
3. Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl. Let each child smell the vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and He became thirsty, He was offered vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. The eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have everlasting life.
Read John 10:10-11
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand and let them taste it. Put the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27
6. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. 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
7. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3
8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest.
Read Matt. 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off.
10. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66
11. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight and that Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20-22
12. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite; the cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find His tomb empty.
Read Matt. 28: 1-9

SIBLING LOVE

One of my favorite aspects of homeschooling is how much time my kids get to spend together. I truly believe that the more time they spend with each other the closer they become. When Carson turned 2 he and Jordan became best friends and have been ever since. When Corinne came along they were both great with her and they continue to help and play with her even though she 'ruins things.' It is obvious how much they love each other and I love that they are so close. Here are a few photos to show you what I mean, and I have to tell you how happy I am that I was able to capture these on camera because they are some of the sweetest pictures I have of them.

March 18

Corinne wasn't feeling well this day and I had decided to let the kids watch a show while I was getting ready. When I came downstairs this is the scene I found:

March 30

This picture is from a day when I had let them watch a showwhile I finished up my morning to do list. I went to see how they were doing and found this: