We had a wonderful Easter celebration as a family. It's been so nice this year to get to engage Jonathan in a discussion about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He's old enough to understand the story and to just start to grasp at hints of its true meaning. I'm excited about seeing the conversation evolve in the years ahead.
As part of that discussion, we made Easter Cookies on Saturday night. I've copied the recipe at the bottom of this post. It's copied and pasted from someone who copied and pasted from a blog that had copied and pasted... and I have no idea who actually wrote it. The recipe walks through some of the little details of the Easter story and provides another hands-on way to interact with young children as you talk through the meaning of Resurrection Sunday, and Jonathan really enjoyed it.*
After church we went over to have lunch and an egg hunt with our friends the Barrs. I forgot my camera, but the kids had a fun time running all over the backyard for eggs, and Abby was delighted to discover there was chocolate inside. When we came home for naps, Abby's first word upon standing up in her crib after naptime was "EGGS! EGGS!" And eggs she got -- we zoomed off to a picnic with friends from church, where there was another round of egg hunting and fun.
It's amazing to me how much Abby enjoys the company of other girls already. She spent the ENTIRE picnic playing with the big girls and had so much fun. They looked at lady bugs, played on the swings, rode down the slide with her. She was so content in their company!
Abby looking up at her friends.
My friend Julie enjoyed her first Easter with her older son, about 10 months old. The big surprise of the season is this family ended up with a quick turn-around adoption of a second son just two weeks ago. This time last year, they were a family of two. Now they're a family of four. Whew! And I thought my year seemed busy.
Jonathan and his buddy Mia slipped away from the picnic celebration to spend some quality time digging in the dirt.
My friend Julie enjoyed her first Easter with her older son, about 10 months old. The big surprise of the season is this family ended up with a quick turn-around adoption of a second son just two weeks ago. This time last year, they were a family of two. Now they're a family of four. Whew! And I thought my year seemed busy.
Jonathan and his buddy Mia slipped away from the picnic celebration to spend some quality time digging in the dirt.
The evening wrapped up with some time on the swings with Daddy.
*
Easter Cookies
Begin this recipe on Saturday, the day before Easter. 1 cup whole pecans 1 teaspoon vinegar 3 egg whites pinch salt 1 cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon or a wooden meat hammer duct tape or packing tape Bible Preheat oven to 300*F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon or hammer to break them into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to the vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that 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. Then put your pinch of salt in the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27 So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing!
Add 1 cup sugar to the bowl. 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.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 10 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 Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape to seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66. Leave the kitchen. If you've been making these cookies just before bedtime, GO TO BED!
Acknowledge that the kids are probably sad that they've worked hard to make these cookies, and now have to leave them in the oven overnight. Explain that Jesus' followers were in sad when Jesus died and the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Ask the kids to notice the cracked surface. Have them bite into the cookies. The cookies are hollow! Explain that on the first Easter morning, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
HE HAS RISEN!
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