easter moments...

Here are some ways our family celebrates EASTER...

1. this week we're focusing our morning scripture time on the last week of Christ's life... I got the scripture references from this article Reflections of the Savior's Last Week, from the April Ensign. I should say, a very CONDENSED version of the Savior's last week... we do scripture time for about 15 minutes each morning. Usually while we read and ask questions, the kids are putting on their shoes and socks, brushing their hair or fighting... despite the lack of perfection, it is still my favorite time of the day. monday-the anointing at Bethany, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem tuesday- the cleansing of the Temple and cursing of the fig tree, teachings in the Temple wednesday- the olivet discourse, the last supper thursday-Gethsemane friday- betrayal, judgement, abuse saturday- the death of the Lamb of God sunday- the empty tomb and the risen Lord 2. this morning we set some family and individual goals-- it's our version of LENT. every morning and night during family prayer we pray for each other... 3. we have family night once a week. tonight we are going to dye Easter eggs and make some funky ones like this or this or make blown out eggs like this... (haven't you always wanted to make blown out easter eggs?) we'll have to eat them throughout the week because i'm not sure they'll last until Sunday. (later-- at 8:30, we're going to have a basketball bonanza-- go Michigan!) 4. FRIDAY NIGHT we'll have Passover dinner... this is one of my absolute FAVORITE traditions... it's SO fun. This is my shopping list: parsley, Matzah (crackers), hardboiled eggs, bone-chicken or lamb, horseradish (this is our bitter-herb and a highlight of the night), unlit candle, haroset- applesauce with honey and nuts and raisins in it or jam, wine glasses, sparkling cider, dinner-- we usually have chicken and matza ball soup... a few years ago, I just googled Passover Meal, or Christian Sedar... I'm not sure which site I found, but now I just have it on my computer. I print out a little "Christian Sedar" script and we each read our parts... I love the little look into Jewish traditions and symbolism that my kids get. (If you want me to email you our simplified script just leave me a comment with your email on it.) 5. We do EasterBunny on Saturday morning... find Easter eggs, eat LOTS of candy... talk about the empty egg that symbolizes the empty tomb... talk about how the easter bunny bringing us gifts is a symbol of the great gifts Christ has given us... talk about how Spring is a symbol of resurrection, things that were dead now live... love it. 6. We do church and Christ on Sunday... we have pictures from the gospel art picture kit of Christ's life... the kids take turns "teaching" us about the life of Christ... we make these "resurrections rolls", they're hollow inside... if I have time i make the real thing with this recipe, if not, we make them from canned crescent rolls with this recipe. we eat a dinner that Christ would have eaten... i may splurge and get a rack of lamb this year... in years past we've had fish, honey, grapes, cheese, "wine" sparkling cider, "unleavened bread" pitas, etc... it's easy and SO FUN

7. In years past we've done this... have you seen the easter lesson in plastic easter eggs? It's simple and a cute hands on way to get younger kids involved... i think i have this in my easter decorations, my kids favorite part is the stolen sacrament cup... NOTE: yup. we have great plans for Easter week. Drew just threw up this morning... all of our plans may end up flushed down the toilet. :) that's life. hope y'all enjoy your easter week...