A Christ Centered Easter

We have begun celebrating the week of Easter today (technically it started yesterday but we used yesterday's lesson for today's scripture study). I purchased a book called "A Christ Centered Easter" a few years ago and I've used it most years since. For our scripture study today we talked about Palm Sunday and what the significance of that event was. We also started an LOA wall or, Love One Another wall. All week everyone can write reasons we love one another on the poster board and on Easter we will read them. Some of the other things we have planned:

Monday: "The Easter Story in Eggs"
Tuesday: "Parable Charades"
Wednesday: "Parable of the 10 Virgins", make oil lamps
Thursday: discuss the last supper and have our own nice dinner
Friday: "Easter Cookies", these cookies become hollow like the tomb
Saturday: The Easter bunny comes
Sunday: Wake the kids up to "Handel's Messiah", have a "Plan of Salvation Treasure Hunt" on Easter afternoon


I'm really excited for this week and I hope that my children get more out of Easter than just a stomach ache. I don't know that Easter is associated with Christ like Christmas is. After all, Christmas happened so that Easter could. And Easter happened so that we could all have eternal life. I think it's important to teach children that Christmas and Easter were both part of Christ's life and that each was important to our lives here on earth and our lives after. I hope you all have a happy Easter week!





Here is the recipe for Easter Cookies, even my 10 year old likes doing this activity.
You need:
1 C whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 Egg whites
pinch salt
1 C sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape and Bible


Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper bag and let children beat then with the wooden spoon to break 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 tsp. into a 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 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 it and brush 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.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 C 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 Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

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 and John 3:1-3.

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. Read Matt. 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 and "seal" the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 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 and 22

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 the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

A Fantastic Tool

I remembered last night that my faith is another tool of the Lord. Just like I can use my hands to help others, I can use my faith also. And just like any muscle, the more it's used, the stronger it gets. I think we often forget that faith is an actual force or energy. In a world that is so big and yet so connected I often feel inadequate to help those who are far from me. I have often found that when I feel helpless to help others in need I can turn to the Lord to bridge the distance. Some may say "well look at all the bad in the world. There is no way that your prayers are doing anything." I would say, not enough people are praying. Imagine the good that could be done in the world through the force of faith!

Scripture Power!

My daughter loves to sing songs she learns in nursery. One of her favorites is "Scripture Power". We sang that this morning along with "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "I am a Child of God" (or Gone, if you say it like her) and it was so fun. I loved the words to the song "Scripture Power" and thought about how important it is to draw from the scriptures each day to really give us strength and the power to make good choices. I hope that my children will come to appreciate that truth as well. I am grateful for little bits of comfort and wisdom that come at seeming random moments, from scripture references. Sometimes the guidance comes from reading, sometimes it comes from remembering past studies and sometimes it come from others(like the Galatians 1:10 reference from Annie yesterday. It was most helpful and poignant.) I am feeling very grateful today for the scriptures.

Here are some of the words to "Scripture Power"

Scripture power, keeps me safe from sin
Scripture power is the power to win
Scripture power, everyday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

Thank You

Gordon B. Hinckley passed away tonight. He was the president of the LDS Church and the man we believe is a prophet of the Lord here on earth. I know that sounds grandiose to many but it is a comforting thing to me, to know that God still speaks to man on earth to give us direction in a tumultuous world. I am grateful that President Hinckley lived his life in a manner which allowed him to commune with God and lead God's church here on earth. I truly believe that this man was called of God and set apart to do the work of the Lord. I believe tonight that Heaven is rejoicing to have Gordon B. Hinckley back home. I hope that by sharing my testimony of living prophets anyone who reads this will have a greater understanding about what Mormon's believe.

While I am saddened that he is no longer with us I am feeling a deep desire to live my life in a manner that he would find pleasing because I know that the way President Hinckley lived is the way God wants me to live. I hope that someday when I leave this life Heavenly Father will be happy with the things I have done on earth. I am ever so grateful for the great example President Hinckley set for me and my family and for his tireless efforts in the service of the Lord. My prayers are with his family who I can only assume feel a deep loss. My little family's prayers are with them.

Life Changing

I am currently reading a book called "Kitchen Table Wisdom" by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen and it is by far the most profound book I have read in my life. It's a New York Times best seller and I can see why. She does not explore human weakness, she explains it and gives me hope to make my weakness strength (something I believe is the purpose of life anyway). Her writing has opened my heart to better understand myself and my faith and allowing my Heavenly Father to guide me. I am deeply moved by her ability to so beautifully express in writing her wise observations of the human soul. Every page is filled with some wonderful story of change and growth and I have been overwhelmed at the ultimate simplicity of healing. I'll leave you with a passage I read last night.

"Perhaps we are no longer a kind people. More and more, we seem to have become numb to the suffering of others and ashamed of our own suffering. Yet suffering is one of the universal conditions of being alive. We all suffer. We have become terribly vulnerable, not because we suffer but because we have separated ourselves from each other. A patient once told me that he had tried to ignore his own suffering and the suffering of other people because he had wanted to be happy. Yet becoming numb to suffering will not make us happy. The part in us that feels suffering is the same as the part that feels joy." Pgs. 147-148

It's Time

I've realized after reviewing several entries in my blog that I have very quietly avoided one subject that is very dear to me and really, most important to my life. In my efforts to keep my views open to readers, I have carefully avoided bringing up, alluding to or otherwise discussing the subject of my religion. I am somewhat amused at my discomfort and trepidation simply because it's just flat out wrong and I look at it as just another symbol of my silliness. I have decided that it's time for me to stop worrying that I might "disenchant" a group of readers by discussing my beliefs. One of the items you will find on my "What Drives the Force" is faith. It is true. One of the greatest single forces in my life is my belief in my chosen religion. I was born into, baptized by choice into and continue to learn about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, (the Mormons). Every thought that comes from my head comes from that background. What I find interesting, and why I have been apprehensive, is that some people will find me weak because of that. What I also find interesting is that I feel the need to defend myself for it. I am excited to dive into these ideas in future posts and really take a look at religious beliefs in this country. I am adding a link to the LDS website (LDS is the abbreviated name of the church) in case anyone wants to know what I'm talking about. Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Kind words

I had two missionaries of another faith come to my home this morning. I don't know what faith they respresented but I was moved by their message. The woman was very kind in sharing some uplifting thoughts about what she believed and although I opted not to read her material, I let her know I appreciated her kind words. I was particularly impressed by the fact that she was there not to convince me that what I believe is incorrect but that she sincerely wanted to share what she believed because she was truly devoted to it. I am glad to know that there are people in the world who are interested in sharing what they believe in a kind way and are happy to know that it's alright that we agree to disagree. Isn't that what this country is all about?