We had such a fun Easter this year! The kids were so excited about the holiday, which made it even more fun. We have made a few more efforts to make Easter special, and a little different from the traditional one. As you can see above, we still did the traditional Easter baskets and on Easter morning, but we are making efforts to start new traditions for Easter to make it more Christ-centered.
My mom gave me the book "A Christ-Centered Easter" by Janet and Joe Hales. (I saw this book on sale at Seagull book the other day for less than $5). In the book, she has several activities you can do the whole week before Easter to celebrate it's true meaning. I really like a lot of her ideas. We only did two of them this year, but plan to try a new one every year until we have a whole week of Easter celebration.
Honestly, I feel like in our American culture, a lot less fuss is made about Easter (in the commercial world). Sure, there is the Easter bunny and the candy, but it seems like Christmas is celebrated for at least a month before the actual day, by everyone. (And, in most companies, Easter is not really considered a "holiday", like at the hospital, you do not get "holiday pay" for working Easter like you would at Christmas). So, Easter is not as recognized as a holiday by the world, but that's okay. I actually do like the simplicity of it. Personally, Easter is an even more special holiday to me than Christmas. For one thing, it is celebrated in the spring, close to the time when revealed word has said that Christ was actually born. And, it is just an exciting time, when the world outside is just starting to come alive. Everything is turning green, flowers are blooming... I love it!! It is so symbolic of the new life that we receive through our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us. We not only celebrate his birth, but his death and resurrection.
After the dinner, we had a "Plan of Salvation treasure hunt" with the kids. Each clue around the house included scriptures and follow-up questions about God's plan for us. At the end of the treasure hunt, we added a bit about God's plan for our family- the "prize" at the end was golden egg, which held the clue. It was an ultrasound picture. We announced that we will be having one more baby in our family at the beginning of October. Yea!!! The kids were all really excited about the news.
The kids got to hunt for eggs at my parents' house as well, and my mom had made baskets for each family with scriptures for each item in the basket.
Here are a few shots of the kids on my dad's "swings" he made for the kids at the barn:
He took a 'horse walker" and put a motor on it. With 4 swings where the horses would be harnessed, the kids could ride around the circle over and over! Ingenious!!
Who needs to go to Lagoon when you can come here?
I am so thankful for the Savior, for all the things he did for us while on this earth, including the atonement and resurrection, and for all He still continues to do for ME personally, daily. He is my strength and salvation. Through Him, I have received my greatest "treasures" in this world. It is through Him that we can find life eternal and a fulness of joy! I hope, in the years to come, to make Easter more centered on Him!
Congrats on the baby! What a beautiful family! Everyone is getting so big, thanks for the update! xoxo
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