Getting Ready for Easter

From Mommy:  We have been doing a lot of things to get ready to celebrate Easter.  Here are some of our favorite things (in no particular order):

1. We made fun bunny cinnamon rolls for breakfast for dinner.

Our Little Bunny Cinnamon Rolls

Ready to Eat

2.  In order to focus on the true meaning of Easter, we made resurrection rolls.  We got biscuits, flattened them out, and put a marshmallow in the middle to symbolize Jesus and his purity.  Then, we sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on them to symbolize when Jesus was annointed with oils and spices.  While they were baking, we practiced a new song based on the bible verse, "He is not here.  He has risen." Matthew 28:6.  Once they came out of the oven, we cut them open, and behold, the marshmallow was gone!  As Javed nicely put it, "Jesus melted!"  We had to do a little reteaching there.  We sang our song, and praised God that Jesus rose from the dead for US!

These are Yummy!

I Don't Think I Can Wait Until They're Baked

Getting a Closer Look

All Finished

Opening the "Tomb"

Jesus Has Risen!

3.  On Thursday night, we decided to have our own Last Supper and Washing of the Feet.  We made our dinner, baked some fresh bread, and had grape juice.  We talked about how Jesus had dinner with his disciples and how they shared the bread and wine.  After dinner, we put water in a bucket and washed each other's feet.  With a one year old and a four year old, it was pretty condensed, but hopefully, some "seeds" were planted.

Our "Last Supper"

4.  We have really been enjoying reading our kids' bibles and reading the stories from Holy Week.   We even tried to do a little reenacting of Jesus on Palm Sunday.  Javed was Jesus and he rode into town (the living room) on Daddy the donkey.  Charley soon wanted her turn to be Jesus. :)  Fun times. 

It's been really neat to watch Javed and Charley and how they respond.  This year, Charley is fascinated with the eggs and her Easter basket.  She carries her bucket around often and wants to fill it up with all kinds of things from around the house.  She also loves the Easter treats and the songs we've been singing.  Javed loves all of those too, but what has really touched me is how he is starting to soak up God's word.  He loves reading from our bible stories and singing songs to Jesus.   In the car last week, he said, "Mommy, Jesus died on the cross because He loved us."  What amazing words to hear out of a four year old's mouth.  There are many moments that make being a mom feel so good, but moments like these are beyond that.  They stop me in my tracks.  They make me realize how important my role is as a parent.  They make me thank God for giving us His son, so that we could live and love and enjoy life...