Easter At Our House: Resurrection Eggs

Resurrection Eggs

Today we got out our resurrection eggs while we were going through our plastic eggs and finding a basket for William to bring to school on Thursday for his Easter Egg Hunt next week.

We got to go through each of the resurrection eggs (we have collected 2 different kinds -- one large egg with a palm branch, angel, donkey, stone and heart in it and then a purchased set from http://www.shopfamilylife.com/resurrection-eggs.html) As we looked at each symbol we talked about how it related to the Easter story -- why was this object included in our resurrection eggs? It amazed me as we talked how much is contained in our symbols -- for instance, when we pulled out the coins that Judas was paid to betray Jesus and I asked why they are part of the Easter Story William told me that it was because Jesus paid for our sins.

After we had gone through each of our symbols William went to find his Bible - "the book that has the Easter Story in it" -- and we read through the parts of the Easter Story that were included seeing where each of the symbols was included and getting them out during that part of the story. Then we had to go back through and tell the parts of the story for the symbols that had been left out.

As I reflect back on our interaction this afternoon I am fascinated by the fact that nobody wanted the "empty egg" - the symbol of our risen Savior and the essence of the Easter story. But is that really that different from the first telling -- were the disciples excited about the empty tomb? Did they really "get it" -- do I really "get it"? I believe accepting the empty tomb changes our lives. As the kids and I talked about the empty egg and how the tomb was empty because Jesus is risen we also talked about where Jesus lives today -- "in heaven" and "in my heart" - that's why I'm glad our lenten journey started with the Afar people and Community Serve Day because it makes it a lot easier to explain the empty tomb and what it means to have Jesus living in my heart -- as the lenten guide said Monday, "it's all about friendship". Whether it be friendship with my neighbors or the Afar - those friendships are what reflect the reign Jesus has in my life and the reign I anticipate him having in my children's lives as they "get it" a little more each time we tell the story and as they help me "get it" a little more with each of their questions and observations as we journey in faith together.

Easter At Our House: Where has the time gone?

Where has the time gone?

I was shocked to read in my Lenten guide this morning that this is our last week with the Afar -- wow! -- where has the time gone? As we approach Palm Sunday the beginning of Holy Week it is hard to believe that Easter is so close at hand!

We are talking regularly about bringing our cardboard banks "Love Loaves" back to church this Sunday for Palm Sunday.

Easter At Our House: Schools and how big God is

Schools and how big God is

Today we learned in the Lenten guide about schools in the Afar - we have a lot to be thankful for with the many schools we have to choose from.We also got into our ongoing conversation about how big God is. It's something that comes up every once in a while as William is trying to find something bigger than God. Today he started out with explaining that God is bigger then us, he's even bigger than grown ups....but is outer space bigger than God? No, God is bigger than outer space. So Lia needed confirmation as well if she went to outer space it would be bigger than God. No God is even bigger than outer space with Lia there.

Easter At Our House: How Does God show us He loves us?

How does God show us He loves us?

So this weekend we went to a family retreat where we talked about the importance of knowing that God loves us so we have been talking with our kids and their cousins (ages 5 and 7)about that. Do you know God loves you? Do you know Jesus loves you? What does God do to show us He loves us?...He made trees, he died for us, he gave us the Bible.... It has been fun to hear how they experience God's love as we share how we have experienced it and also how we try to show it to them.

Easter At Our House: A Week in Review

A Week in Review

So much for posting everyday -- but hopefully this week. We have spent the week celebrating Community Serve Day -- and at times mourning all the things we didn't get to do. It broke my heart even as I rejoiced when my son while looking at photos of other kids at Community Serve Day shared what he didn't get to do with tears in his eyes and then continued on to ask if we could do that next year. We keep reiterating that we serve and love people close by and far away -- and those reminders seem ever present. Today, at chapel at preschool William learned more about the Afar people -- and even got the chance to play the drum (not that he took it).

On Community Serve Day, now a week and a half ago, we got to write appreciate cards for military -- William's commentary on it then was we should thank them for blowing things up which has led to quite the ongoing conversation -- how do you explain to a 4 year old what the military does. But through our ongoing conversation today he announced out of nowhere that there are people who fight to keep us safe and he should tell his cousin that because he didn't get to go to Community Serve Day.

And so we keep discussing camels, eggs, and serving and loving others in the ongoing saga of our Easter journey.