Resurrection Eggs and Other Egg Fun

Sweet Luke and his Bunny Face. We went to an "Eggstravaganza" at the park again on Good Friday. It was much much easier this year than last and I would like to attribute that to our good behavior and more mature age, but I am certain it was only because John was there!

Searching for Eggs

Found one!

Playing Games on a nice but chilly day

Liam is showing us the face that he saw the bunnies make when they wiggle their noses

Petting the bunnies with "gentle" hands

Easter Bunny

Ready to hunt for Eggs

Our first attempt to dye Easter Eggs. Luke said he wanted to "do this everyday"

Cheese! Yes, I striped them down to their underwear. I have learned a few things about crafts in the past 4 years.

Liam and his eggs. They had to be green or some shade of it.

And Luke's had to be purple, of course.

Getting ready to start this whole process

The Resurrection Eggs that told the story of Easter

Liam opening a resurrection egg. If they look like they just woke up, they did! Mornings are the best times to get full cooperation and listening ears (typically).

AJ and his resurrection egg

I had a moment of revelation after reading a blog that I stumbled on through a friend this week and I am borrowing some of her thoughts. Motherhood definitely has its ups and downs and quite often I feel as though I am in some type of insane asylum and I am the only sane person there surrounded by a bunch of irrational people (this is particularly true when dealing with TWO year olds!). This is how I often feel after trying to do something like a craft or a special lesson/concept, story, etc....with all three boys. This week, I wanted to introduce the boys to the true Easter story of the death and resurrection of Jesus and try to teach them that Easter is not about the Easter bunny. I ordered something called Resurrection Eggs that were recommended to me by my sister. There are 12 eggs that walk through the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each egg has a small object inside that is relevant to the story. Luke and Liam loved the Resurrection Eggs and they totally "got" the story. As a sidenote, I overheard them talking about bad guys one day this week and Luke said, "He is a bad guy just like Judas." To which Liam replied, "yeah, he is a bad guy like Judas and the Easter bunny is not bringing him any candy." Luke and Liam participated, opened the eggs, listened to the story of Jesus' death and resurrection and asked great questions (for the most part). But, as I have learned in the last four years, this comes with age and Aiden is definitely not at that age yet. So, while the process was fun to watch with Luke and Liam, it was difficult to keep Aiden involved. It is moments like these where I can become overwhelmed and annoyed after trying to initiate what was supposed to be fun and memorable only to leave feeling defeated and irritated. But, I was reminded of something that hit home when I felt my attempts to celebrate Easter were fruitless. Isn't this what Easter is all about?

Who is Easter for? Is it for doting mothers who never yell and are always smiling, and children who obey always and never argue, hit, scream, or whine? Jesus didn't die for the "perfect" people. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with
the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking
with tax collectors and sinners?” And hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need
a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners.”
Mark 2:16, 17

Jesus came for all of us. He came to make us well. He
came to make the insane asylum a place of peace and joy and
righteousness.

Happy Easter!