Easter Traditions.

We have a few family Easter Traditions...

we color eggs...

the girl and I go shopping for the perfect Easter dress....

the Easter Bunny brings shoes for this kids and other fun Easter goodies (the shoes happened one year when the girl and I couldn't agree on what was appropriate Easter Shoes so rather then getting either, the Easter Bunny bought a pair...that just happened to look a lot like the ones that I felt were more appropriate...and she LOVED them since they came from the freakishly large bunny that hides eggs!)...

and the "bunny" (my mom) usually comes back once we've left for church to hide the eggs (with my husband being a pastor we have to be at church early on Easter Sunday so there isn't enough time to find eggs)...problem this year is that the "bunny" isn't visiting for Easter, so we have to figure out something else!...

trying to get at least one decent family photo since we're all in our "Sunday Best"...

1st Family Easter photo..2006

only picture that both my kids made it in the frame 2007

kids Easter 2008

Family Easter Photo 2009

Then about 4 years ago we starting making Resurrection Cookies on Saturday night...these cookies are a great way to share the true meaning of Easter with your kids...if your kids help out in the kitchen a lot or if you never let them into the kitchen this is still fun...and the cookies are yummy...

Read the whole recipe before beginning...

and you have to do together Saturday night before Easter Sunday. Or a different day before Easter, sort of missing the point if you do it on Easter Sunday

Resurrection Cookies

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Ingredients:                     You need:

1 cup whole pecans             Mixing bowl

3 egg whites                     Wooden spoon

1 cup sugar                     Bible

1 tsp. vinegar                     Zipper baggy

1 pinch of salt                    Wax paper

                                     Cookie sheet

                                      Tape

Place pecans in the baggy and let the children beat them 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 to them

Let child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into 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 the vinegar.

Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for our life.

Read - John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand let them taste it then brush the rest into the bowl.

Explain that 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 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us.

He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read - Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 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 broken nuts.

Drop by tsp.onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.

Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid. Read - Matt. 27:65-66

Put cookies sheet in the oven.

Close door and turn oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the 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 Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie !

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.

The cookies are hollow !

On the first Resurrection Day Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read - Matt. 28:1-9

He Has Risen ! Hallelujah ! ! ! ! !

Enjoy, hope your Easter is full of great family traditions and maybe some new ones too!