It’s Easter Break! What Shall We Do?

{Photo by Steven Wayne Rotsch}

“It’s Easter Break ~ what fun things can we do?”, you ask.  Your Two Chums have a few suggestions which we would like to share.

Easter bonnets have been atop ladies’ heads for years and years and what a great activity to do with your daughter – make her a new Easter bonnet.  You can pick up a straw bonnet at the 99 cent store and decorate it with all sorts of lovely items.  Pretty ribbons or lace, silk flowers, felt pieces – so many wonderful things that your young one can use to create her own Easter bonnet.

A couple of must see Easter movies –

The Robe (1953), starring Richard Burton and Jean Simmons and Easter Parade (1948) with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland.

Both of these movies have all-star casts and are classical movies which can be watched over and over again.

All young girls and boys love to bake and so we know that your children are going to want to share this activity with you.  These are “Easter Story Cookies” and will teach your child along the way.

These cookies are to be made the evening before Easter.

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
A pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 zipper baggie
A wooden spoon
The Holy Bible

You will start this wonderful activity by putting the oven on at 300 degrees.

You are then going to place the pecans in the zipper baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break the pecans into small pieces.  Explain to the children that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers and then read John 19:1-3 to the children.

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon of vinegar into a mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink.   Read John 19:28-30 to the children.

Add the egg whites to the vinegar.  Explain to the children that eggs represent life.  Jesus came to give us a more abundant life.   John 10: 10

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers after he was crucified.                    Luke 23: 27

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing ~ I’m sure you’ll agree.

Add 1 cup of sugar and then explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus is the Messiah.  He came to teach us that God is good.   Ps 34:8

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity, in God’s eyes, of all of His children.   I John 3:2, Isa 1:18

Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet using a teaspoon.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.   Matt. 27: 57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the pre-heated oven, close the door and turn the oven off.  Give each child a piece of tape and ask them to seal the oven door.  Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.                        Matt 27:65-66

Go to bed!

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked top of the cookie and, when taking a bite, see that the cookie is hollow.  This represents the fact that Jesus’ followers, on that first Easter morning, found the tomb open and empty!   Matt 28:1-9

Jesus had risen.  Jesus had conquered death – life is, indeed, eternal!

This is what we celebrate at Easter – the blessing of eternal life – life full of love, joy and abundant living!