Our lessons from a Sense of the Resurrection

Our lesson, Bible and supplies for our first day!

We are enjoying our countdown to Resurrection Sunday with
A Sense of the Resurrection These lessons have been wonderful. Everything from deep conversations about what Jesus did for us to giggling over making our own scented paint. Some activities are simple such as gluing leaves onto paper. While other days are more involved like baking bread. But each day is meant to involve one or more of our senses. Here are some of the things we did.

 Day one we read about Mary and her offering- of washing Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume. We made scent jars for our home as well as scented paint by putting a kool-aid packet into some water and painting a "paper" jar. We then cut it out and added it to our Easter Banner.
On day two we cut leaves and discussed Jesus' triumphal entry. Day three we learned why Jesus would wash someones feet. She painted some feet to add to the banner.

Day four we made bread and learned that Jesus gave himself up for us. She added to the banner torn strips of brown paper bag to resemble bread.

By the way: Sunshine makes good bread!

Day five we talked about Jesus truly being King of kings and the purple robe the solders put on him. We added a cross with a purple cloth to the banner. Day six (half way through) was on Peter forgetting how much he loved Jesus and denied him 3 times. We put 3 feathers on the banner. We homeschool so these lessons just become part of our school day, but these are made to fit any schedule. And any time you would be able to invest would be so worth it!
What are some ways you teach the Resurrection Story to your children. I would love for you to share in the comments below!

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Making a big deal of the Resurrection and still keeping within budget

It's not about what she gets, its not about how cute or how fun. It is about pointing her to my Savior, creating family memories, and trying to make as big a deal of His death as we do His birth. And all without blowing the budget. This year I believe we have a balance of some budget friendly items but also something that she needs "spiritually".

First off I have this on order.

She is at the stage where I have read all the devotional Bibles we own to her. I feel that she is ready for a Bible that she herself can read. I chose this one because I use the NIV, this one will be close to my version. I also wanted an early reader Bible to help her gain confidence in her reading abilities. I want her to enjoy scripture reading, not to get frustrated with it. Looking through it on Amazon, there are even fun study questions throughout the book that will allow us to explore deeper. I am paying $12.80 (plus $3.99 shipping) for a new hardcover early reader.

Now on to the basket. I shop the thrift stores regularly and was pleased to find this bike basket for only 65 cents! I new immediately this would be used for her Easter basket.

After Easter this will be added to her bike

The items I am filling it with are from Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Joann's and all cost $1 each. With the exception of the My Little Pony stuffed animal which was $4 at Walmart and the cross necklace which I saved up for and bought from a friend who sells Premier Designs. The total for the basket was $13.65 the total for cross and Bible is $36.79.

We believe Easter is a special day and deserves to be celebrated!

Other ways we are making a big deal out of the Resurrection  are our DIY Resurrection Eggs and  our Sense of the Resurrection lessons, which we are working on each day as we head into the big day!

He is Risen!



Affiliate link included in this post. I will only share what I truly feel is a blessing to families. 

DIY Resurrection Eggs!

Counting today there are 13 days until Easter. Want a fun easy way to celebrate with your kids? Make some DIY Resurrection Day Eggs! Gather all your supplies today then start counting down tomorrow. You will open your last egg on Easter morning. Other options are to do them over several days or even all at once. I have done them all on one day as an Easter morning Sunday School lesson before.

What you need:
Bible
1 empty egg carton 
12 plastic eggs
number stickers (or permanent marker)
several small leaves
a couple pieces of bread (or croutons)
3 dimes
a small piece of purple cloth/felt (I used a sock)
thorns (from tree or bush)
small strip of leather
2 tooth picks to make a small cross
3 small nails
piece of sponge dipped in vinegar
1 toothpick & small paper triangle (to make spear)
small flat rock
glue gun 

Once you have gathered your supplies decorate the outside top of your egg carton. I used scrapbook paper and sticker letters and glued it to the top. Then I took the 12 eggs and numbered them 1 to 12. I then started filling each egg with that days item. Below is the list of what to put in each egg and the Bible verse for that egg. At the end of this post I will have a print button for you.

#1 small leaves for palm branches, Bible verse- Mark 11:8 
#2 small pieces of bread or croutons for the Passover meal, Bible verse- Matthew 26:26
#3 3 dimes for 30 pieces of silver, Bible verse- Matthew 26:14-15
#4 small purple cloth for the robe, Bible verse- Mark 15:17
#5 thorns for the thorn crown, Bible verse- Matthew 27:29
#6 strip of leather for the scourge/whip, Bible verse- Mark 15:15
#7 2 toothpicks for the cross, Bible verse- John 19:17-18a
(to make the cross I hot glued them together, then I cut the ends of each point off just enough so it would fit into the egg)
#8 3 small nails for the nailing Him to cross, Bible verse- John 20:25b
#9 small piece of sponge soaked with vinegar, Bible verse- Matthew 27:48
#10 toothpick/paper made into a spear, Bible verse- John 19:34
(hot glue triangle paper to an end of toothpick and trim other end down if needed to fit into egg)
#11 small flat stone for the stone rolled over the tomb, Bible verse- Matthew 27:59-60
#12 empty egg for the empty tomb, Bible verse- Matthew 28:6

Each day have kids pick the egg for that day and open it up, let them explore it and talk about it. Ask them questions about it. Then open to the Bible verse for that day and read it and discuss with them what God's Word says. Pray with your kids thanking God for His Son Jesus and what He did for us! 

I plan on doing this each morning with Sunshine during breakfast. Then later in our school day we keep working on our lessons from Sense of the Resurrection!

print directions 

Affiliate link included in this post. 
I will only share what I truly feel is a blessing to families.  

P.S. I thought I would share this book that we borrowed from the library. The Legend of the Easter Egg by Lori Walburg. It has a meaningful way to think about Easter eggs! 

What I have learned from a lifelong marriage

One of my sisters does in home care for an elderly woman. I go twice a week to help out, I call myself the relief care giver and it gives my sister a day off. I am learning a lot and this sweet lady is a joy to care for. We spend many times just sitting side by side singing the old Hymns which many times turns into true worship.

She is married to a gentleman who has been a volunteer pastor for the past 16 years. I don't know a whole lot about their life together, but what I know, is enough to keep me married the rest of my life to my husband. Let me share with you what their marriage has taught me.

Watching him care for her day in and day out month after month with no end in site has amazed me. Watching him has shown me what true devotion, loyalty, care and love is. Watching him has shown me what it means to provide your very best for the betterment of someone else. Watching him has shown me what it means to keep your promise "for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness or health, til death do us part".

I know it is not in his own strength that he does this, Jesus is with both of them every step in this part of their journey together. And it is beautiful to witness.

I have learned a huge life lesson from her too. There is a chance that maybe someday my memory won't be what is was... I will forget things and people. I will lose the enjoyment of all the big and little things in life. There may even come a time when I won't ask about my children. There may be a time when the only things that matter to me is "Can I go with Jesus?" "Can you take me home?" and "Where is my husband?" oh and this one... "You love me and I love you, a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." that one always makes me smile!

But it is this question that really got me evaluating my life: "where is my husband?" She enjoys others' company as best she can but the one person she doesn't want to be without the one she always asks for is her husband.... I want that.

I am reminded that in all of the business of life (working outside the home, homeschooling, raising a daughter for the Lord, running a household, ministry, etc) I need to remember that other than the Lord, my husband should be on my mind the most. I need to remember to take steps during the days, weeks and years to grow closer to him. To be his helpmeet. I have a little joke with him sometimes when I say "Oh honey, lets grow old together!" But now I think of that in a more serious manner. Because at the end of our journey I want him to matter to me and me to him more than ever. Seeing their marriage makes me want to be so much better for my husband. It makes me want to strive to be devoted and loyal and love him the best I can. It makes me fall on my knees again asking God to change me- to change my heart, because I know I cannot change in my own strength. And the end of my life I want to have loved him well.

Today marks their 66th wedding anniversary. May God bless their marriage! I am thankful to have had the privilege of seeing a glimpse of what a godly lifelong marriage looks like.

Linking up at: Faith Filled Food For Moms