Resurrection Eggs - Day 3

Inside today's egg was a silver chalice. (aka a cup.)

First we discussed the first Passover as recorded in Exodus. And how the Jewish still celebrate a passover meal each year. One day, we are going to have a full passover meal at our house. Rayray is fascinated with Jewish tradition and one of our favorite movies is Fiddler on the Roof.

I digress.

Jesus and the disciples were in Jerusalem during and for Passover. They went to the Upper Room and together had what is now known as The Last Supper. After washing the disciples feet in a most humble act of servant-leader, they had their passover dinner.

Communion. The Lord's Supper. The broken bread symbolizes Jesus body, broken for our sins. The wine symbolizes Jesus blood, spilt to cover our sins. The Blood of the Lamb.

I did a study a few years ago that fascinated me on broken bread and poured out wine.  In Oswald Chambers "My Utmost For His Highest" devo book, the phrase kept popping up over and over. I decided to dig deeper and see what I could find bc most times, when something keeps "popping up over and over" it's the Lord...and I pay close attention. That time proved to be no different, either.

Our tiny silver chalice today represents the Last Supper in the upper room during Passover in Jerusalem.

Resurrection Eggs - Day 2

The pink egg. Such a fun colored egg with such a heartbreaking symbol inside.

Today - 3 pieces of silver representing the 30 pieces of silver Judas bargained for in return for turning over Jesus to the Jewish leaders.

Matthew 24:14-16 is the scripture reference.

Betrayal. A betrayal is a violation of a friendship. A break of trust. Being unfaithful. Disloyal. A breach in confidence. To deliver into the hands of an enemy in violation of a trust or allegiance, as in the case with Judas.

After discussing the judgmental, selfish, prideful religious leaders and their hatred of Jesus and Judas' ultimate betrayal, our discussion took a different turn.


Was Judas forgiven of his betrayal?

We didn't get into a deep theological discussion about this issue...But I touched on a couple of things to ponder.

First, Jesus knew what Judas was up to before it ever happened. It was an ultimate betrayal, but no surprise.

Secondly, even Judas, who committed the ultimate betrayal, is loved by Father and not beyond forgiveness.

I'm wondering....have I ever been betrayed by a friend for a much less serious offense and not readily offered forgiveness? What makes it justifiable to not offer forgiveness to another when our Father offers it to all??

Just pondering.....

Tomorrow...What's inside egg number three???

Resurrection Eggs - Day 1

It's time to pull out or Resurrection Eggs. We've been using our eggs to anticipate and celebrate the Easter season for at least ten years now. I say Easter season instead of Easter DAY because there's so much more to learn and talk about than one day can afford. We use our eggs kinda like we do our Advent celebration at Christmas....except we don't light them up like the Advent candles or anything.....

Day 1 - The Donkey.

Our scripture: Matthew 21:1-11....When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey....and the people laid their coats and palm branches for Him to ride over. In those days, when a king rode in on a donkey, it meant he was coming in peace, not war. The King of Kings rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to bring peace, hope and forgiveness to His people.

Yes, he knew what was coming later in the week....but the Prince of Peace wanted the people to know how much He loved them. He wanted them....and us, today, to know that our sins are forgiven and as we trust Him, we can have peace that passes understanding, love and joy, no matter what trials come our way.

The people were so excited to see Jesus, their peaceful King. Besides rolling out their version of the red carpet, they shouted, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"  The kids and I talked about how we can show Him we love Him today. We read Matthew 22:37-39 and discussed how loving others is the best way to love Him!

We talked of all the ways we have loved others and can show love to others. Their assignment was to think of someone they can love on today....and they chose....... drumrolll please........

MEMA!!!

So, Mema, you've got some love coming your way today!!!

I Pledge Allegiance...

We are just finishing a little study on the history of the American flag. The kids did an easy and fun American Flag Wall Hanging today. I got the directions here and with a little tweaking , we ended up with some really nice flags for very little cost.

It's a perfect example of how a hands-on activity can help cement what they learn....they painted on the 50 stars themselves, counted and measured the 13 stripes, etc.

While we're on the subject, I have to give a shout-out to my current favorite homeschooling website.
Lesson Pathways. And imagine my sheer delight to find that it's now free. I had a year's free, anyway, bc I am a beta tester but now everybody is free all the time!! They've taken the best websites and divided them into subjects and grades. If you have no books whatsoever but have internet access you can almost teach solely from this site.

So...go check out Lesson Pathways if you're a homeschool mom OR dad.

And God Bless The USA!!!!

Horse Show!

The girls were in a horse show recently 

and I wanted to share.

It was SO SO SO windy and cold!!

But in spite of the weather and

the fact they haven't been a part of a show

in a year, maybe two,

the girls did so so good!

They were both so beautiful on Val,

and both seem to have inherited 

their horse riding/showing talent..... 

from their Daddy's side.

I am afraid of large animals.

Shhh. Don't tell anybody.

Miss Doodle won the blue ribbon!

Woohoo!!

Ok, ok, ok. She was in the Leadline class

with all the little bity cute ones

and they gave them all a blue ribbon and a 

bouquet of bunny suckers. 

Miss Rayray won 2nd place in two academy classes

and she won 3rd in the championship class.

Remember I said she hasn't shown in a year or two?

We were like.....WOW!

She also doesn't get to ride and practice much either 

since we live 3.5 hours from Granny and Granddaddy

who own the stables. 

So......I'm thinking if she was able to ride everysingleday,

the other kids wouldn't have much opportunity

to ever win a blue bc of her!

Don't you think???

Daddy's Little Baby Girl

Recently, I was in Winn-Dixie near the produce section. In walked one of my most favorite of all people, my Daddy. He looked a bit bewildered because Winn-Dixie is absolutely not his element like the local hardware store would be. I stood quietly, watching him glance at the people milling about. Soon enough, his eyes found mine. He did a double-take as realization hit, and I watched his face transform into that all-familiar precious smile reserved just for me. It didn't matter that I had just seen him the day before. He was so happy to see his baby girl. I took a mental picture of his precious countenance. 

On my way home, with groceries in tow, I thought about him, his special smile, how much he loves me...I am special to him. I'm his only daughter. His baby girl. I'm 41. But still his baby girl and he is always happy to see me. I know I haven't been a "sheer delight" to him. I'm quite sure I have disappointed and upset him many times growing up. But he never held back his love for me. 

Father whispered to my heart...That's how I feel about you, too, you know! I take great delight in you. You have a special place with me...reserved just for you. I love our relationship...it is unique and unlike anyone else's relationship with me. I love that about us. I never asked you to be perfect...but you're perfectly MINE and you are made perfect in weakness by my strength. 

When I was a baby, my Daddy rocked me to sleep every night in the wooden rocking chair. He wrote a little ditty and sang it to me every night. 

Daddy's little baby girl, little baby girl. 

Daddy's little baby girl, sweetest in the world. 

Daddy's little baby girl..Daddy's little baby girl.

Daddy's little baby girl. 

It was one of the first songs I learned to sing. Years later, granddaughters were born...my brothers sang the little song to their baby girls. Then the words evolved into...Papa's little baby girl, little baby girl. But the song...it's pretty much mine. Written for me by a daddy who adored his baby girl. 

In a Bible study about ten years ago, a mentor friend of mine shared this obscure verse with us. Even as I read it now, I remember the surprised reaction of all the ladies in the room that night when we read this verse:

"The Lord your God is with you,

He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing." 

Zephaniah 3:17.

My precious earthly father may have written me my very own song to sing over me....But our heavenly Father has written a special song for every single one of us. He delights in me. He delights in you.. He is your Heavenly Daddy who adores you and sings over you and quiets you with His love. He is a real and personal Father who desires a relationship with each of us.......with no strings attached, no set of rules to follow, no obligations or preconceived notions.

 Just you and Him and a love song. 

A Week of Girls

We have a special treat this week!!!! Chinadoll and her sweet big sister who is Appledoodle's declared bestsisterfriend are spending the week with us. Lots and lots of giggling in the house....with scattered pink sparkly things, hula hoops, jump ropes, pollypockets, and all things princess!

I think The Boy had just about had it by last night with all the girlies. I went to check on him before bed and he had rigged some sort of trap just inside his door. Oh, I wish I had a picture! Try to imagine about 30 colorful thumb tacks stuck into his carpet with a woven web of red thread. I guess his motion sensor alarm wasn't enough.

Three Little Valentines

Cute attack!

The boy made us drop and give him 20 push ups!

Snuggled up on a rainy day, watching Curious George

Three Pinkie Pies having school together!

Buhlessss him.

CHEEEEEEZ!

Wagon ride at Papa's!

Just plain cute!!

Sweet C's turn on the zip line swing!

China Doll...zipping along!

DQ with family friends

Silly goosies!

There...much better!!!