Easter celebrations

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny does not come to our house. He never has. I don't know why he doesn't seem to know where we live... We will have some Easter candy in the house -- probably a common bowl or basket that everyone can munch on during the day.

Here are some things we'll do Easter weekend, though:

1. An Easter egg hunt -- We usually do this on Saturday afternoon. We'll hide plastic eggs (filled with goodies) in the yard and the kids will find them. The kids are getting older, so we may skip this tradition this year.

2. Resurrection cookies -- These are those cookies you can make while reading selected verses from the New Testament about the crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior. We've done them off and on over the years, but our 11-year-old daughter specifically asked for them this year so we'll do them. (I'm putting a recipe at the bottom of the post in case you don't have one.)

3. John 20 -- My favorite chapter of scripture, bar none. We'll read it aloud as a family on Sunday, probably Sunday morning since we have afternoon church. Quite a number of years ago, we were attending a general conference broadcast one Easter morning when the satellite dish went out. To fill the time, someone suggested we sing hymns, and our bishop asked me to read this chapter in between hymns. It was really moving to me at the time, and it has been a part of my Easter celebration ever since.

4. Enjoy Easter messages at church -- I'm pretty confident this will happen. The first Easter my lovely wife and I were married, we attended our Provo ward only to have the high council speaker begin his talking hoping the Easter Bunny had been good to the children, and then he went on to speak about food storage. Since our present Bishop used to be our ward clerk while I was bishop, he heard me tell that story every year for five years. I'm not saying I'm the reason he's mindful of Easter, but I'm happy he is! I know at least our ward choir will sing my favorite Easter hymn ever, "That Easter Morn."

I hope you have a peaceful Easter weekend, and that you are able to reflect on the remarkable miracles of the first Easter.

Here's the cookie recipe. I found this one at Annie's "Resurrection Cookies" Page, but it's just like the typed recipe we have (and saved my typing it again). She does not know the original source of the recipe, and neither do I.

Annie's "Resurrection Cookies" Page
~Also known as Easter Story Cookies~

This is a great recipe to teach your Children the REAL story of Easter. That the Lord Jesus Christ
our Savior is not dead but has Risen. We serve a Risen Savior......

This activity can be done as a "family" or for Sunday School. Of course the Sunday School option might
be to hand it out to the class with a note to the parents. Grandparents might considering
doing this with their grandchildren this year too!!!

So Grab your Apron and Let's Get Started!!!!!!!

You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter. Preheat oven to 300F.
*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).
Place pecans in zipper baggy and let 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

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon vinegar 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 vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life
to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11

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,
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 the 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 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 those whose sins
have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 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&22

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked
surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed
to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9

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