Friday, April 23, 2010

Smile Moments

Watching my 2 yr old laughing, squealing, smiling as she chased after a butterfly. She was so sure she could catch it. Pure joy!

Watching my 4 yr old praise dancing to the Lord. She just turns on the radio and starts dancing and singing before the Lord.

Innocent and without a care in the world.

(I wish I had taken pictures, but I was enjoying watching them too much to get up and get the camera.)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Picture Post

Here is my previous post in picture form:

Park Visits:


Easter:


Flower planting:
I many more pictures, but then this post would take forever to create. Hope everyone has a great weekend.


Thursday, April 15, 2010

Update

It seems like forever since my last post. I actually have started to post something several times, but was interrupted (as many of you probably have been). The Thompson house have been loving the warmer weather. We have had a few adventures to the park, and plenty of time spent outside. Maybe even so much time out that our inside as suffered a bit.

Easter was great. We colored eggs on Good Friday. Lillie asked me why we call it Good Friday. I started talking about the Jesus being crucified and she jumps in with, "I know why it is good, since Jesus died for us - we can go to heaven." It just fills my heart with joy hearing my girls talk about Jesus.

We made the Easter cookies on Saturday. Honestly, I struggled with whether I was going to or not going to do this because no one ate the cookies last year. But Lillie asked me if we were and that just made me realize that it is not the cookies that matter, but the fact that my girls are being taught a very important Bible lesson. We went to church the next morning where Lillie performed with her salvation dance and praise ministry.

For those who would like to see it, you can go to http://www.crosst.org/ and click archive services, then find the April 4th service, and click the icon for the video. She is about 44minutes into service. She comes on stage about the middle of the song and is in the back left corner of the stage. She did awesome!!

I have gotten a lot of shopping done over the last several weeks. I have found that many of the things that Lillie was able to where at Gracie doesn't fit Gracie. They are built completely different. I do think that we are ready for our trip to Disney World. We only need a few items like sunblock and snack items for the trip.

Lillie has really started getting into riding her bike. She rode it a lot last year, but was very anxious the whole time. Now she hops on and takes off without much encouragement. Gracie rides the trike and tries to keep up with her big sister. She does great, (and pedals - which Lillie really didn't do much of until last year) but her trike can go forward and backwards so she sometimes switches. The chalk bucket is getting lighter due to all the art we have made on the driveway. If you were to drive by my driveway you may think it is a crime scene since they love being traced on the driveway.

Tallie also love that we have been out more. The only complaint - wasps. They are everywhere!! We have had our troubles with these "demon insects" and I am praying that they don't stick around this year. I don't go out without my handy can of wasp killer. Just call me one shot Sarah as I tend to get the kill on the first spray!! :)

Since I have given you quite a bit to read for a post I'll wait on the pictures. So I promise to post pictures some time over the next several days.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Easter Cookie Recipe

My family did this recipe last year and it has made an impression upon my girls. Lillie has asked me if we could do the "Easter Cookie" recipe again this year. She went as far as to tell Alex that he needed to get his Bible out for tomorrow. :) FYI - Alex has his Bible out daily!

Here is the recipe, I hope it makes as big of an impression on your children as it has already on mine. Because what really matters isn't eggs and bunnys, but the sacrifice and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.


To be made the evening before Easter
1cup whole pecans
1tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie 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 1tsp 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 teaspoons onto wax 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 and 22.

On 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.