I hope everyone is having a wonderfully blessed Resurrection weekend. I have some traditional type things that we do every year to focus on Christ during this time of Christ's death and resurrection. I also have some new things I'd like to share with you.

Over the last 10 years or so, we have quit doing so much of the *easter* type things. We don't really do much in the area of easter baskets...candy...decorating with easter bunnies and such. I was feeling somewhat convicted about putting time and money into things that had very little spiritual value...plus the busyness of all of it overwhelmed me at times. Wanting to be a good mom, I was trying to do too much...One day, my wise husband said to me, "Let's just focus on Christ and the real reason for the celebration, because with you being so busy with all of these type of things, we have no time for the important stuff." Okay---that's a novel idea! He was right. So we do things a little differently around here.

1)We have been incorporating The Resurrection Eggs into our family worship time during this time of the year, since our big girls were little...so for about 8-10 years. I have never found anything that helps explain the gospel to young children as well as this. Now, my younger children get to participate in this as well. They LOVE it and learn so much,too.

2) We also love the empty tomb cookies that we began doing years ago as well. But, this year I am making The Hutch's yummy tomb crescent rolls for breakfast on Resurrection morning. They will taste so yummy, I am sure....and the little ones can help make them. We can still have a teaching time about the empty tomb, since these rolls come out hollow. They look so easy! Thanks Rabbit!

3) The Desiring God blog has a wonderful idea that we have enjoyed sooo much this year. Go here to see the Lenten Lights. I love the fact that we can just print out the devotionals and everything! And the information in the devotionals is great for older children, but we do have to make things a little more simple for our younger ones. I love this blog and am so thankful for its resourcefulness!

4) We dye a few eggs...just a few... while speaking of new life in Christ and reading some scriptures for a short devotional on this. I have also started to see this as just a fun spring activity...no reason why it has to be done just on this weekend...in fact,we will not be doing an easter egg hunt...but I thought it might be fun to have a family one on a weekend that wasn't as busy.

5) We attend the Good Friday service at our Church. This is one of the highlights of our weekend. Actually, it is one of the most reverent, thought provoking evenings of our entire year. When we first began contemplating this church, it was one of the first services we attended. We were blown away...not trying to give too much emphasis to the church so much, but we have never seen the seriousness of sin addressed and Christ's death spoken of in such a reverent manner in all of our church going years. That's sad, isn't it? We left there a mess...because we were utterly convicted and because we knew we had to make the 65 mile drive to this church. We knew our souls needed it. We have never looked back.

6) We are very excited about the Valley of Vision choir concert that we will be attending at our church this year as well.

So,as you can see...we desire to focus on Christ this weekend...but even more than that...we desire to focus on Christ's work on the cross and His resurrection all year long. He is risen, indeed!

Have a wonderful Resurrection Day!