10 Smile Tuesday

So here we are again. I can't believe it's been a week already since I've blogged. We have been pretty busy around here lately though, so lots can explain it though. Some of my smiles can to so here goes...

1. Lunch. On Thursday after storytime at the library my best friend took the peanut and I out for lunch to celebrate my birthday. That was a nice suprise and always such fun to spend time with her and her daughter, who is the same age as the peanut.

2. Coloring Easter eggs. Yes, it was messy with two 2 year olds, but still a sweet time and a walk down memory lane. It had been years and years since I had done that and it was fun to watch the girls do it for the first time.

3. Time with Maddie. The peanut's cousin is 6 months older than her and they just love, love, love each other. On Saturday we took her to my parent's house with us and the girl's just played and laughed, well, and fought some too. But it's just so neat to see them growing into little girl's that love each other.

4. Sunday's sermon. Wow! Wow! Wow! My parent's preacher really preached the gospel and the need for evangalism in his sermon. I was bowled over by how good it was. I know it touched my heart, I hope it touched many others too!

5. Easter bonnets. I got the girl's Easter bonnets from the dollar spot at Target and they were so adorable in them! Very few people where them anymore so it was so cute to see everyone's reactions when they walked into church. And, how proud the girl's were of those $1 hats!

6. Easter egg hunt. The peanut has never had one before and it was so fun to watch her in a bit of confusion but still thinking it fun, to go on the hunt! Maddie searched like a pro though and had a blast too!

7. Easter dresses. How fun to dress up the girl's in their prettiest dresses of the year. They looked so fancy and fun! The peanut's dress is one of those you'd only wear for Easter or a wedding so this was probably it for the dress. :( It was so cute!!

8. Dancing. After getting ready for church I came out to find my stepdad dancing with the girl's. It was so adorable to see the laugh's and giggles on their faces!

9. Biscuits. It was just the easy way with bisquick, but the peanut and I made them for the first time and she loved it. She is becoming quite the cook lately and independent to boot. There was a lot of, "I do it!" going on!

10. Water softner. We have well water, for which you really do need a water softner and we haven't had one since moving in this house. Well, this past week we found out we have to get one, and it was going to be over $1000 for it. We had it ordered when Michael talked to a guy at work and he said he had an almost new one that he bought and then decided he didn't like soft water and we could have it if we wanted it. I'm still in disbelief over that!! I'm so thankful for God's provisions!!

What are you thankful for this week?

Easter

We had such a nice time on Easter Sunday. We woke up early, got Lilla up, of course she had no desire to see this lovely display...

...as all she can think about in the mornings is a nice warm cup of boob. Yeah, I am still trying to wean the little bugger. She just wants no part of it. However, once that was taken care of, this is what happened next...

...so, nice to know my Mommy/Easter bunny efforts were not in vane.

We went to the SonRise service at church and then headed down to Louisville to visit my hubby's family. Lilla had a blast playing with her cousins...

And looked beautiful, of course, in her Easter dress!

Hope you all had a great day too!

Easter Cookies

A friend sent me this story and recipe for Easter cookies and a good way to talk to your kids about the Easter story in a way that they will love! Lilla is a little too young this year but next year I'm totally doing it!

Easter Cookies
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The following recipe is making its rounds on the Internet as a freely-reproducible file. If you find it a useful visual aid for communicating the message of the resurrection to children, please pass it on!

Ingredients:
1 c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar

You will also need:
Bible
re-sealable baggie
wooden spoon
mixing bowl
electic mixer
cookie sheet
waxed paper
tape

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

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 1 tsp. 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 so that we could have 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. 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 several 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 16:20-22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! Explain how the tomb was empty on the first Easter because Christ had risen from the dead! Read Matthew 28:1-9.