Enough with the Frozen Songs!

My kids have been singing the songs from “Frozen” nonstop.  We own the movie but have only watched it a few times and yet they know every single word to all the songs.  For me this is such a good reminder how much sinks into those little minds.  Our children grow up so quickly.  Right now they are excited to learn about God but it’s not always going to be this way.  This is the perfect time to be filling up their minds with Godly things.  There’s nothing wrong with Disney songs but there are better things they could use their mental energy on.

One of my most favorite resources for doing this are cd’s that are just Bible verses to music.  Two of the cd’s we like most are “Hide ‘em In My Heart” volumes 1 and 2.  http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Em-Your-Heart-Vol/dp/B001EJH4SW  I also love Seeds Family Worship cd’s.  Their website http://www.seedsfamilyworship.com/ has seven volumes of cd’s.  These are really great because they come with one to keep and one to share.  I love sharing!  Memorizing verses is such an important discipline for any believer and the younger you start with your kids the easier it is.  For kids who can’t read, verses  to music is one of the easiest ways for you to help them memorize scripture.  What you think about affects you.  It influences the decisions you make, the words you say…  I love having verses running through my head.   And I like how it changes the tone of our home.

Some of my favorite movies for my children are the Superbook movies.  Did you watch these as a kid?  A young boy and girl go back in time with a robot and learn from a Bible story.  These movies are being remade and the quality is so good.  The music is good and the lessons from the stories are good too.  When you sign up for the dvd club these come to you in the mail and come with one to watch and one to share.  I love that!  I’ve been told that they have phone apps with study tools to use with your kids too.  I haven’t tried those but it sounds like another good teaching resource.  https://www.cbn.com/giving/special/SBDVDClub.aspx?cpid=PPC_SB-PTD-GOOG-02&m=037427&gclid=CK-U-qbbpr4CFYlafgod0noAyQ

I think church history is important and have a strong desire for my children to know about Godly heroes.  There’s a lot to be learned from these people.  Part of our homeschool year has been reading biographies  and so far have made it through George Muiller, William Carey, and Hudson Taylor.  We are currently reading about Gladys Alward.  I love YWAM publishing’s series called Christian Hero’s: Then and Now and that's where I got the books we've been reading.  This company has several different reading levels and there's also a history curriculum you can use if you homeschool. http://www.ywampublishing.com/c-70-christian-heroes-then-now.aspx

Another dvd series I’ve used with my kids is by Torchlighters.  They have twelve movies about different missionaries and Godly people in history.  These are for older children.  Our favorites have been about Jim Elliott, Gladys Alward, Corrie Ten Boom, and William Booth.  http://www.torchlighters.org/

My older two girls share a room and the other night at bedtime the oldest was telling me her worries.  There were a LOT of them.  I told her that God tells us not to worry and there are lots of verses in the Bible about it. I fumbled around trying to remember one and her sister said "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough trouble of it's own" (that's Matthew 6:34). Made my mama heart happy to see some of the fruit of my labors.  When our kids are saved they don't receive a child sized portion of the Holy Spirit.  They get the full sha-bang like we do and the Holy Spirit is working in them.  When we help them to memorize verses it's in there for the Holy Spirit to bring to their little minds at just the perfect time.  It will be helpful to them and a blessing to those around them, just like it was that night.  The things we do with our kids do not have to be solely about God, but nothing will reap the rewards like when we choose Godly resources instead.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

What can you do to help your children learn God's Word today?  

Things I learned from Cubbies

This year I was the director of Cubbies in our church's Awana program and it was such a good year.  These are just a few of the things that I learned.

Kids act different for adults other than their parents.  I am a prime example of this.  As a child I rarely got in trouble from my parents.  I behaved and obeyed them most of the time.  I did not act this way for everyone though.  I have one piano teacher that I remember being horrible to and I'm sure my sweet mom never knew.  It was really nice that for my first year of doing this, I knew almost all of the kids in our class.  It helped that I knew the different things some parents were struggling with.  But some of those kids who were really a challenge for their parents were the sweetest Cubbies we had.  Others, who I knew to be so sweet at home, did not behave and obey in class.  Kids act different when their parents aren't around.  Don't just assume you know how your child is acting. 

God doesn't call you to something without giving you a heart for it.    Never say never I guess, but God doesn't usually ask you do to something that you have absolutely no interest in.  If He calls you to be a worship pastor, He'll give you a love of music.  If He asks you to become a missionary, you'll have some interest in other cultures.  If He asks you to teach Sunday School, you'll probably like kids.  If you feel God calling you to do something you don't want to do, pray about it and I'm guessing He'll change your heart.  Also, if you’re not involved in any ministries, think through what your interests are.  Is there a way that you could use that for God?

When God asks you to do something He'll equip you for it.  I was a leader in Cubbies for three years.  During those years, I wasn't planning on becoming the director but I couldn't have done it without that time of learning.  Sometimes you don’t even know God is equipping you.  My brother works at a prison for boys.  When he was young he was in 4-H and it’s something my mom really felt like he needed to do.  I wasn’t in 4-H.  She didn’t have that same urging for me.  My brother recently started the first ever 4-H Club in a youth correctional facility and he couldn’t have done that if he didn’t have his own experiences with the program to know how it worked.  These boys are learning skills and it’s been a good thing!  And praise the Lord we had a mom who was listening to the Holy Spirit.

Ministry is a sacrifice.  I had to make choices and adjust family things this year and it wasn't easy.  It meant I had to say “no” to some things.  Some good things.  I couldn't have done it if I hadn't adjusted the rest of life because we just can't do it all.  When we do what God asks us to do it will be worth it though.  My kids learned a lot from watching me.  They helped set up our room each week and they were involved in the planning and the lessons.  In helping me prepare for our Easter lesson my four year old asked Jesus to come into his heart.  Praise the Lord!

You will grow when working in ministry.  Ask anyone who’s gone on a mission’s trip and they’ll tell you they were the ones who grew and learned from their experience.  This year as I was teaching those sweet little people, I learned my Bible better.  Through the planning and preparation for lessons I studied my Bible, prayed and I memorized lots of verses.  Good things!  

God doesn’t do things like we do.  I had certain things in mind for the year that didn’t work out how I had planned them.  God’s ways are better though.  Often I find myself praying that things will go smoothly but that’s not how God works.  And that’s not a very mature way to pray.  If everything is smooth and easy we take the credit.  Any ministry where people are getting all the credit isn’t going to be fully blessed by God.  He wants the glory. 

Working for the Lord invites enemy attack.  I have never gone through as much spiritual warfare as I went through this year.  It was a lonely and stressful year in many ways.  The enemy doesn’t want us learning, growing, and serving God.  When we’re doing those things, we can expect enemy activity.  You could take it as a sign that you’re on the right track.  Do you know how the enemy attacks you personally? Knowing how can help you prepare for when it happens.  Does he plant seeds of doubt or anxiety? Do you get physically sick? Do you have to deal your thought life being invaded with lustful, bitter, or negative thoughts? Do thoughts of the sins in your past keep harassing you?  Filling your mind with Godly things helps push the enemy back.  Read your Bible!  Have Christian music playing in your home, car, and ipod.  I especially love music that is just Bible verses to music.  Our kids have several cd’s like that and I feel like it adds a protective “covering” to our home.  It replaces those lies the enemy is trying to tell us with the truth of God’s word. 

 Every child is precious.  Some may be stinkers but every one is precious.  We had such a sweet group of kids and it was a joy to get to spend time with them each week.  The parents of these kids were a wonderful bunch too and they worked so hard.  They brought snacks, helped prep crafts, filled in for leaders, and they spent lots of time helping their kids memorize verses.  I wish every child was as lucky as these little people are.  Every child deserves to have parents who take such good care of them because every child is precious to God.

Matthew 19:14

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Water sinks to it's own level

Have you heard that saying?  I used to hear it a lot growing up.  My parents own a well drilling business and my mom grew up on a farm so I know that lots of lessons can be learned from water.  Literally that saying means that no matter what size or shape of a container, water will always be level on the surface. Figuratively, it means that people will always seek out where they are most comfortable.

I guess I probably knew this, but was recently reminded that some people change their behavior when they're around me.  I could find that annoying or could let it hurt my feelings but I'm choosing to take it as a compliment (at least for that incident).  Do you have people in your life that clean up their behavior when they're around you?  I heard a story of something that happened to someone and then later heard the other version of the story.  I had gotten the cleaned up version.  I'm glad.  Do people stop cussing and telling dirty jokes when you're around?  (The saying "you kiss your grandma with that mouth?" comes to mind.)  Do they put their inappropriate ring tones on silent?  Do they save that gossip for later when you've left?  If so then good for you - people know what you're all about!  Or is it the other way around?  Are they changing their behavior for the worse?  Do people save those dirty jokes for you because they know you'd appreciate it?  Do they call you with the gossip because they know you'd want to hear it?  What kind of behavior do you bring out in other people?

When Jesus walked into a room I think people probably acted differently.  When you have Jesus and walk into a room, people should correspondingly act different.  Your relationship with Him is not meant to be private.  People should know about it and act differently when they are around you.

Yesterday I posted about not complaining and venting on facebook.  I think I do a pretty good job of that but I can't say the same for my spoken words.  I complain too much.  And complainers seek out complainers.  I know which friends I can complain to and which ones I can't.  Shame on me.  I shouldn't be doing it at all!  It's so easy to let those closest to us know what we're really thinking but unless it's going to be useful, beneficial and helpful it'd probably be better to just keep it to ourselves.  Something for me to work on.  

Lots of verses talk about our words.  This passage in James 3:3-12 convicting.  As you go through today think about your words and what you are bringing out in others.  Do people seek you out to gossip and complain?  Friends, this should not be.  We should be bringing out the best in those around us.  And just like the words in our facebook posts, our spoken words are important too.  

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 5:4
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking,which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

I think that says it pretty plainly.  Proverbs has lots of verses about our words too.  

Proverbs 17:27

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Proverbs 29:20

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

And I love this one.

Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

What are your words saying about you today? 

Oh be careful little hands what you type....

Do you have the Sunday School song "Oh Be Careful Little Eyes" in your head?  That's what I was going for.  :)  

Anyways, facebook is kindof a big deal.  I think I know about two people who don't use it.  I like it because I live far away from family and from many of my closest friends.  It's an easy way to stay connected with those people.  I also like it because I'm a stay-at-home mom and it's my portal to another world.  The world outside this house.

While it's a wonderful site for many reasons, and while it really feels like we're connecting with people, when you put something in writing it's different than having a conversation.  You can't see the person's facial expressions as they typed their update.  You can't hear the tone of their voice or see the emotions they have while responding.  It's so easy to be misunderstood, especially by people you don't know very well.  And most of us have facebook friends that we don't actually know very well.  When you put something in writing it can be read, and reread, and reread, passed around, and reread.  It's easier to forget the details of a spoken conversation.  

When you say something on facebook, it's not between one or two people like it would have been in a face to face conversation.  It's like standing onstage in a room full of three hundred people.  Some people are in the back and not really paying attention, but quite a few are right up front and probably are.  And every time one of those three hundred people responds to you, their three hundred friends can "hear" what you said too.  If we thought about that before typing on facebook I think there would be less typing on facebook.

What do your posts say about you?  They probably give clues about your interests.  Anyone reading my status updates would figure out that I've got children, that we homeschool, and that I love hymns.  Our posts also show our heart just like spoken words would.

Philippians 4:8 says this: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Our posts on facebook end up being things that others think about.  What is a serious responsibility we have!!  Especially as believers.  What kinds of thoughts are you leaving with others?  For example, I really REALLY don't like it when people use LMAO or LMFAO in a response or post.  I don't want the words that those A's and F's stand for bouncing around in my brain and every time I see it it makes me angry.  If that person was standing in front of me actually saying those words, my mama reflex would tell them to watch their mouth.  I may actually forget myself and smack them!

Are you guilty of venting about things or complaining about something you don't like?  I'm sure we all are, but if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it (or type it).  Lemme say that again.  IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, DON'T SAY IT.  That is such an easy rule to follow if you are struggling about something you want to post.  (And maybe a gentle reminder if you aren't struggling and feel very free to vent and complain.)  As you go about your facebooking day, think about what you post.  It is true?  Is it noble? It is right or pure? Is it lovely or admirable?  Is it excellent or praiseworthy?  If it isn't, think twice about posting it.  If it isn't, what good can come of it??  Other people's thoughts are going to be affected by what you post so take that seriously.  There will be a lot of people who read your posts and don't "like" them or comment on them but are still thinking about what you wrote.  They may watch a show that you mentioned or read a book you talked about.  They may try a recipe you posted and you will never know that they did those things because of you.  

A while back a friend complained about something and I had it on my brain all day.  Before I knew it, I was all worked up and crabby over it too and it wasn't even something that had happened to me.  I don't want the things I write about to have that affect on people.  I want the things I share to be uplifting and encouraging. I want to bring out the best in people.  I want to leave people with something to smile about or be thankful for.  I want to be a peacemaker and I want to point people towards the Heavenly Father.  In the past I was a big 'ol venter on facebook and I sadly regret it.  I wish I could take back those words.  I also wish that I was as good at that "only say nice things" rule in face to face conversations as I try to be in the written ones.  Something to work on.  For now I'll leave you with this:

Luke 6:45
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

God doesn't need our help

I think that one of most sad stories in the Bible is the story of Jacob and Esau.  When God told Rebekah that she was pregnant with twins, He said that the older would serve the younger.  Esau was the older twin and years later when Rebekah saw that her husband Isaac was going to give him his blessing (which was rightly his) she panicked and remembered what God had said.  Instead of waiting on the Lord though she took matters into her own hands.  She manipulated and lied and got what she wanted.   Jacob received the blessing, but at such a high cost.  In Esau's anger he threatened to kill Jacob.  Jacob fled for his life and Rebekah never saw him again. 

That alone is enough to make my mama heart ache.  Jacob was her favorite.  He was her precious son.  She knew that God had something big planned for him (He had told her so!) but she didn't wait on the Lord.  She didn't pray about it or talk to her husband and because of her sin she never saw him again.  I have a son who is precious to me.  I can't imagine never seeing him again and even worse, it being my own fault. 

To me, the second very sad thing about this story is that she destroyed the relationship between her two sons.  She played favorites and that's not ok.  It is completely normal to have more in common with one child over the other.  It's not ok though, to give to one at the expense of the other.  Every child deserves to have a mom that they can trust with their whole heart.  Can your child trust that you love them unconditionally and only have their best interests in mind?  It seems so basic but I know a lot of people who do not have that kind of mother.

Part of my job as a mom is to see that my kids are friends and that can't happen if I'm playing favorites.  The health of my family tree depends on my children being close.  Generations of people will be affected by my kids’ relationships with each other.  Do you ever think of your job as a mom affecting that many people?  Because it does.  Rebekah wronged her son Esau.  She drove a wedge between her sons and because of it their decedents became bitter enemies.  The thought that my children might not be close, let alone be enemies, is another thing that makes my mama heart ache.  Oh how I want my kids to be close.  I want my grandkids to have cousins they are friends with.  I want the network of aunts, uncles, and extended family that each of my kids creates to be a blessing and source of security to one another.   I can't imagine how awful it would be if my sin caused a split in the family tree.

Another sad thing about this story is that Rebekah and Isaac's relationship must have been affected.  The Bible story doesn't talk about this aspect of things but can you imagine how Isaac must have felt to have his wife manipulate like this?  That alone would hurt but to have the manipulation end so badly only made it worse.  There are always consequences to sin and the people closest to us get to pay the price along with us.  If you're married that means your spouse.   Isaac was tricked and missed out on years and years of Jacob's life, all because of his wife's sin. 

This whole story just makes my heart ache.  Maybe because I can so easily see myself doing something like this.  I'm a doer.  It is so easy to think you know God's plans and then jump ahead before waiting on Him for direction.  We know that God is God but how often do we try and help Him out?  It's a good thing to remember that He doesn't need us in order to accomplish His will.  He doesn't need our money or our gifts and abilities in order to work out His plans.  He doesn't need us.  He wants us though.  He wants obedient followers.  People who will wait on Him for direction and see His will.  We were created for His glory.  We were not created because He needed our help.  God had a plan for Jacob's life and he didn't need Rebekah to work out that plan.  God is good though.  Jacob and Esau were reconciled.  Genesis 33:4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.  And they wept.

Do you have something that you are trying to "help" God with?  Stop before you cause more harm than good.  Seek God's plan and wait on His timing.

The false sense of relief

Tax season has ended and with it comes a false sense of relief that we made it.  Actually my husband is very busy at work until April 30th so April 15th always feels a little anti-climatic.  After tax season there is always an adjustment period too.  I think that military and trucker wives deserve some sort of award.  When you're used to being the one in complete control, it's an adjustment to have that hard working husband come home.  Even though it's wonderful to have him home, it's an adjustment.  We've been doing this long enough that now I expect that adjustment period and so that makes it a little easier.

He's tired and needs time to rest.  That's another reason why April 15th is anti-climatic.  He may be done working a million hours but he's not fully present and back in the swing of family life until May.  Or June! More waiting for us.  While we're waiting we're going to try and be patient and go have fun.  Our family has a zoo membership and that's pretty much the only "fun" thing that we do.  While we're waiting for him to get all rested up, we're going to go do some new fun things or things that we don't get to do very often.  This will give him time at home alone and will give us something to do.

Tax season always ends up being VERY busy for the kids and I because they are involved in a few extra things for those months.  A few extra things + four kids adds up quickly and I am really looking forward to May when life slows down a little.  Finding extra things to do with the kids outside the house is really the last thing that I want to do right now.  What I'd like is have some time at home alone myself.  The quickest way to get hubby rested up is to give him that time though, so that's what we're going to do.

Easter always falls during tax season.  It's taken years for me to remember this and plan on it.  Holidays are always so much work, especially for moms, but when it's a holiday that you go into already tired you need to adjust your expectations.  Because I get to care for our kids mostly by myself for months, I'm tired during tax season.  I need to remember this and give myself some slack.  My house may not be as clean as I'd like it for our Easter get-together.  That's ok.  I may not get lots of Easter crafts done with our kids.  That's ok too.  I need to give myself permission to cut a few corners to make things easier on myself so we can make happy memories with our kids.  We've had several Easter's where my husband and I were both really crabby.  Crabby parents affect the holiday!  I don't want to do that and I need to adjust things to prevent it for this one very special day.

I'm not that old but one of the nice things about getting older is you learn from your experiences and can hopefully plan on some things.  There are certain times in your  life that are just harder.  It could be based on work hours, family relationships, the age of your kids...but some times are just going to be more work.  Tax season is my "more work" time and if I get stressed out and upset throughout, it's not going to help anything.  I know it'll end.  And I am now prepared for it to end in May not April.

What's your "more work" time?  Is it hard for you to have young kids?  That'll end (and more quickly than you think possible).  Are there times of year that are harder at work for you or your spouse?   Are there just seasons in the year that are more work?  Like softball season or the holiday season.  The holidays are a ton of work for us moms.  So is sick season.  Thinking that through and expecting it may help.

Tax season is just one part of our year and while it's hard there are a lot of things to be thankful for.  I'm thankful my husband has a job.   I think it's good for our kids to see their dad working hard to provide for us.  We learn a lot from watching our parents.  I'm thankful my husband has a job he's great at.  It's fun to watch him be great and it's a privilege to make some things in his life easier so he can go off and be great.  I'm thankful I used to be an accountant so I can relate to his work day.  He was telling me about his work day once and how on the day before the farmer deadline (did you know there was a farmer deadline?) one of the partners from another office called him and pretended to be a new client asking to bring in information.  I know this partner because I used to work with her, and I understand what it's like to have clients bring in information the day before a deadline.  The story was so funny but if I hadn't been an accountant I would have missed out fully understanding the humor.  I'm so thankful I can relate to my husband's work day on a deeper level.

Tax season is a season.  Now I know it effects our family past April 15th.  Now I know that since we're more tired at Easter, my expectations of the holiday need to be adjusted.  And hopefully I will think of new things to be thankful for during this season every year.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven

Lent is not just for Catholics

Easter is a big deal.  Like the whole point of everything.  I grew up with it being a special day but it wasn't until I was an adult that I started to actively participate in the season of Lent.  Lent is the period of 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays) and starts on Ash Wednesday.  Catholics traditionally give up something, as Lent is a period of fasting and reflection in preparation for Easter.

Montana is a very Catholic state and there Lent is something that Protestants do not observe.  It's a Catholic thing.  I grew up with lots of classmates who were Catholic and have memories of them going to church more often, giving up gum, or candy, not eating meat on Fridays etc but many didn't really know why they were doing it.  As an adult I have enjoyed finding Protestant friends who do different things during the season of Lent to mentally prepare for Easter.  The years where I have thought about this season have made Easter so much more meaningful.  I have also started doing things for Lent with my own kids.  I don't want Easter to be just a fun day with candy and new clothes.  I want it to be a special time and celebration as we remember and learn about Jesus.


The first and easiest way to teach my kids has been using the Jesus Storybook Bible and and Easter Reading Plan.  This children's Bible is so good.  Every story in it points towards Jesus and is truly the first thing I've ever read where I fully understood this overarching theme in the Bible.  (Isn't it nice when you learn from what you are doing for your kids?)  There are 44 stories in this Bible with the 40th story being Easter.  The reading plan is very simple - start with the first one on Ash Wednesday.




There are lots of Lenten reading plans and devotionals for adults that are good as well.  I've done this one and liked it.  And it only cost $1.35 on Amazon.

 I've heard that this "The Big God Story" by Michelle Anthony is another book that shows the whole story from creation to the cross.  I haven't read it yet but it's on my list of next books to buy.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1434764540/ref=gno_cart_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER



Using a set of Resurrection Eggs is a fun way to tell your kids about Easter.  I've never done this before but have the stuff to make my set soon. (Or you can buy them on Amazon, CBD.com or Focus on the Family's website)  You use an empty egg carton and plastic eggs, and fill each one with something related to Easter.  Each day you open the egg and read the verse that goes along with the object, with your kids.  Or you could go through them all at once to tell the story.  The last egg is usually empty to represent the empty tomb.  I have a friend who came up with several things to put in eggs after the empty one because she wanted to focus more on the person of Jesus and remember that it doesn't end with the empty tomb.  I love the extras she came up with and she said I could share them here.  Here is a link to two blogs with instructions, pictures, and printables and then some extra ideas if you want to go beyond the empty tomb.

http://www.thissimplehome.com/2012/03/homemade-resurrection-eggs-printable.html
http://lifeyourway.net/diy-ressurection-eggs-easter-story-book-printables/

• Bible - Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
• Fish- Jesus appears to Peter and the disciples – John 21 – 
• Clouds - Ascension – Luke 24:51 - While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. Acts 1:9
• Dove - Holy Spirit – Pentecost Acts 2

In the past I've made Resurrection Rolls with my kids the day before Easter and these are fun and tasty.  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/resurrection-rolls/.  You roll marshmallows (Jesus) in butter and cinnamon and sugar (to represent the spices put on Jesus after death).  Place in the center of cresent rolls (the tomb), pinch closed around the marshmallows, and bake.  And the marshmallows disappear!  Leaving an empty tomb.

http://www.eastercross.org/

This yard decoration is new for our family this year.  The other side is blank and on Easter morning you turn it around to say "He is Risen".  I like it and it's a simple way to involve your kids and witness to your neighbors.










Movies we usually watch near Easter include "The Passion" and "The True Easter Story" with Ray Vander Laan.   http://www.amazon.com/True-Easter-Story-Vander-Laan/dp/0310242444/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1393882094&sr=1-1&keywords=easter+zondervan

I've also heard that this one is very good for kids and is only around $5 from Amazon.








During the season of Lent might also be a good time to make "Blessing Bags" for the homeless with your kids.  To visit a retirement home or send care packages to soldiers overseas.   I have been so encouraged to find friends that actively work at recognizing this season.  You do not have to be Catholic to observe Lent.  It is a time to be teaching your kids about the meaning of Easter and reflecting for yourself on what it means to follow Him.  Ash Wednesday's only a few days away.  I encourage you to find some new ways teach your children this year.   Do you have any things you usually do with your family?  I'd love to hear your ideas!