Easter Activity: Resurrection Cookies

RESURRECTION EASTER STORY COOKIES

You need:

1 c. whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1 c. sugar

zipper baggie

wooden spoon

tape

Bible



Preheat oven to 300 F. (this in important - don't wait till you are half way 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 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 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 c. 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 Ps. 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 Isa.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 Matt. 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 Matt. 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 Matt. 28:1-9.



HE HAS RISEN!!!!!



-- Author Unknown

Wednesday's Word

Matthew 26:36-46

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done." Again, He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand."

Product Review: Zenni Optical

About a month ago I posted about an online optical store that advertises complete single vision eyeglasses and frames starting at just $8.00 a pair. I wondered if it was too good to be true, so I did some research. Turns out, they do exactly what they claim to do: provide stylish frames (there are tons to choose from and the most expensive one are $39.99) and lenses for really low prices. Zenni Optical has tons of Facebook fans who can't stop raving about how much they love their Zenni glasses.

I wear single vision glasses and my insurance pays for one exam and one pair of new glasses every two years, which I got about 6 months ago. I also wear contacts in the summer so that I can use sunglasses. However, contacts have never been very comfortable for me, especially when at the pool. I've wanted prescription sunglasses for awhile but could never justify the expense.

But 3 days ago I received my first ever pair of prescription sunglasses. 

The price? 

A whopping $17.00, including shipping. 

And I like them. 

Here's how you do it.

1. Get your prescription from your eye doctor. They have to give it to you if you request it. Be sure they include your PD, which is Pupillary Distance.

2. Go here and choose your frames. 

3. Place your order.

4. Await your order to arrive (this the the difficult step!)

5. Wear your new glasses.

Seriously, it's that simple.

Here was my first choice: $8. But unfortunately these wouldn't work because

 the frame is too large for my PD number. 

Bummer.

Here was another choice, but I wasn't totally feeling them. 

Plus, they were $19.99.

In the end, I chose these in a brown and white tortoise shell frame. $8.

I added a dark amber/brown for $4 and placed the order. A week later they arrived and were just as I ordered....perfect. 

They also fill bifocal and reading glasses as well as sports goggles and lots of frames for children.

Seriously, if you need a pair of glasses and you have to pay out-of-pocket for them, 

I can't imagine why you wouldn't check Zenni Optical first.

(And they aren't even paying me to plug 'em!)

Happy Shopping!

Friday Favorites

Okay folks, this post is going to be gushy

 because I'm just in a really good mood.

And it's all thanks to an unexpected blessing from Cara over at Twice Lovely.

You see, she painted this sweet little thing

But then found an imperfection in the canvas that meant it couldn't be sold.

Enter My Lucky Day.

Cara anounced in her latest post 

(that's also about a sweet giveaway, so you should definitely check it out)

that she would just give it away to someone who wanted it.

Give it away???

I emailed her so fast that I got a cramp in my fingers.

Not really.

But I was pretty fast.

In fact, I was the first person to ask for the painting.

And she said yes.

So I am happy.

I love art, but can almost never afford to indulge my passion.

And now I have been twice blessed

by Twice Lovely

My Favorite for this Friday.

Thank you Cara!!

I cannot wait to see it in person.

In the meantime

I'll just keep gazing at in on my computer.

Co-ops

Some of you already belong to a homeschool co-op, some of you don't, but would like to, and some of you probably don't know what a co-op is. For those in the third group, here's my definition:

A group of homeschool families who get together on a regular basis to pool their collective resources in order to build community, teach specific subjects, and provide support for eachother.

Okay, that's not an exhaustive definition, but it's mine. And it pretty well defines the co-op I belong to. And I should mention that our co-op is definitively Christian.

Anyone can start a co-op. You don't need special qualifications or abilities. Our co-op was started years ago by one mom who wanted to teach science to her 2 kids and figured that since she was going to put some effort into her lessons, she might as well invite other moms to take advantage and send their kids too. And so it began, eventually evolving into a full-day co-op with several subjects offerred. We still focus on science, but we have moms who also teach or coordinate missions/geography, phys. ed., art, art history, music, theatre, student council, service projects, preschool, etc.

Our group is intentionally small and young, serving about 8 families with elementary and preschool aged kids.We meet in a church on Mondays throughout the traditional school year from 10am to 2pm.

Our primary goal is not academics, but to glorify the Lord, then to build one another up in faith, then-academics.

Every year we grow a little as a group, incorporating more structure, honing our policies and classes. We don't advertise, though many other co-ops do, because we want to keep our group to a workable size and stay within common goals and interests.

This is my 5th year involved in our group and in my time we have done a ton of cool stuff. Here's a sampling:

One year in science we did biology and the human body. The kids traced themselves onto paper and each week we studied a different topic like lungs, and then added it to the bodies.

These are photos of our annual science fair the same year we did studied the body. You can see samples of the kids projects as well as food we brought to correspond with the projects.

Photos of a musical did one year.

Last year we asked a students' grandmother to teach a Creative Writing class for the elementary girls. As a final project, each girl got to publish her own book and then the teacher hosted an Author's Tea at a local bookshop where each author got to read her book to the group.

We've had moms teach volleyball, dad's teach wrestling (to the boys), passport days where we brought in missionaries to teach centers on different countries, and special days where everyone came dressed as an historical or ethnic character and did projects, games, crafts and foods from the historical period or country.

This year one mom started a Kids Koucil for the older elementary students. The kids hold office, plan service projects and group activities.

I hope this post was informative and helpful for those of you who have yet to experience everything a co-op has to offer; or for those of you who want ideas for improving your current co-op. If you are interested in joining a local co-op, the best way to find one is by asking fellow homeschool moms for info. If you want to start one, you can do more research online or read books like, The Complete Guide to Successful Co-oping, by Linda Koeser and Lori Marse.

If you have questions about co-ops be sure to leave them or any comments you have in the comments section below.

Wednesday's Word

And the Lord will continually guide you,

and satisfy your desire in scorched places,

and give strength to your bones;

and you will be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Not Sew Fast.

I truly hate to sew.

Mainly because I'm not very good at it.

Yes, I can sew a straight stitch,
and I usually remember how to load the bobbin,
usually.

But I'm no expert. 

Right now the lightbulb is out on my machine.

And has been for about 2 years. 

And I lost the manual...a while ago.

And I think my tension is off.

But every once in awhile I decide to sew
because it's the cheapest/fastest means to a decorating end.

You didn't think I meant that I sew clothes, did you?
Nope.
Just basic things like curtains, pillows,
and once in a very long while

a duvet.

I fell in love with Cath Kidson's Rosali fabric when I saw it in Ikea's catalog years ago.

I loved it so much that I ran out and bought in queen size for my then 2 year old daughter's room.

Not long after that we moved and she ended up in a twin bed.

With a sigh I put my her lovely duvet in a cupboard where it languished for exactly 7 years.

7 years. 

I couldn't bear to part with it because I believed that one day I could use it again.

That day has arrived.

My girl inherited a lovely frenchy bedroom set from her great nanny that has.....twin beds.

Nothing daunted, I decided that it was finally time to pull out The Duvet.

I went to my trusty Ebay and found another identical Rosali duvet for a reasonable price and snapped it up.

All I had to do was take 2 queen duvets and convert them to 2 twins.

And, voila!

Not so fast.

I measured the original duvet and determined how to stitch it.

It turned out just as I had planned.

I snipped the thread and ran upstairs to wrestle it onto the first down duvet.

Perfect!

Back downstairs and onto the ebay duvet.

Using the same measurements, I began sewing.

Side 1-done.

Side 2-done.

Whoopsie.

Apparently the bobbin ran dry.

Tried to wind it.

Wouldn't take.

Grrr.

Tried again.

Nope.

Thank the Lord above that there is such a thing as Youtube

because I was able to find a video on how to wind a bobbin.

Ahhhhh.

Back to the machine.

 Wind the bobbin.

Load it.

Finish sewing.

And, voila!

As soon as the thread was snipped

 I ran the duvet cover up to the princess's bedroom

to wrestle it onto the second down duvet.

Smoothed it out, and

noticed that it looked a bit big.

Adjusted it.

Looked again.

Still too big.

What is the problem?

 Ebay duvet was king-sized.

Grrrrrr!

I'm done for today.

I can only take so much sewing aggravation.

The machine is still out.

So maybe I'll redo it tomorrow.

After all

tomorrow is another day.

Cultural Rant

My shopping trip to Walmart this evening would have been much more enjoyable had I not been ambushed in the checkout line by a nearly naked Lady Gaga.

Fortunately, my kids weren't with me today as they usually are, because lately I have noticed my 10 year old son's gaze being drawn to the photos of scantily clad celebrities gracing the covers of magazines like Cosmopolitan, Redbook or Glamour.

Why are these salacious mags shelved at the exact height of my adolescent child's eyes?

And why, if they must be shelved there,  is the offensive portion of the magazine cover not obscured?

Doesn't Walmart pride itself on being a family-friendly store?

These and other less charitable thoughts raced through my mind as not-so-patiently I awaited my turn to check out.

But this time, instead of just silently fuming I decided to fume vocally. To the manager. So I went to the customer service desk and politely asked to see a manager. Then, just as politely, I apprised him of my concerns and asked if the store would be willing to aquire magazine blinders that cover the half-naked photos and lascivious article titles. I have seen these kinds of blinders on magazines in other stores and I don't see why Walmart doesn't already utilize them. Surely I cannot be the first customer every to complain about this.

But the manager did listen to my concerns and suggestions and said that he would look into it. I hope he does. And I will continue to prod the store managers at Walmart and other local shops until situation is remedied.

There is absolutely no reason why any patron of any age should ever be "exposed" to an offensive magazine cover unless they so choose. Ever.

So that's my rant for this week. What do you think?

Frugal Wall Art

i'm cheap

you should just know that

right now

so when i noticed the

huge blankety blank wall 

in my dining room

i pondered over

various ideas for how to decorate it

i thought of large framed silhouettes of my 4 kids
but frames were too expensive

a vintage school map
but couldn't find any

lovely huge piece

of original artwork

by renowned artist
but

duh

so i was stumped

then we attended a friend's wedding and inspiration struck

cue angels singing

you know those matted photos that guests can sign instead of a guestbook?

bingo

i decided to make my big blank wall 

a big graphic guestbook 

i pulled out my sharpie and handed it to the first guest

and big brother

who was appalled at the idea of permanently marking my freshly painted wall

and nearly refused outright

but i insisted

and i am persuasive

and he placed his john hancock 

front and center

others followed

more enthusiastically

what fun to write on your walls !

they shouted gleefully

 and in next to no time at all we had ourselves a beautiful wall of autographs 

i love it.

the hubs loves it

(no small feat)

and our friends adore it.

best of all?

totally free graphic art

which is good

because

i'm cheap

Happy Birthday Mr. Big!

you've charmed us for eleven years
today
and we thank the Lord above
for lending you into our keeping

smiley

and sweet

curious

daddy's boy

handsome

kind

sometimes silly

full of energy

too cool for words

a chip off the old block

in more ways than one

happy birthday "big"

you are loved.

The Little Red Shop: Sweet Dreams ~ The Little Red Shop's 100th Post Giveaway!

Hey Ladies! Are you in the mood to win a sweet little something? If so, head on over the The Little Red Shop where Julie is hosting a great giveaway. Click the link and GOOD LUCK!

The Little Red Shop: Sweet Dreams ~ The Little Red Shop's 100th Post Giveaway!

Mr. Big's Basketball Championship Game

My oldest son has been playing community baseball and basketball for several years now and this year his basketball team made it the finals and competed for the championship. It was a great game, but his team lost by 3 points.

Watching was pretty nerve-wracking, but fun. Here is Big on the bench next to his dad.

Some action shots. I think that shot made it in the basket.

That's Big in the grey jersey on the left.

And here's the award ceremony. Big's on the far left.

And here's the money shot.

What a great way to cap the season.

Now, golf anyone?