An Easter Idea

If you are anything like me, you are in complete and utter shock that Easter is only five more sleeps away . . . craziness!  How did that happen?  

I woke up Monday morning determined to get things done for the upcoming holiday. My mom has planned the menu for our annual Easter buffet; so all that is left for me to do is to pick up the ingredients I need for the recipes I am responsible for. Easy cheesy! I made my grocery list and then I made a list of the supplies the Easter bunny will need for his annual Easter egg hunt and scavenger hunt. Outside of Christmas, I am really not a fan of decorating because it requires three things from me: money, time, and ideas, none of which I ever seem to have enough of. So, Easter decorations are kept to a minimal in our house: a few candy dishes my mom bought for me over the years and a basket of coloured eggs. Perfect!

Since, Easter also has a spiritual side . . . what? If you have no idea what I am talking about, perhaps you should read this, Mr. Level-Headed and I have been reading twenty verses each night to the kids from Matthew 26.  This is my favourite scriptural account of the days leading up to the Savior's crucifixion and after he rose from the dead because it is the one account that says the first person Jesus appeared to was Mary of Magdalene. It is such a touching reunion! This has been going really well, but I never feel overly confident about how much the kids are actually taking in during our scripture study because they are often too busy kicking one another, snoozing, or making faces.  Yesterday, though, as I checked in on a couple of my favourite bloggers, I came across this great idea from 71 Toes to help kids better understand all that went on during the days leading up to Easter. It is a fabulous idea and a very easy one to do; so I got to work.

First, I copied a brief synopsis of what the Savior did each day from this link.  It is a great site and it even comes with the scriptures that reference each day.

Then, I cut them out.

Next, I found some card stock and cut them in half.  At 71 Toes, she used bright yellow card stock and kept them full length, and I really liked how this looked in her kitchen, but since I did not have any yellow card stock left and my kitchen cabinet doors are not so plenty or large enough to house 9 sheets, I improvised. You have to do what works for you.

Then, I wrote each day of the week at the top of the card stock in black marker starting with two Saturdays before Easter. This gives you a total of 9 sheets. I also spruced each of my sheets up with a butterfly cut-out. Springy but not biblical; that's okay.

Next, (this was my favourite part) I pulled out my laminator and started laminating my sheets. There is nothing better than laminated projects hot off the press . . .  I am such a geek!

Then, since my kitchen is quite tiny and since we do our scripture study in the living room, I decided to rearrange a couple of the pictures I have hanging up to create this display on the main wall. Isn't it awesome!

Finally, I made a little envelope to carry all the strips and hung it up beside the display.

That evening, as we all gathered around to do our evening scripture study, the kids each pulled out a slip of paper outlining what the Savior did on days Saturday, Sunday, and Monday  (we had a little catch up to do). Then we read them and hung them up on the time line.

My hope is that with this display centred in our home and with an evening reminder of what this Holy Week is all about, my kids will not only focus on the Easter  bunny and his delightful  chocolate eggs this year, but that they will gain greater insight into the life and ministry of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here's hoping!