A Walk on the Wilde Side: An Easter to remember

Easter was crazy busy this year. My sister, her husband and his family (Mom, Dad, Brothers and Sisters) were here for their Canadian Wedding Reception. So we had desserts to bake, wedding favors to make, and of course Rocky Mountains to show off. Oh, and food to eat. And eggs to colour. And then hunt. And food to eat. And a gym to decorate. And un-decorate. And food to eat. And family to visit. And somewhere in all that, it was Easter. So we had food to eat. Needless to say, it was a fun and busy weekend. And I think all our pants are fitting a bit tighter than they should. Because we had food to eat after all.

So anyway, in a rare quiet moment with Sean, the kids and I we started talking about Easter and what it really means. Once we got past the Easter Bunny comments, we started talking about Jesus. It went something like this:

Sean: What did Jesus do for us?
Kaden: He died
Anise: That's sad
S: It is a bit isn't it. But what happened after he died?
K: They buried him
Me: Yup, and what happened after that?
A: They went to visit him, but he was gone!
Me: And why was he gone?
(silence)
S: Was he resurrected?
K: Oh ya
A: Yes!
S: Do you know what resurrected means?
K: No, not really
A: Nope!
S: It means he came to life again
A (while jumping to her feet and shaking her bum) : BOO-YA! BOO-YA!
S (while chuckling heartily): Yup, Boo-ya! Take that death!

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On a less sacrilegious note, I have this cookie recipe that you make as you read passages in the scriptures. Eater Story Cookies. I've had it for about 4 or 5 years now, but I always forget about it until just after Easter. This year, despite the running like a chicken with it's head cut off weekend we had, I remembered to make them with the kids. It was fun and a great spiritual experience for the whole family. I did however forget to take a picture of the finished project - so you'll just have to make them yourself.

Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important! Don't wait until you are half done. Do this now!)

Read John 19:1-3 Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the spoon to break into small pieces.

Read John 19:28-30 Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Let each child smell (and if they want taste) the vinegar. Put 1 tsp into mixing bowl.

Read John 10:10-11 Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Eggs represent life. Add egg whites to mixing bowl

Read Luke 23:27 Explain that our tears, and the tears of Jesus' followers taste salty. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it, and brush the rest into the bowl.

So far the ingredients don't look or smell very yummy.

Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16. The best part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to be close to him. The best part of these cookies are the sugar. Add the sugar to the bowl.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until very stiff peaks are formed.

Read Isiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3 The colour white represents our sins that are made white through the Atonement

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets (you may need two)

Read Matthew 27:57-60. The cookie mounds represent the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matthew 27:65-66. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Put the cookie sheets in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.

Read John 16:20 & 22. Explain that Jesus' followers were sad to leave his body in the sealed tomb. They may be sad to leave the cookies in the sealed oven overnight. Go to bed.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Read Matthew 28:1-9. Bite into the cookies - they are hollow and empty - just as Jesus' tomb was the first Easter.

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And now for the fun part...PICTURES!