As a mom, I love making holidays meaningful and exciting! When it comes to Easter, my favorite part is putting together fun themed baskets. Whether it is filled with puddle jumping outdoor play items or baking tools and ingredients, the tradition of finding personalized items for my kids’ baskets brings me joy. While incorporating all the fun that surrounds Easter, I do my best to point our focus back to Jesus because, really, is there anything more meaningful and exciting than His resurrection?! 

            We do many activities surrounding this time of year to recognize and celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us.

1. Easter Eggs.

   These take many forms in our home around Easter, but most importantly, eggs have long represented new life and are a symbol of resurrection. Like many families, we spend time together dyeing eggs, making egg-shaped piñatas, and hunting for candy-filled eggs. The egg represents resurrection, and the treat inside represents the special gift He gave us.

2. Resurrection Eggs. 

   Here is a link that can better explain what these are, but basically, it tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection with a fun activity opening a dozen eggs individually as the story calls for it. You can purchase this as a ready-to-use kit, or make one yourself. My oldest son made one at school with his 3^rd grade teacher, and it is so special to us!

3. Empty Tomb Cookies.

   This is one of my favorite things! I look forward to it every year! Our family works our way through this recipe together, taking turns adding ingredients. This recipe is complete with a Bible verse for each ingredient along the way, and tells the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The cookies go in the oven before bedtime, the night before Easter morning, and by sunrise, they are ready to eat. Break them open and see the empty tomb! He is risen!

4. Picture Books.

   I am a visual learner, so I like to share picture books with my kids to encourage mental images and understanding. We have more books than we know what to do with, including a countless number of books about Easter. One we never skip is called The Easter Bible. It was actually a gift given to one of my sons, probably ten years ago. It is a compilation of the Easter story, taken directly from the Bible and includes references and drawings. It includes many passages and takes longer than one sitting to finish, so we typically start reading this together about a week or two before Easter. At the end of the book is the Good News! 

5. Family Time.

   We are blessed to live close to most of our extended family. After attending church, we make our way to visit Grandma & Grandpa, Mema & Papa, and lots of aunts and uncles and cousins. Sharing a meal and special time with family make the best memories! We typically eat ham, potatoes, and lots of EGGS while celebrating Luke 24:6-7 - He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee, “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

Even with all of this in preparation to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we do our best to keep Easter morning simple and not rushed. If that means baskets, hunts and piñatas can be done on Saturday, we do it! Our special time of worship at church and making memories with family on Easter Sunday take precedence over any traditions that focus on sweets and gifts.

John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”