Our Easter weekend family traditions

We've developed several Easter family traditions over the years.  Some are more about fun, some are more about Christ, all help give rhythm to our Easter weekend.

• We watch the Miracle Maker on Easter Weekend.  Miracle Maker is my favorite video on the life of Christ.  Watched it on Saturday night and as usual was moved and impressed by the picture of Jesus that can arise from clay-mation.
• On Sunday afternoon, we go through the Resurrection Eggs to retell the Passion of Jesus.  The Resurrection Eggs are a great hands-on way to talk about Jesus while letting kids handle and touch little objects related to the Passion of Jesus--a donkey, praying hands, rock, etc.  Its always fun to go through the eggs and each time it's a little different.  Favorite quote after I finished going through the eggs this past Sunday?  Olivia looks at me and says under her breath, "wow... that was long."
• We do Easter baskets.  We fill them with candy, we hide them (I mean the Easter Bunny hides them) and the kids excitedly look for them on Sunday morning.  Gil helped me accept and enjoy this tradition this because I didn't grow up with Easter baskets.  Now I love this tradition.  Especially the eating-my-kids-candy part.
• Saturday, we paint hard boiled eggs.  Loads of fun and always a bit of a friendly competition to see who can make the best egg.  (Gil always wins that one--she's a master egg-colorer.)
• The girls always get Easter dresses from one or the other of their grandmas.  Tyce and I do not receive new dresses.  (However, I do wear a tie and Tyce usually gets a new shirt.) 

Here's the thing--the work of the church on Easter weekend for pastors can be all-consuming.  Gil helps me work at making sure I don't forget that I'm a father before I'm a pastor and that my kids need my spiritual leadership and special attention on Easter.

Comments

[Gillian Bruursema]

That's my job! Thanks for conveying it so graciously, and not letting on to how bristly and/or abrasively I can keep you on track with the family. ;) I do love you. :)