Holy Thursday
We had a nice simple dinner of chops (they were suppposed to be lamb chops but only had pork) and asparagus. The asparagus for Green Thursday and because they looked so much like Jesus' crown of thorns. Rose was thrilled to have the white linen out and the candles lit. As we ate we read from the New Testament and spoke about what was about to occur.
Our candle was lit one last time...
...until we are able to relight our new Paschal Candle after Easter Vigil
Celebrating together quietly and joyfully what was to come
Good Friday
After the Stations of the Cross the kids and I sat together for a Lenten Tea. The ideas were from Alice Gunther's
Liturgical Teas. I made little placecards for each scripture food that was served. It was so great to see how the kids "got it"...as they served themselves they told each other what the connection was between what they were eating and the Passion.
~ The King's Crown ~
Tositos scoop style chip became the crown of Kings
"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'"
Mark 15: 2
~ Pilate washes his hands ~
After boiling the water for our tea I placed it in the bowl. I used a laddle to scoop out the water and served it with green tea
"took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this righteous man's blood.'" Matthew 27: 24.
~ Out of Envy ~
Gucamole was the obivous chose for the green of envy and to go along with the 'kings' crown'.
"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10.
~ The Purple Cloak ~
We used cut up fruit leather for his cloak
"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17
~ The Crown of Thorns ~
Round cracker spread with peanut butter and 'crowed' with pretzel pieces to look like the crown made by the soldiers...then placed on his head
"...and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17
~ Golgotha Eggs ~
Hardboiled eggs because these sad little things will be a joyful color come Easter Sunday. I didn't draw the skulls on the eggs but opted instead to spear them with these clip art skulls I got from the computer
"And they brought Hime to the place called Golgotha (which meand the place of the skull)"
Mark 15:22
~ The Seamless Garment ~
Cut up tortillas for his tunic and pieces of mozzarella cheese for the dice cast by the Roman soldiers
"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24
~ Two Robbers ~
Two sprigs of spinach is what we used to stand for the two thieves crucified along side Jesus.
"And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27
~ Vinegar to Drink ~
We each a bit of this balsamic vinegar and also had each child try a tiny bit of the plain vinegar. Rose was the only one who refused (can't belame her) but everyone else tried a bit on their tongue. "Yuck" was Princess's reaction.
"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36
~ Torn in Two ~
Here each child rips in half their paper napkins. Very symbolic and oh so intense. Each face was serious and sad....
"And the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." Mark 15: 38
~ The Roman Centurion ~
We used plum tomatoes and cut them in half to equal the 100 Roman Soldiers that stood watch during the crucifixion
"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39
~ Laid in the Tomb ~
Older girl made these date cupcakes and then hollowed them out. We put strawberries inside for a special "suprise". Each one the kids enjoyed this small sweet.
"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."
At one point during the Stations of the Cross I looked over at Rose and she was crying. She saw that I was looking at her and hid her face in her arms. Poor baby...even at 5 she knew the sorrow of what was happening. So during our tea she looked at me and said she felt so bad for Jesus. She hugged me so tight! Then she asked me when was she supposed to be happy? I told her that it was for us that Jesus died and that through his death we can have life in Heaven. That on Easter Sunday we would experience great joy...He has risen and showed us the goodness in even the sorrow of his crucifixion. She offered me a smile and said she was glad we had Jesus in our corner. Yes, indeed I am so glad we have Him on our corner.
Later that evening we all made some Hot Cross Buns. We kept some without the icing and left the rest to ice on Holy Saturday.
Holy Saturday the Hot Cross Buns looked like this
Easter Sunday
We had a lovely Easter morning breakfast of bacon, coffee, eggs and awoke to a transformed home...
The Garden of the Good Shepherd was out, the crown of thorns is now a nest with pretty eggs (gifts from our own chickens) nestled inside it. The
Resurrection set is now the center of our table and their Easter baskets waiting for little hands.
We then attended the afternoon Mass. Older Girl sang in the choir and there were 2 babies being baptized. Another great gift to renew our own baptism.
We spent the rest of the afternoon at my in-law's home. It was such a nice day.
I don't know why Older Girl looked so serious...but she made it up here
Only Boy looks so "grown up"
~ The Easter Egg Hunt ~
Papi and momma do the hiding...
So of course the eggs end up in places like this
They found them though...
And one lucky little girl found the "golden egg"...
We hid this golden egg on a branch from the lemon tree. Each of the kids got close enough to touch it but it was Rose who found it first. Well, actually Rose and Only Boy were neck and neck to finding it. She saw it, literally, seconds b4 he did. He was a good sport about it though
~ Dinner ~
...was yummy! Ham, slow cooked pork ribs, mashed potatoes, veggies,
Rum Bread Pudding and a lamb shaped cake made by yours truly. Unfortunately, our lamb had a bit of an accident en route to grammas'. This is the only picture I have of the poor little thing...
It tasted good though. I used this white cake
recipe and it was good...
My SIL made this table runner. She made it using a purple material on one side with this Easter print piece on the other. Very smart and cute!!
We hope your Easter was as equally blessed!
It is definitely less about the food and more about the time spent with some special people.
