Easter Weekend III: Easter Celebrations

Ever since our first Easter together, Chad and I have wanted to build some meaningful traditions around what is for us the most significant of holidays. One year we went as far as to get



about halfway through putting together a now long-lost New Testament reading program highlighting the final week of Jesus’ earthly life. But that was it.

After all the wishful thinking this became our lucky year when a friend shared a program they use with their kids which we adapted for our family. We started by posting pictures depicting Holy Week scenes in our dining room, then read corresponding New Testament passages each day. With three days left when we left for Virginia, we packed it all up and shared it with the cousins (they were even so kind as to let us post the pictures in their living room).

It was so meaningful to kneel together each night for family prayer and then take turns reading the scriptural passages and talk about what took place those many years ago. That, for me, was the highlight of our Easter observance this year.

Of course, the secular observances figured into our celebrations as well. Saturday afternoon brought the traditional Easter egg hunt. We had a great time watching younger and older ones alike comb their respective sides of the yard where Easter bunnies Ben and Chad had hidden colorful little treasures in all kinds of unsuspecting spots. Later came the indoor hunt where we nearly stumped Ben with the location of his candy bag. (I told him I’d be seriously concerned about the future of his FBI career if he couldn’t track it down.)

Sunday morning we attended church with Ben and Carline’s congregation, where we all felt at home and enjoyed the celebratory messages. After a scrumptious traditional ham and potato dinner we let the kids decorate Easter basket cupcakes with the remnants of their Easter candy. What a great Easter!

Next up: Just Being Together