Happy Easter 2012

There are Easter eggs and baskets, pastel-colored candies, and even a wind-up baby chick in our house this weekend but we're not celebrating because of any giant bunny. Let's be honest, the Easter Bunny is pretty freaky looking and I can't blame any of the kids who are scared of getting their picture taken with him at the mall.
While the egg hunts are definitely a lot of fun with a toddler running around to collect them, and the big family meal is always a festive thing to look forward to...the real reason for all the hoopla is never far from the forefront of our thoughts. Easter is a celebration of our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matthew 28:1-8 (ESV)

It's been a fun challenge finding ways to explain the story of Easter and its significance to an almost-2-year-old boy. We've done some crafts and read pint-sized books on the subject.And with each bedtime prayer, I've prayed for Jackson to understand what it is we're celebrating. I don't know how much he's grasping but he's definitely thinking about it all at least. Randomly he'll greet me or the person behind us in line at Costco with a happy, little shout of "Happy Easter!" or "The story of Easter" so those little wheels are turning in his brain!

I'm especially excited about giving Jackson his Easter basket on Sunday morning before church. Besides having some of his favorite things like a football, an ABC book, a dry erase board for drawing, some stacking cups, some drawing paper, and sidewalk chalk...
...it has special sports-themed eggs that are stuffed with photos of some of his favorite people (there were only 8 eggs in the pack so I couldn't get everybody in there!). When he opens each one, we'll talk about how Jesus went to the cross for them because He loves them so much.
Happy Easter from our family to yours!