Mustard Seeds

Your Hills of Calvary

 Thanks to everyone who sent in pictures of their Hill of Calvary. Sorry it's taken me so long to post. It's been one of those months that I've been so busy projecting, gardening and mothering that I haven't taken the time to actually document any of it. 

So without further ado, here are you fabulous hills. I love how everyone used their own unique ideas and supplies. Check out the links and pin ideas for next year.

This is Pearl's Hill of Calvary. Check out her paper mache tomb.

Check out Terra's awesome Good Friday activities. I love how she used Woodeez and Little Critters to re-enact the story.

 Yanna's lovely grass hill.

 This is the Van Kooten's hill. It got a little hairy! Love it!

Melissa translated my instructions into German and used them with in women's Bible study (along with Resurrection Eggs in German), as a way to encourage the moms to do something Christ-related with their families. How cool!

And the Langevin's empty tomb on Easter morning.

And now the Haufschild's.

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Tutorial: Hill of Calvary

Buy your supplies

Did you plant your hill?

Catching up

We've had quite a bit going on here the last few weeks (apart from Easter). My parents visited for a week at Easter and I helped plan decorations for a major school event. We also painted our house,  built a new fence, and had a new retaining wall and patio and sidewalk poured...Things have been a bit hectic. But the yard is looking fabulous and I can't wait to share pictures. 

But first....Easter. Did you have a fabulous, meaningful Easter? I hope so. I'm going to post your Hill of Calvary photos soon. Promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've decided that Christmas isn't the only holiday worthy of "baking cookies." I've been stuck on this cookie recipe (I use almond instead of orange extract). It works wonderfully for sugar cookies. And, did you know that you can make your own colored sugar?! I'm not sure why it took me so many years to realize that you don't have to buy colored sugar in tiny bottles in the cake mix aisle. Just put some sugar in a zip lock, add a few drops of food coloring and shake. Seriously?! This amazing discovery has changed my cookie making forever. Instead of icing dripping everywhere, we are going to have SUGAR in all colors. 

And on to....hot cross buns. A couple of years ago, I made a double batch of buns to deliver to friends on Good Friday. It was festive and fun, but the buns were pretty dense and dry. So this year, I started early making test batches in March... My favorite recipe is the Pioneer Woman's version. 

 

And now on to the yard...Here are my children working hard dismantling the crumbling stone patio. They seriously worked for two hours straight helping Matt and I haul rock to the driveway. This is one situation that I am in total support of child labor. 

 

Our family was blessed with a wonderful gift that made this backyard transformation possible. I can't wait to take some "after" pictures to show you.

See that little garden shed on the side of the house? Gone.

See that peeling paint? Now a beautiful yellow.

Uneven patio? Clean (soon to be stained) poured cement. 

Did I mention the fence? Whenever a big wind blew, we would hold our breath praying it wouldn't fall down. Now it's a sturdy new thing, with picket fencing up in the Widdi Woods. Sigh. 

I never knew the joy that new cement and fencing could bring. I can't wait for this summer's garden party.

Hello, Red Door and Black Shutters! You make me oh-so-very-happy. 

Songs of Easter: Day 40-Listen-Reflect-Pray

 

Mustard Seed's Songs of Easter is a 40-part music series that provides a way for you to "dig a little deeper" this Easter season. Maybe you don't know anything about Lent or even what to do to make this season more meaningful. Start here. A new song will be posted each day  at 11 a.m. mountain time--just in time for lunch. Quiet yourself. Close your eyes. Listen the lyrics. Reflect. Pray.  It's simple, but significant. I'm praying that by intentionally listening each day, the Lord gives you a deeper understanding of his love and grace on the journey to the cross.

Songs of Easter: Day 39-Listen-Reflect-Prays

 

Mustard Seed's Songs of Easter is a 40-part music series that provides a way for you to "dig a little deeper" this Easter season. Maybe you don't know anything about Lent or even what to do to make this season more meaningful. Start here. A new song will be posted each day  at 11 a.m. mountain time--just in time for lunch. Quiet yourself. Close your eyes. Listen the lyrics. Reflect. Pray.  It's simple, but significant. I'm praying that by intentionally listening each day, the Lord gives you a deeper understanding of his love and grace on the journey to the cross.

Good Friday

"The full force of the storm of God's fierce anger at sin was coming down. 

On his own son.

Instead of his people.

It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were full of sin."

---The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones

 

P.S. The Jesus Storybook Bible Kindle edition is on sale right now for $3.99. 

Your Hill of Calvary

I was thrilled when Amber sent me a link to see her Hill of Calvary. I especially loved reading the sweet confessions. 

I would love to see your hill, too.  Leave a comment with a link to your blog. If you don't have a blog, email me a photo. (janna@mustardseedswriting.com) I'll do a post with all the pictures. And,remember to share how it's made an impact on your family.

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Don't forget to add your crosses today. Here are some other "teaching ideas" to use over the weekend.

• On Good Friday, wrap up a clothespin in white cloth and lay it in the tomb (Jesus). Then, cover the tomb entrance with the 4-inch dish. On the Eve of Easter, remove the clothespin, leave the cloth and leave the tomb open for your child to discover first thing on Sunday morning.

• Have each member of your family take a rock and write a personal struggle or sin on the stone with a permanent pen. Put the rocks in the tomb on Good Friday--the day Jesus died for our sins. Then, cover the tomb entrance with the 4-inch dish. On the Eve of Easter, remove the stones and throw them away. Leave the tomb open for the family to discover on Sunday morning. Talk about what “grace” and “forgiveness” means.

• "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." Romans 4:25

•  The path to the cross was paved by my sins. Cut a path in your grass leading up to the cross. Make a path with your “sin stones.” Then, put these rocks in the tomb...to once again die...with Christ.

• "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

• On Easter, Jesus not only rose from the grave, conquering death, but he conquered our sin-- FOREVER. Our sin is dead! Remember to emphasize the JOY and excitement of Easter. Especially for younger ones, I think it's important to emphasize the joy and miracle, lest they only focus on the sad part of the crucifixion. 

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Did you plant your hill?

Tutorial: Hill of Calvary

 

Maundy Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"God was going to pour into Jesus' heart all the sadness and brokeness in people's hearts. He was going to pour into Jesus' body all the sickeness in people's bodies. God was going to have to blame his son for everything that had gone wrong. It would crush Jesus . . . But it would be all right . . ."

---The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones

 

P.S. The Jesus Storybook Bible Kindle edition is on sale right now for $3.99. If you don't have this, get it today!  It's amazing. 

Photos: I took these last summer at St. Paul's Church in Auckland, NZ. (Where my brother-in-law was married.) I was captivated by these amazing carvings on the walls.

Songs of Easter: Day 38-Listen-Reflect-Pray

 

Mustard Seed's Songs of Easter is a 40-part music series that provides a way for you to "dig a little deeper" this Easter season. Maybe you don't know anything about Lent or even what to do to make this season more meaningful. Start here. A new song will be posted each day  at 11 a.m. mountain time--just in time for lunch. Quiet yourself. Close your eyes. Listen the lyrics. Reflect. Pray.  It's simple, but significant. I'm praying that by intentionally listening each day, the Lord gives you a deeper understanding of his love and grace on the journey to the cross.

Easter Round-Up

Here's a round-up of all my Easter crafts, books, decorations, recipes, music, and  tutorials. Feel free to use the picture above to link and spread the word on your blog or pinterest board. Just click on the pictures below find the associated posts. 

 

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Truth by a child's hand

Songs of Easter: Day 36-Listen-Reflect-Pray

 

Mustard Seed's Songs of Easter is a 40-part music series that provides a way for you to "dig a little deeper" this Easter season. Maybe you don't know anything about Lent or even what to do to make this season more meaningful. Start here. A new song will be posted each day  at 11 a.m. mountain time--just in time for lunch. Quiet yourself. Close your eyes. Listen the lyrics. Reflect. Pray.  It's simple, but significant. I'm praying that by intentionally listening each day, the Lord gives you a deeper understanding of his love and grace on the journey to the cross.