Mustard Seeds

Songs of Easter: Day 37-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.

Good Friday Activity: Jesus Died for Me

On Good Friday, I am reminded that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Who did Jesus die for?

For me.

Because of me.

For my sins.

Because he loved me.

We got this idea a few years ago from my friend, Wendy. Using a permanent red marker, make a red dot on the back of each hand. (If you do it on their palm, it washes off too easily.) Then, write your child's name over the marks. 

Think it's too gruesome to tell your toddler that Jesus had nails driven through his hands for them? It is gruesome. It was painful. It was true sacrifice.

Your kids can handle this detail. They can. And they will be even more in awe of what Jesus did for them on the cross.

One year, Jack  insisted that I mark his feet, too. I love it when my kids remember the details of God's truth. "They put nails in his feet, too, Mama."

 

Throughout the day, ask your child, "Who did Jesus die for?" They can respond, "For me!" Then, rejoice and thank God for his amazing gift of grace.

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Good Friday

Songs of Easter: Day 35-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 34-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 Recipe: Wild Rice Salad

 

My friend, C.L., introduced me to this wonderous salad. Although it's made with rice, to me, it has a "light and fresh" flavor that reminds me of spring. It's one of those perfect make-ahead dishes that tastes better a day or two after you make it. 

It makes A TON. I suggest halving the recipe, unless you have a big crowd. It's great leftover, though.

Wild Rice Salad

Salad Ingredients:

• 2 quarts plus 1 cup water
• 3 cups wild rice (not a wild-rice mix, straight wild rice)
• 2 6-oz jars marinated artichoke hearts
• 1 10-oz bag frozen peas
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 bunch of green onions, chopped
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups toasted sliced almonds (Don't skimp on this ingredient. You MUST toast and you MUST include--it's what really sends this salad over the moon.)

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbls. sugar
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. celery salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper
• 1/2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1 glove garlic, minced

Combine all dressing ingredients in lidded jar and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use.

In a large saucepan, heat water and rice until boiling. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Drain excess liquid from rice. Drain artichoke hearts, reserving marinade. Halve artichoke hearts and add to rice with peas, green pepper, green onions, tomatoes, reserved marinade and half of the dressing. Toss well. Cover and chill.

Just before serving, toss again and taste. Add some of the remaining dressing, if desired. Sprinkle with almonds and serve.

It looks pretty served up in a little bowl. Here I served it with mini BLTs and a chocolate nest.  It is also delicious served on top of fresh field greens.

Songs of Easter: Day 33-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 Recipe: Grandma's Custard Lime Jello

My childhood is full of holiday memories that include my Grandma Doerman's super lime jello. But, I remember it especially on Easter with ham and homemade rolls. I've carried on the tradition, serving it on Easter at our house each year. But, really it's fabulous anytime. Even for breakfast. The morning after. 

Check me out rocking that awesome denim jumper next to Grandma D. This was on the Sunday I was baptised.

Grandma Doerman's Custard Lime Jello

• 1 large box lime jello
• 1/2 can crushed pineapple (drain and reserve juice)

Mix jello according to box. Add crushed pineapple and poured into a 9/13 pan. Chill until firm.

• 1 package of Dream Whip (found near the jello section in the supermarket)
• 1 box of cream cheese

Beat Dream Whip according to package directions. Add cream cheese. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the firmed jello.

• Combine pineapple juice and water to make 1 cup
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tbls. flour
• 1 1/2 Tbls. lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar

Make custard on the same day the jello is served. Mix the above ingredients and and cook over medium heat until thick. Cool and spread over the cream cheese layer.

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He Has Risen! Rolls

My kids love making these HE HAS RISEN! rolls each year. They not only teach about Jesus' resurrection, but they actually taste good. A perfect breakfast activity to do the morning of Easter.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick of butter (melted)
• 1 can of large refrigerated rolls (I prefer Pillsbury Grands)
• Large marshmallows (8 of them, do NOT use stale marshmallows)
• A bowl of cinnamon and sugar mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Step 1: Take the white marshmallow. Jesus was pure and sinless like this marshmallow. 

Step 2: Roll marshmallow in butter and then in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. The butter represents the anointing oil and the cinnamon-sugar mixture represents the spices--both items were put on Jesus' body before they laid him in the tomb.

Step 3: Wrap the biscuit around the marshmallow and seal the dough around it. This part is very important--make sure the dough is completely sealed around the marshmallow. I wrap the dough around the marshmallow and pinch the dough together.  After they put Jesus in the tomb, they rolled a large stone in front of it to seal it.

Step 4: Roll the ball of dough in butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Step 5: Place on the cookie sheet. Make sure that the side that you did the most "pinching" and "sealing" becomes the "bottom" of the tomb/roll. This will help keep the roll sealed. Otherwise, the roll will bake apart, exposing the marshmallow.

Step 6: Place the tray of rolls in oven for about 10-12 minutes or until done.

Step 7: Let the rolls cool and then serve.

Encourage your little sprout to break open the tomb to look for Jesus. Where is he? He has risen!

How do the rolls taste? "Taste and see that the Lord is good..." Psalm 34:8

The center of the roll tastes especially sweet. Easter is a time to celebrate the sweetest gift of all--our salvation through Jesus' resurrection. Although he was blameless, he died on the cross for our sins; was buried in a tomb from three days; then rose from the dead.