Easter 2012

Posted by : Karen Wednesday, April 11, 2012

We've just spent such a lovely long weekend together as a family, something that has been a long time coming as for the last four months, Braveheart has either been unwell or away when public holidays or special events occur. There is nothing I like more than quality time with my family - not just run of the mill time, but that special, purposed time of soaking each other up and enjoying one another.

Our Easter celebrations started with a crafting day with some dear friends. I'm not sure what it is, but when I get involved and do crafts with the kids, there is some part of me that finds it so therapeutic! And I think even more so on this particular day, as I just provided the house and C organised and led all the crafts! We painted eggs (which is seriously addictive - note that you should always blow more eggs than you think you will need:)).

Belle, all ready and set for some Easter crafting....

the lovely family who crafted wtih us....

Serious concentration and pausing

thoughtfully before carrying on...

After playing in the sprinkler, we all made some lovely Easter chicks. And whilst I truly don't have a problem with the eggs and chicks of the northern hemisphere's spring being associated with this event on the calendar, it did get me thinking: What would Easter look like if the northern hemisphere marketing giants had the southern hemisphere's climate? What would a Fall Easter look like? What would a summer Santa Claus wear? I'd love Africa to reclaim her heritage and stop taking its lead from the West...

Push three drawing pins in a triangle shape into upturned flattened sides of egg boxes - it makes a great stand for wet eggs waiting to dry!

When finished, a lovely centerpiece...

Then we modeled lovely little chicks and bunnies from colored marzipan - this didn't last for the my youngest, the delight of devouring the marzipan was too overwhelming :)

I've loved being inspired over the last few years of blogging as to how other families are making this time of year more significant. We've adopted the practice of Passover on the eve of Good Friday. I'd loved to tell you that this day went exactly as I'd planned it, with all the things I'd wanted to do flowing seamlessly into one another, but now that wouldn't be true. This day went quite pear shaped actually. See? Can you read between the lines how dark and dangerous this day was for me? No photos. No resurrection garden. No great epiphany when I tried to give the kids a practical illustration of forgiveness - because I'd worded it wrong. We did manage to have a lovely meal in the end though, and the kids soaked up the message of the Passover.

We don't follow anything set for Passover - Braveheart and I tend to steer clear of all organized religious things. This year was even less structured than last year - a simple feast, a simple seder plate. Oh, and this Easter Braveheart's stunning and poignant script (yes, my talented husband has a way with words when it comes to the Truth) is now in movie form.

Our Easter gifts this year were simple - to show God's love for us, tiny heart shaped marshmallows (ahem, these were in Woolies and left over from Valentine's I think!)...

Saturday RAINED and RAINED, and Braveheart came up with a brilliant plan - he challenged the boys to build everything they'd ever been given in Lego. And so the day began with sorting...which took THREE hours to get it into all the right color piles, then to sort it into smaller categories within that, and then we built, and built and built. I don't think Braveheart or I envisaged getting so into it ourselves - one night we went to bed at 1130 after a session of building. I think we might have to invest in some Lego architecture as something to do together! Who would have thought! I love building puzzles, and this was as satisfying, if not more.