Blog Post Find of the Day: Sharon Watson-- "Story Writing: The Resurrection"

     I came across a wonderful writing idea (via a link on facebook from a fellow homeschooler) for my 7th grader tomorrow...and just had to share!  You'll find it HERE. It's called "Story Writing: The Resurrection".  Perfect writing prompt for the day before Good Friday!  She has lots of other great writing prompt ideas as well!

Home Renovation: Painting the Built-in and an Easter-themed Bookshelf

     I promised that I'd be sharing our home renovations...so here's the first one!  I needed to unpack lots of books, so one of the first projects I tackled was one of the built-ins.  It was a very dark burnt orange color.  I wanted it white. 

It took 2 coats of Kilz and 2 coats of white to cover it up. 

Feels better already.

So much better that this!  But...I still have this side to tackle!

Feel the difference?

Ahhh...white and bright!  I still have to paint the cabinets and trim, but at least I was able to unload some book boxes and have at least a corner of our house that felt like "me." 

I had fun decorating the shelf for Easter.

An old crate I found in the barn at my Mom's and Dad's last fall. It's all cleaned up and is perfect for holding DVDs.

So excited to find a home for my "Little White Church!"  This built- in comes with electricity...perfect to plug in the lights for my church.  (Oh, and the big pine cone is compliments of my oldest son.  Lots of pine cones where we live!)

Preschool Sunday School~~Easter Morning

Craft Center: The boys and girls enjoyed making "Jesus is Alive" plates.  What a joy to share the true meaning of Easter with these children!

Block Center: The Empty Tomb!

We also enjoyed singing, working puzzles from Jesus' ministry (and one puzzle that depicted the resurrection) and hearing the Bible Story. Boys and Girls took turns praying to God and thanking him for rising from the dead!



Hot Cross Buns for Good Friday

I tried something new today---making Hot Cross Buns.  I tried an "easy" version I clipped out of a Home Life Magazine from April 2009.  Hot Cross Buns have been traditionally eaten on Good Friday for several centuries.  There are superstions tied to the buns, but today they served to remind us of what Christ did for us on the cross. 

 

 

Waiting for the rolls to rise...

Those little specks are cinnamon.  I left out the raisins and nuts.  That is more of the traditional recipe--but I wanted my kids to eat them! 

My family really enjoyed them--and I think I'll have enough for the whole weekend. 


Have a Blessed "Good Friday"!
 

Creative Art: Faberge' Eggs

Last year my boys enjoyed making their own version of Faberge' eggs.  We had been studying Russia, and this worked out perfectly to be done at Easter time. 

 

We decided to make/shape our own eggs from Crayola puddy.

These are a few books I checked out from the library for inspiration.

Waiting for the eggs to dry and harden....

A gorgeous spring day for painiting eggs....

All done!  The boys gave them away as gifts to family.

Decorating my Mantle for Easter

I have found decorating for Easter to be a bit of a challenge.  There are lots and lots of Easter bunnies out there, sure.  I just wanted my decor to focus more on our Savior and what Easter really means.  I find these type of decorations hard to come by.  If I do find them, they seem kind of "tacky".  (I know, I'm probably not shopping in the right store!)  I wanted to show you what I came up with this Easter for the mantle above the fireplace.   

I love my rusty cross candle holder someone from our church gave me.  I found the nest of eggs on clearance last year.  (One of the eggs is covered in moss...I like!)

The cross is a symbol of what Christ did for all of us...and the eggs the symbol of new life He gives!

I took down my fireplace grate and put up my spring/summer fireplace cover made by my dad.  He found some old closet doors at the dump and made this!  I added the green paint, which I got for free from ordering a paint sample.  Yeah! 

The verse on the plate is one of my son's Bible Drill verses, so it serves double-duty!  I love changing out verses/messages on this plate! 

Have a Blessed Good Friday and a Happy Easter!!