Happy Easter everybody! It has been fun trying to explain to our three year old a little bit about the meaning of Easter this year. I am not too sure she gets it though. The conversation usually goes something like “Elise.” “What Daddy?” “Did you know we are celebrating Jesus rising from the dead today?” “Yeah, and then we get to go eat easter eggs and candy right?”
Elise and Ian today in their Easter gear
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. I am so glad that, not only did God create us with a need for proof in order to believe things, but he honored that need in a major way on that first Easter.
Luke 24: 7-8
The agree he definitely died on the cross.
They agree the tomb was found empty on Sunday morning.
They agree that Christ made appearances to many after he rose from the dead.
They agree the group of his followers were radically transformed after those appearances, going from a scared and scattered group among whom only one was present when Jesus' life was withering away on the cross, to a motivated and visionary group who saw thousands join them almost immediately. Out of the 11 remaining desciples, 10 were said to have died as martyrs for Christ.
With those things being in place, it would take more faith to believe some of the rumors that were created, like the disciples stole his body out of the tomb while nobody else was looking, that Jesus actually came to in the tomb, dusted himself off, was able to nurse back to health and make his appearances. Or my favorite, that it was actually someone else on the cross not Jesus, and that people were mistaken. With the historical evidence in place, all these options take a lot more faith to believe than the story we read in the Bible.
To read in better detail about this (ie where in the world did I get this) click here.
So Ian didn't hunt for eggs today, but big sis shared some of hers!
And of course, a group shot!
Everybody knows one of the best parts of Easter is dressing up your kids in cute clothes and watching them hunt for easter eggs! Elise and Ian enjoyed an easter egg hunt after church today. (Elise got a little practice the other night at our language school's Easter party/egg hunt too!) Well Ian watched, while Elise gathered up some plastic eggs (full of yummy treats)!
Heather and I were trying to remember where we were on the past few Easters. We've realized that the four Easters we have spent as parents have all been in different places. Last year Easter was two days after Ian was born. We celebrated Easter in the hospital in Boise. We were still there because Heather had a C section. The hospital photographer happened to come on Easter day.
Ironically, Ian celebrated his second Easter today, but still hasn't celebrated a birthday yet. That will be on April 22.
So last year's Easter Egg hunt took place both in the hospital room in Boise, and on the neat playground they had. Elise was the only contestant. She had a blast.
There she is sitting on the floor in the hospital room, enjoying some of her loot! It was the first time she grasped the concept of an Easter egg hunt.
The year before, we were in Arizona visiting. Elise and cousin Isla got together on Easter for some cute pics!
That's my twin sister Kelly and husband Joe with little Isla on the same day. (ironically we both have baby boys now too, almost the same age. It must be a twin thing)
And finally....Elise's first Easter (2009) we spent in Grand Rapids Michigan. We lived there for over three years and we miss Michigan! We had a lot of family visit us from Missouri on Elise's first Easter weekend. Elise was only four months old.
It's amazing how time flies, and how fast they grow! Next year we will be in yet another place.....Papua.
