Was it for crimes that I had done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in,
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of tears can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
‘Tis all that I can do.

Isaac Watts, 1707

But that’s not to say that I don’t enjoy spending an evening with scissors and glue. I just tend to stay towards the um… Sunday School for kids sort of crafts. Give me a template of a lion for a 5 year old and I’ll have a grand time putting it together.

Tonight I got the itch. I wanted to make something — do something with my hands — so I tried my hand at the easiest Easter craft.

I went to the kids section at Martha Stewart’s and found this to make (I know — pretty juvenile for a 21 year old).

Although you don’t need a terrible lot of supplies to make this, I found that I didn’t have everything I needed. So with a few adjustments I created the bunny with the world’s biggest nose.

But hey, it works. Proof that you don’t always need it to look exactly like the picture.

So sweet. I had a strange sort of bunny bag. What next?

Make paper grass of course! And if you’re lucky, you’ll be an office worker like me, live a one minute drive away from said workplace, and be able to hop on over and use the paper shredder to make fun colorful grass!

I filled the bag bunny with the grass and an assortment of Easter candy, made a simple homemade card, and had a little something to send off in the mail this morning to a friend.

This is perfect for a child (you might want to go for something a bit more mature looking if you’re my age or older) to make (my younger brother is going to be trying his hand at it this morning) and is quick, simple, and easy if you’re in a hurry for a gift of some sort for them to send out!

*What I would do differently the second time around: cut the ears lower and not have such a long headed bunny. =)

The special Easter decorations are out, special storybooks are being read, and lunch is usually served on special pastel plates. (And as I share these things with Jameson and William, my heart cries out for their eyes to be opened from a young age, for their hearts to be captured early on!)

Today, I set my sites on Sunday. Making a list, checking it twice. (Oops, wrong holiday!)

Of course, the family Easter recipes are on the agenda. Perhaps you’d like to add them to yours?

And here’s a post from the archives: Easter, growing up at the Sinclairs’.

(New to traditions and making things special? Check out the “traditions” category and enjoy our thoughts on how you can celebrate with your family.)

1 c. butter
2 t. vanilla
2 t. rum flavoring
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg unbeaten
3 cups flour
1 t. nutmeg

Cream first three ingredients together. Add sugar. Blend in eggs. Add flour and nutmeg gradually. Roll into logs as thick as pointer finger and cut into two-three inch long logs. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 min. at 350 degrees. Let the cookies cool before frosting.

Rum Log Frosting

3 T. butter
1 t. rum flavoring
2 1/2 c. confection sugar
2-3 T. milk

As a young mother I wanted my children to be excited about Easter, to contemplate the weightiness of such an event, and to remember His supreme sacrifice with great appreciation and thanksgiving. So what could be done to mark such a special day and bring about such contemplation?

Christmas warrants a full season of celebration. Why should Easter be wrapped up in one short day? The importance of the resurrection deserved a bit more attention than that in my book. So the following will help you see some of the prep, planning, and celebration we now practice!

1. Mom purchased books about the Resurrection story. These books are brought out a few weeks prior to Easter Sunday and made available for perusal. Placed in view for decorative purposes, we also read them together during those weeks. The story is told and retold. What better story is there?

2. Years ago one such book prompted us to create figures/puppets of the characters involved in the story. Now they are set out each year and the young set (my own children and now my grandchildren) enjoy re-enacting the story. Great!

3. This mom is big on seasonal decor. For me, it sets the tone. A month before the big day flowers, figurines, garlands, special dishware and linens are brought out. All these things cue the children and visitors — something really special is being remembered!

4. We always take time to plan special outfits for Easter Sunday. It is common in many cultures to wear festive clothes during celebration — surely Easter merits this! In years gone by we’ve all worn white dresses, or had new flowered dresses and new suits, or planned to wear matching colors using existing wardrobes. Celebration commemorating such an event deserves thought and investment. We must remember and celebrate His great goodness! It doesn’t need to be costly, but it should be thought through. Cleaning, mending, adding a simple touch such as a new tie or hair ribbon — this takes time and effort, and that is what helps children (and ourselves) recognize the significance of the day. We begin plotting our outfits days and even weeks before. After all, Easter is a major event! Jesus rose from the dead!!

5. Traditional foods are part of the big day. Menus are planned, ingredients purchased, and for several days we are busy preparing breads, breakfast foods, cakes, cookies, etc. More time and effort? You bet!! The kids watch and get involved. Something really important is going to happen and the excitement builds! Easter will be celebrated soon and we better be ready!

6. Music. Resurrection hymns at the piano. A simple children’s song (“Jesus is alive,” the angels say. “Be glad! Be glad, this Easter Day!”)

Easter morning begins early.

1. We wake the children with traditional greetings: “Hallelujah! Christ is risen!” They respond with: “He is risen indeed!”

2. Donning our robes we head downstairs for the annual treasure hunt. The night before, clues have been written (one for each child, written with their particular age level in mind) and hidden around the house. One by one they are discovered, each leading to the next. The final clue will take the whole crew to the stash of baskets laden with sweet treats. How exciting!

3. Breakfast of traditional Cheese Braid begins. During the meal, gifts are shared — a book, a CD, a simple piece of jewelry.

4. Off we go to get dressed and head to church to celebrate with the brethren. Hallelujah! This is the highlight — songs of rejoicing and victory!

5. Home once again, we partake of Easter dinner with its traditional breads, cakes and veggies. Main dishes seem to vary around here, trying new recipes regularly. The tables are set with our best china, decorated with flowers and lit candles. We typically invite lots of guests — families and individuals joining our celebration as we give thanks to God for His sacrifice and victory on our behalf!

The end of the day comes and we revel in the beauty of the celebration. Easter has become a special season in our home, warm and bright, reflective and meaningful. It is one of my favorites!

Our celebrations each year haven’t been identical. There have been lunch time celebrations when Dad is able to squeeze an hour free in the middle of the day to come home. (I remember tuna or egg salad sandwiches made fancy by removing the center of the top piece of bread with a heart-shaped cookie cutter on those years.) Sometimes schedules dictate a breakfast or dinner celebration. But whatever the meal that we designate for our Valentine’s Day celebration, there were some constants that we can always look forward to:

1. Heart-shaped pink, red & white homemade place cards that were reused each year to decorate the table
2. Simple $-store Valentine’s Day paper cups filled to the brim with an assortment of holiday candy.
3. Family members gathering around dressed prettily in pinks, reds & whites.
4. A card at each place setting that both Mom and Dad took the time to write a special note in.

Most years there are frosted sugar cookies that we decorate as simply as time necessitates. Sometimes there’s something special like pink lemonade or heart-shaped paper doilies on the serving plates. When we were little, we siblings often made Valentines for each other, and sometimes one or two of us will still find the time to write notes on cut and pasted red hearts.

But whatever the meal– breakfast, lunch or dinner– the food comes only after reading our cards from Mom and Dad and then spending a few minutes sharing our appreciation of and gratitude for one another. This sharing is the sort of tradition that can never be repeated too often, and so many of our holidays, family gatherings, and regular meals begin with expressing words of love and thankfulness. Valentine’s Day, of all days of the year, is the choicest of times for this kind of communication.

Maybe our love for such a pretty and chocolate-y celebration is in part because we’re girls (and what girl doesn’t like pink and chocolate?!), but I think our whole family, even the male contingent, has come to cherish this day as an opportunity to say, “I love you.” After all, for us this day has come to represent far more than just pretty colors and candy: it’s a perfect chance to intentionally share our love for and commitment to one another.

Mom is amazing at creating pleasant and special atmospheres. She has taught us girls so much about this, first in leading by example, then by incorporating our help, and then by delegating. I’ve still got a long way to go before I’m quite as proficient as Mom in this area, but I sure am thankful for all I’ve learned from her!

The biggest thing I’ve learned from Mom is that we ought to be willing to put in some effort. It doesn’t have to huge or burdensome– Mom has often showed me how far just five minutes spent setting a pretty table can go and I speak from personal experience when I say that it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate for your husband and little ones to take note!– but we also can’t expect a creative and special atmosphere to just happen on its own. A few lit tea lights, scattered leaves gathered from your lawn, a bowl full of fruit, or a small American flag stuck in a bud vase can instantly elevate your table from Every Day to Special, but even small things do require that you engage your creative abilities and energies.

Growing up, we didn’t have big birthday celebrations each year. I think Danica may have been a baby when Mom decided that those significant parties would be reserved for 5th, 13th, and 16th birthdays. But while our “off” years meant small guest lists (2 friends or 1 family), no games and no party favors, they were still rich with little traditions that Mom gave us through atmosphere so that we didn’t feel the least bit disappointed.

For example, there was always the excitement of seeing the prettily wrapped presents throughout the day. I remember running downstairs as a little girl to the dining room buffet where I knew they would be attractively arranged. I didn’t know as a seven-year-old that that it took more planning and work on Mom’s part to have them each tied with ribbon and ready hours and hours before the evening celebration, but I sure did know that I couldn’t wait for that morning to arrive so I could stand there in breathless anticipation, imagining with great delight what might be inside.

Or what about Christmas Eve after we returned from the Candlelight Service at church? We would all quickly change into pajamas– “Don’t forget socks, girls, because it’s cold!” she would call– and scamper down to the family room where we would sit on the floor close to the tree while listening to the Christmas Story. It isn’t just the reading itself that I remember or the sibling gift exchange that followed, but the way the many lights on the tree cast shadows around the room, the feeling of being snuggled close together, the sound of familiar Christmas recordings playing in the background.

And who can forget the many Independence Day parades when Mom insisted that our apparel be red, white and/or blue in honor of the holiday? When I was eleven or twelve years old I felt the distinct humiliation of being, I was sure, the only pre-teen out there dressed to match the occasion (besides Danica, of course), but the tradition far outlasted my awkward insecurities because now I find myself dressing my children, my husband, and myself according to Mom’s request. The day just wouldn’t feel right otherwise!

It wasn’t just actual holidays, though, that Mom made meaningful through atmosphere. Who knew that the actual process of decorating the house for Christmas could still cause all us girls to break out in song due to years of listening to Sandi Patti’s The Gift Goes On soaring through the house stereo while we hung the garland? Or that we would all fondly recall Saturday evening baths simply because they had been followed by an hour of The Lawrence Welk Show?

It’s recollections like these that encourage me to make those extra efforts– lay out the tablecloth for a simple family dinner, turn on the CD as we tackle our daily chores, light the candles while we watch Sunday evening football, and frost that 2-layer cake (what a struggle for me!) that has been anticipated all year– that shows my family over and over again how important celebrating is and, even more importantly, how important they are to me.

Apple Sauce –yields 4 cups

This apple sauce tends to appear at more than just traditional holiday meals, for sure, but serving it at a meal lit with candles and set with fall colors transforms any dinner into an autumnal celebration.

3 lbs of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (we like a mix that includes Cortlands!)
ground cinnamon to taste
2-4 T sugar
3/4 cups water

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the desired consistency (30-35 minutes). (Add water if it begins to stick to the bottom of the pan.)

*A note: keep in mind that the sugar and cinnamon become more pronounced as the applesauce cools.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These are the yummiest way to eat sweet potatoes — take my word for it! We serve them at Thanksgiving and Christmas (and sometimes sneak in an extra time or two before winter’s end!)

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 lb baby carrots
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
4-6 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1-2 T fresh rosemary, chopped (or use dry!)
a dash of ground thyme
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss all ingredients together on a rimmed cookie sheet. Roast for 60-90 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft. Yum yum!

Now, granted, we don’t feel a natural inclination to celebrate everyday (and some are even less inclined than others!) But we need to reclaim the art of celebrating if we have not already done so. Take time to celebrate. Invest your energy and creativity. It is worth it.

Christians need to be well versed in two kinds of celebration: spontaneous and planned. We should be prepared to have a “hallelujah” party on the spot for a child, a brother or sister, and even ourselves! Perhaps someone has just received a great score on a test, gotten that long awaited job, successfully performed their first piano recital for the public, or made it on base every time at bat! Pull out the balloons, take a trip to Sergi’s (our family’s favorite pizza place), invite friends over and have some cake, whatever! Just lay hold of the opportunity to celebrate His goodness and to let them know how special they are to you. God lets us know how special we are to Him. We need to do the same for each other, so make their special moment big! Magnify Him in it!

Planned celebrations are just as important. Human nature is prone to forget His past faithfulness; establishing traditional celebrations provides an opportunity to reflect on His goodness.

Children love traditions. I have found over the years that if you do something two years in a row it becomes an established tradition in their young minds. After all, two years is a large percentage of their lives. Consequently I would hear the words, “But we’ve always done it this way!” even when I hadn’t thought of it as a tradition yet!

Traditions create opportunities to teach and instruct children in your testimony and faith, as well as personally stir up a fresh appreciation for what He has done.

Sometimes Christians get caught up on what to celebrate, feeling that only the truly “religious” events merit such attention. May I remind us all that He saved us to the uttermost. Our whole life is to be holy and consecrated. There is no part of what we experience from which He is separate. He created life itself, so celebrate life! He created our gifts, so celebrate our gifts! He taught us diligence, so celebrate someone’s diligence! Just celebrate His goodness in all its forms, which are plentiful in our lives.

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.

We should be the people that know the joyful sound. We should be rejoicing! So let’s celebrate our children. Let’s celebrate each other. Let’s celebrate Him!

Magnify Him in our lives and all He’s done. He is worthy!

Well, that’s the topic of a new little series we’ll be hosting in this corner of the world. There will be ideas, recipes, pictures, you name it!

Growing up, we definitely loved our traditions. Now, here’s the deal: some families are more naturally into traditions than others. Some personalities love the idea of “we always do it this way!” Others, maybe not.

But here’s the thing: taking the time and effort to establish some significant traditions is a golden opportunity for you to impart to your family. The things my parents instated spoke to us about the importance of God, the worth of certain events, and our own value. Traditions aren’t just about warm fuzzies or good memories (although I don’t mind a sentimental memory now and then, for sure!). They’re another opportunity to shape your family — and that’s worth doing!

Sometimes the idea of traditions can feel very burdensome, and there certainly are some things to keep in mind:

First, traditions are meant to be a blessing. Yes, they take work and effort and all of that good stuff. Stockings don’t magically fill themselves; parents stay up till the wee hours in order to accomplish such “magic.” Leg-o-lamb doesn’t just appear on the table after the Easter service; a mother carefully planned and prepped and timed that event! BUT if you’re continually frustrated or burned out feeling like you have to keep up with some Universal Tradition, well, reevaluate!

Second, choose traditions that you think are realistic. Mom was always careful of what she did once, because that’s all it took for us to think we should do it every year (or every birthday, or whatever.) Well, for instance, birthdays: Mom and Dad established a pattern of “big” parties at our 5th, 10th, 13th, and 16th birthdays, as opposed to every year. They were thinking ahead, for sure. I mean, can you imagine nine huge birthday parties every year? Throw in a few holidays here and there, and you’ve got a burned out Mama!!

Third, choose traditions that have meaning. Get bang for your buck! Simple things, though, can communicate a world of importance. Lighting candles and reading the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve: does it get any easier, cheaper, or more special than that?

Lastly, remember that you’re not a slave to traditions. Life happens, seasons change, and sometimes even with your best effort, the fancy party food has to go. We’ve been known to have Christmas dinner the day after… or even the week after! Those are the moments when you get to remind everyone that traditions are just a way of remembering what truly matters!

Hopefully we’ll all be encouraged and inspired as this little series unfolds. If you tend to poo-poo traditions, I hope we’ll be able to share some of the value they’ve had in our families. If you’re not from a background of sound family traditions, maybe you’ll find the starting blocks to establish such things in your own family.

Most of all, I hope we’re all challenged to work hard to instill the important things in our children’s hearts, and in the fabric of our family. Whether they’re the daily traditions or yearly traditions, tangible reminders of what truly matters are worth our effort.