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Our Favorite Easter Books
By Kathy Bennett
I don't have anything against the Easter Bunny, but I don't want him
to be the main focus of Easter celebrations in our home.
The following three books are ones I've shared with my kids to
teach them about the real reason we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
The Easter Story written and illustrated by Carol Heyer
In this book, Carol Heyer recounts the last week of Christ's life on earth, from His triumphant entry into Jerusalem to His resurrection. Other authors have told this story before and since, but none have done so with Heyer's incredibly vivid illustrations.
We read this book every year as part of our Easter celebration.
The Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs, illustrated by Nancy Munger
original copyright 1997
recommended age level 4-8, 9-12 (using the Bible verses)
This is a story on two levels. Each page contains a line or two of text from the parable, and, in smaller print, a Bible reference that relates the parable to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The parable tells the story of a girl who is waiting for a special present from her father, and then doesn't even recognize it's value when she receives it. Worse yet, she gets so upset that she got a "worthless" gift that she tosses it out into the yard in disgust. Three days later, she discovers that it was the priceless gift that she had been praying for.
I use Liz Curtis Higgs's parable series in the third grade Sunday school class I teach. The kids, eight and nine year olds, really enjoy looking at familiar concepts from a fresh perspective.
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt, illustrated by Tim Jonke
In this story, three trees growing on a hill dream of greatness. The first tree wants to be made into a chest to hold priceless treasure. The second wants to be fashioned into a mighty ship that carries great kings. The third wants simply to point the way to heaven. Each tree gets its wish, but not in the way that it had imagined. Instead, each plays an important role in Christ's earthly life.
My kids love this story, and even though they aren't old enough to read the book themselves, they can easily grasp its meaning.
About the Author
Kathy Bennett is a homeschooling Mom of four children, ages 8,6,4,and 3. She,her husband and their kids live on a farm in rural Missouri.
She is editor of Badger Hill Farm Gazette. You can subscribe to it Here.
Or join her Recipe list at Blue-Ribbon-Recipes, a diverse community of
cooks of all ages, genders, religions, races, ethnic backgrounds, and cooking expertise.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing