Countdown to Easter: Week 1

Jesus as a Boy

We have begun our countdown to Easter.  Week 1 is done, 12 weeks to go!  It was a tough week for us to start, as we were still wrapping up our Christmas holidays.  We only slipped in a couple of activities before the end of our week.

 

We began our story learning by reading from one of our many children's Bible story books.  This is a children's study Bible that we really enjoy.  The pictures are fun.  Each book of the Bible gets a child friendly introduction and the stories are told by people who were part of them.  The boys really enjoy reading this Bible as well.

As we discussed and reviewed the story, the boys ripped paper for a project.  

Once we finished reviewing and ripping paper, we talked about the letter "b".  B is for boy and Jesus was a boy.  We practiced the sound of the letter.  The boys used school glue to make the shape of the letter with their torn paper pieces.  

 

Next week's story: Jesus Baptism.

Looking forward to Easter

You read it right.  Easter. Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth is over.  now it is time for us to begin looking forward to the celebration of his death on a nasty cross so that we could have an intimate relationship with God. 

Randy and I have begun preparing our home and family for the Easter celebration.  Okay, okay - so we have started in small ways.  The tree is still up (for today), there are still assorted Christmas goodies around the house.  We even have some more Christmas celebrating to do in the next week. 

Still, we have begun talking with the boys about the next celebration.  We want them to know that Christ's birth is a BIG deal.  Even more than that, we want them to know that his death means that we can live. 

As we are preparing for the next year in the life of the Crum family, we have laid out a course of study for the first 3 months of the year.   We will be exploring the gospels with the boys from January 1 through March 31.  Each week we are focusing on a different story as a family and will be learning it through a variety of formats - crafts, music, reading, games and more.  You are invited to follow along with us on my Friday posts. 

Here is our road to Easter schedule:

January

Jesus as a child

Jesus' baptism

Jesus calls disciples

Jesus loves children

February

Lazarus

Water into wine

Jesus heals the blind

Walking on water

March

Jesus calms the storm

Feeding of 5,000

Passover

Good Friday

Easter

Miracle Man

On January 8, 2010 or miracle man came into being.  While this is not entirely true (he had been "baking" for about 8 months).  He appeared nice and healthy when he was born, but before we left the hospital, he started showing signs of some trouble.

We ended up taking him back to the hospital (twice) and spending his first 11 days in a combination of 3 different hospitals, trying to take care of his jaundice, and figure out why he could not hold his temperature steady.

While we were trying to figure out why he was so cold, they did an MRI to check for brain infection.  He had no infection, but they did discover that he had a considerable amount of brain damage.  Still no one knows why.  The neurologist was grim about his future.  We learned that he should have a hard time learning to balance enough to sit, crawl, stand, walk... and who knows what other struggles he might have because of his brain damage.

This boy is amazing (his new neurologist said so).  They determined that he did have a stroke some time before the MRI (at about 9 days), probably before he was even born.  He is in physical therapy with the First Steps program, just to make sure he reaches developmental milestones.

He is almost 1 year old and he sits, crawls, stands (holding on), is starting to cruise along furniture, he is starting to talk (hi, mama, mmmm...).

His eyes started crossing in August, he just had surgery for that, he is recovering amazingly.  This boy is a miracle.  We can see God through him every day. 

Thank you Jesus!

Santa Claus, Friend of Jesus?

This week my boys had the honor of seeing Santa Claus, twice!  Now, neither of these meetings was planned, but Manasseh was thrilled.  He has NO idea what Santa Claus is or what he has to do with Christmas.  Or even that Christmas is 11 days away.  OR that he's supposed to get presents for Christmas.  I am sure he will figure those things out soon enough.  I am so eager to help my boys experience the magic of the Christmas season that sometimes I forget to stop and make sure they know what it's all about. 

Today we saw the Santa at Riley Children's Hospital.  It was not planned, we just happened to walk in the door where he was stationed.  Manasseh was super excited, he sat on Santa's lap (he did not say anything, I don't think he has any idea what to say to Santa), and this Santa gave him 2 TY Beanie Babies, and a little one for Cassius.  While I registered Cash for his lab tests, Manasseh snuck back into the hallway and went straight to Santa.  Now, I think he just likes it that there is a character whom he recognizes.  If it were Dora or Larry the Cucumber or Woody, he would be the same way, I'm sure of that.  But that bothers me.

You see, if Manasseh saw someone in a Jesus costume walking down the hallway, he would keep going.  I'm not saying I want my kids to sit on some man's lap and smile at him and tell him how glad he is that he's there to see them.  I guess, I just realize the lack of biblical education that my children are getting right now.  It really bothers me, and you know what?  It's my own fault! 

So, in my house, I am pretty sure that Santa is NOT a friend of Jesus.  Neither are Bob the Tomato, or Lightening McQueen.  These things get in the way of Jesus in our house.  Bummer.  What do we need to do about this?  Well, for starters, in our house - we have to be more intentional about the stories our kids hear, and the activities they participate in.  Okay, not just the kids, but the parents!

What's my conclusion?  Just this:  I have to be intentional about leading my children toward an understanding of the Bible story.  I have to be intentional about limiting or eliminating the things that get in our way!