Select Page
My Mother, Maker of the Home

My Mother, Maker of the Home

by | May 17, 2021 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

My Mother.

 

She, to me is the epitome of what kind of mother I want to be to my children. She is patient, firm, understanding, kind, considerate, and knows the importance of quality time.

A great listener, gives sound and godly advice. 

Also, she is honest, modest, makes healthy meals (without spending much money), and creates a comfortable and welcoming home while working in the home and outside the home at our family business while, always displaying what it looks like to put God first.

 

She loves Big, prays Big, and makes food Big.  I believe it was because she loves Jesus Big

If I had to pick one character my mother possesses that I want to instill in to my motherhood it would probably be the feeling she provided for our home as a whole.  Because of her love for Jesus it was a comforting, loving, welcoming, a safe haven, the obvious presence of God, encouraging, everything you would think it would be like being around Jesus.

When I asked my brothers’ “what characteristics stands out the most about our Mother”,  they said hardworking, consistency in being present and being that calming voice.  I love that all her children see the same thing in her, even though we all have different temperaments, she was the same.

Memories

We have so many great memories as kids and most of them are of the times we spent together as a family at home.   The times my Mother stopped what she was doing to sit down beside me and play babies with me, draw pictures with me, or build a fort with me.   When we would go on walks down our road, have picnics outside in our yard, or play ball.   Our Mother took the time to invest in our relationship by being present and taking interest in our lives as we were little up to now, as adults.

Our birthday parties weren’t over the top or at the most poplar location but it was time spent with family and friends, a homemade cake big enough for all to have a slice.   Activities weren’t chosen by joining all of the sports and local events but it was time spent with the church family.

 

MeMaw

Watching my Mother become a Grandmother to my two girls and hold them for the first time was the most

OUTSTANDING day.

It was the day I knew they both would get to feel the love of a special woman who is such a blessing to her family and to

those around her.

I am so incredibly thankful for the role my Mother played in our family and the example she set for her children.  I pray I

love Jesus BIG, like her so everything else can fall into its place and eventually set an example for my girls as well.

 

Phil. 1:3  “I thank my God everytime I remember you.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download Free Printable

Print out and hang around your house as a reminder to love Jesus BIG or use as a bookmark. 

.

Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Happily Hospitable

Happily Hospitable

by | May 10, 2021 | Mollie, One Blessed Momma

It’s been a little nuts around here lately. As the school year winds down everything is being crammed into the last few weeks.

Recitals with my piano students, appreciation dinners to plan, interviews for new staff, board meetings, and on and on and on.

When you add branding calves, irrigating, and all the ranch stuff that goes on in the spring, it’s easy to feel like we are only in the house long enough to mess it up and never clean it up.

A gift

As Mother’s Day approached I began to think about my mom.

When I pondered all the things my mom has taught me it became difficult to zero in on just one. She is an incredible human being, a gift to this world, and a blessing to me.

I finally settled on her gift of hospitality. Even when she is in a crazy season like I am right now, she is still the most hospitable person I know.

She raised 7 kids in a 1980 single-wide trailer. That means there were 9 of us in, what started out as, a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house. Yes, one bathroom.

Let me paint you a picture. If you were in the shower and someone had to go, well, you pulled the shower curtain closed and had a good chat while they used the toilet and you washed your hair. We were very……close.

Anyway, with that many people in a small home, you can imagine the house was not always spotless. Yet we often had people unexpectedly drop by (coincidentally, it was usually around supper time. Hmmm…)

Hospitality

My first instinct would be to meet them on the porch and, whatever you do, don’t let them see the house!

Thankfully, my mom was NOT that way.

She always believed in throwing an extra bean in the pot and welcomed expected and unexpected visitors alike. Messy house and all.

She has a way of making every person who walks into her house feel like she has been waiting for them to arrive. She greets with a smile and a hug while pulling up a chair and setting out another plate.

One person recently told me, “Walking into your mom’s house is like putting on your favorite sweater.”

I love the plaque Mom has hanging in her mismatched decor kitchen. It reads, “If you’re coming to see my house, give me six weeks notice. If you’re coming to see me, come anytime.”

I am so grateful that the Lord blessed me with a mother that knew the value of hospitality is greater than the fear of someone judging your housecleaning skills. A mom who knew that spending time her kids was better than having everything organized at all times. A mom who knew the importance of relationships. I am so grateful for the woman that she is. My mom.

I pray the Lord will make me into someone that can carry on her legacy and walk in her shoes. I pray that I can honor her and teach my children as much as she has taught me. I pray that every person who walks in my house will feel like they just put on their favorite sweater.

On this Mother’s Day, I cannot think of anyone worth celebrating more than the woman who gave me life and the knowledge of how to make the most of it by serving others.

Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.

Proverbs 31:29

Download Free Printables

Proverbs 31:29 image

.

Meet Mollie

 

Mollie is a lover of Jesus above all. She loves her husband and family and enjoys gardening, teaching, piano, riding, and farming. She lives in SW Colorado with her husband and five kids.

Learn more about Mollie and her family

Happy Mother’s Day Month!

Happy Mother’s Day Month!

by | May 2, 2021 | Melinda, One Blessed Momma

This month we have decided to celebrate our mommas. Let me be the first to say that the three of us here at OneBlessedMomma.com have some amazing mommas!

I would like to introduce you to my momma, Melannie. By many people’s standards she became a momma at a young age,19. Her first child was born on October 4, 1981 and had her pacing the floors every evening for at least 6 months.

A Miracle?

After having so much trouble with her first born, she says it’s a miracle she had any more children. So when the biggest blessing of her life (me 😜) came just 20 months later, and completely disrupted the schedule she had FINALLY established with her first baby she once again rose to the challenge. She now had one child who slept from 10-10 and another who slept from 5-5. Sorry mom.

By the time she was 26 she had 4 young children – 2 boys and 2 girls – the perfect little family. Before becoming a mom, this may sound fantastic, 4 young children relatively close in age. However, I’m guessing most of you who are moms are cringing at the thought. You know the struggles that come along with those blessings.

How do you do it?

I can’t imagine having 4 small children! When I had 2 babies and 1-3 older kids (we’re a blended family so the number depends on the day), I asked her how she did it? She assured me it was only with the help of her momma and sister. I have been blessed to be surrounded by amazing women who have supported me on my motherhood journey. First my momma, aunts, grandmothers, and even my great-grandmothers, and special women in my church families. 

When her youngest was 17 months old she moved 900 miles away from her family and her in-laws to a new place where she knew no one.

A great lesson

One thing I’ve learned from my mom, from my parents, is that family is not just those related through blood. When we moved to Texas in 1990 we made great friends who took us in as family. One friend insisted on teaching us kids to swim in her pool and then taking mom and us to Galveston for our first beach trip. We spent Sunday afternoons playing softball with neighbors in the pasture behind our house.

Mom was always ready for someone to drop by un-announced. This is something I wish I could claim! I guess that lesson didn’t stick, oops! Mom is known for her amazing cookies, delicious ice cream and amazing pizza. Friends have told her she should open a pizza and ice cream shop.

I remember her attending a field trip with me and being so proud when a friend’s mom asked for tips on how to make her amazing cookies.

My mom worked from home until I was 14. She was always very present throughout my childhood. She attended field trips, was a PTA mom, and showed up to school for special ceremonies. This is us at my 8th grade graduation.

When the children become adults

Now that I am a mom, I always wonder, “what would my mom do?” And when the answer isn’t in my head I pick up the phone and call her.

What do I do for my puking kid?

What do I do for that horrible smell after the kid has puked everywhere?

How do I clean up this mold that suddenly appeared? Yuck!

Can you give me that favorite recipe, again? (I promise to put it in my new recipe box this time)

This kid is driving me crazy! when do they stop being so needy and stop asking a million questions? (Oh what’s that, your 37-year-old daughter is still needy and still calls to ask a million questions 🙂 Sorry, mom!)

I have one adult child now and can attest that it changes things.

My goals

My mom and I are great friends, before I moved 2000 miles away, we enjoyed grocery shopping together, processing apples, so many other activities. Now that I have moved, our time together mostly consists of periodic phone calls. Some weeks we talk daily, other times 2 weeks will pass by before we can find a mutually available time.

One of my goals is to be able to be friends with my adult children just as my mom is. It is hard to see that future when I am in the middle of a period where my kids need for guidance, structure, and discipline are more important than my friendship. I hope as they grow, they will always know I am here for them and they can depend on me just as much as I depend on my momma. As they move on from my home, I hope I get the phone calls when adulting seems too hard, when they need “mom” advice. I could just go to Google or Pinterest to find the answers to many of my queries, but I am so grateful that I can pick up the phone and call my mom.

I have several friends who don’t have that blessing, some have missed their mom for years, others this will be their first Mother’s Day without their momma. My heart goes out to each of you, I can’t possibly imagine the pain you are going through on this holiday as well as in the daily moments when you may wish you could just pick up the phone and ask your mom a question or receive assurance from her.

Meet Melinda!

Melinda is a Christian, a wife, and a mom of 6. She has a blended family. She's a recovering perfectionist who is far from perfect, but it makes her that much more grateful for God's grace and mercy in her life.

Learn more about Melinda and her family

The Longing of the Soul

The Longing of the Soul

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Guest, One Blessed Momma

Do you talk to your best friend? how about your husband? Do you tell them how much they mean to you? Prayer is simply communicating the same thing… telling our thoughts, hopes, and concerns to our Creator, God. He is our Father, and He loves to hear from us.
Prayer is so easy to do, so comforting, and a wonderful way to obtain the help we need in this challenging life. In simple terms, prayer is defined as “talking to God.” We can take time to open our hearts and minds to our Heavenly Father anytime! For me, it is one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. Experts tell us that communication is the foundation for success in any relationship. Communicating openly and freely (and often) with our almighty God helps us to know each other. It helps me to know my Lord better! Prayer is a powerful force for change in our lives, too. Medical research demonstrates that prayer is actually an effective strategy for healing disease (Studies Prove the Healing Power of Prayer | Newsmax.com, 25 Intriguing Scientific Studies About Faith, Prayer and Healing | Blogging Health Careers (onlinesurgicaltechniciancourses.com)

Source: goodsalt.com

A Way to Grow Closer to God

There are several purposes of Prayer. Jesus prayed often, as we read in the scriptures. Mark tells us in the New Testament about a time early… “in the morning, rising up a great while before day, Jesus went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Our Lord prayed all night on the night before He chose his 12 apostles (Matthew 6:12-13). I love that Jesus prayed over little children: for them to be well and blessed (Mark 10:13-16).

So many incredible lessons can be learned in looking at the prayers of Christ. One of the greatest for me is simply that He prayed. If the Son of God needed to pray daily to get through the day-to-day life here on earth, then I know that I need to pray. I love learning about the benefits of prayer, but my favorite thing about prayer is that God wants to hear from me! He delights in my prayers! Imagine that; I can speak to the Creator of the universe, the greatest being of all time… and He listens and cares. He also ANSWERS my prayers!

And each prayer answered is a tether which pulls me (willingly) closer to my God.

The most wonderful discovery I have learned about prayer is that it has the power to draw the Lord near to me. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote, “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8). This was the biggest motivation for me to teach my child how to pray when he was very young.

The Children’s Bible, 2017

As a mother, prayer is one of the mightiest weapons I have in my arsenal against the powers of the devil. Second Corinthians 2:11 describes the devices and advantages that Satan has over us. My first powerful defense against the “wiles of the devil” is to pray to the One who loves me. This weapon of prayer touches the eternal powers of God, and sets them in motion, and you can use this effective strategy, too. In other words, it is our “secret weapon” to move God to act on our behalf to help us!

I believe that Satan hates prayer, and even when we cannot articulate what we need, the Bible tells us that Holy Spirit will talk to God for us to convey our needs completely. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26, NKJV).

One of the sweetest things is teaching a child to pray.

God Deeply Desires our Prayers

I love knowing for certain that God enjoys my talks with him. Even my husband has to put me on hold sometimes when I call him at work, but the Father God never puts me on hold. He is available 24/7, and He DESIRES my prayers. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” ( I John 5:14-15).

I can tell my Lord anything in prayer. And sometimes, my prayers are as short as, “Lord, help.” I know he is right there with me, he understands, and he provides help. This is more comforting to me than words can ever convey.

Source: ActiveChristianityMag.com

Pass Prayer Down to your Children

All of these marvelous discoveries that I made about prayer provided enormous motivation for me to teach my child how to pray when he was very young. Did you know that children can learn how the prayers of a righteous person can drastically impact the world around them? As a momma, you can begin the process of your child connecting to the Lord, with calming and healing as benefits! Who wouldn’t want a way to help your child TRUST the Lord more?

My own mother taught me to calm myself by praying when I was 4 years old. She had a few very special scriptures that we would read right before sleep. One of them was Psalm 119:170-175, which was a powerful antidote to fear for me. “Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised. Let my lips burst forth with praise, for you have taught me your principles. Let my lips sing about your word, for all your commands are right. Stand ready to help me, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. O Lord, I have longed for your salvation, and your law is my delight. Let me live so that I can praise you, and may your laws sustain me.” Many anxieties in my heart were calmed by reciting that prayer, directly from the Bible.

My son also received the Lord’s reassurance and his troubles seem to melt away when we recited the prayer together. I highly recommend the practice. Not only will your child learn a meaningful skill to calm down, but he/she will be taking steps toward a closer relationship with God.

Source: BlueWillowCottage.com

Getting Organized with Prayer

Have you ever thought about recording your prayers or prayer requests in a notebook? Maybe you have a fancy journal, or a special prayer diary. My youth minister’s wife gave me a small Prayer Journal when I was 17 years old. I still have that journal. I love looking through the book at my scribblings, sketches and supplications from that young lady I used to be.

Since that time, I have had many, many prayer journals. I have used some that have been very helpful, and some that were “not so much.” Last year, as I completed the final page of my daily prayer journal, I decided not to buy another one, but to design a page or two on my own that were individualized to the way I pray now. I fancied up this little prayer journal, printed it out, and now I use it weekly to help guide my prayers.

On my prayer page, I track prayer requests by writing them down, which also serves as my reminder of who and what I have promised to pray for last week! This also keeps me organized, and I can use this journal as a record of to whom, and when to send a note of encouragement when I feel so led. Individual needs are clear, and writing down my prayer requests actually reinforces the remembering process, according to research I read some time ago.

Source: MOPS, Int.

A Dessignated Time

I pray at 9:00 am every day (except Sunday). My family knows that when the alarm on my IPhone goes off every day, I will head to my little “prayer closet” that I created in my bedroom, and I won’t be available for 30 – 45 minutes. This works for me, but you can pray anywhere! You don’t even have to close your eyes, despite what my Great Grandfather said! LOL.

Oh, and I also record praises in my “Prayer Pages.” When I look through my old prayer journals, I especially am drawn to the “answers to prayer” that I scribbled in beside the original prayer request entry. On my newly created pages, I have a section to write these down in detail! Lately, I have been reflecting on how happy our Father God must be when I intentionally PRAISE him for answering my many supplications.

Open Your Heart in Prayer

Making God a part of my day is a perfect way to grow closer to him, and to show him how much I love him. Being intentional about my thanksgiving and also my prayer requests through the use of a “Prayer Journal” has also been most helpful to me in enjoying my prayer time. My understanding of the Creator God has increased since I have begun the formal practice of a daily time of prayer. Having a scheduled hour and a place to go, as well as a journal to record my thoughts and prayers has assisted me in so many ways to learn how to pray and to draw closer to God. I believe that my life has been richer and fuller by practicing daily prayer.

Bringing everything in my heart to the Lord is something I could not live without now. I hope you will consider this practice if it is not a part of your daily life yet. I truly believe that life will be filled with God’s goodness as we communicate with him and ask him to bless us and our loved ones.

If you would like to try recording your prayers on in a “Prayer Journal,” I have developed a free printable for you. Click on the printable below and print it out for a tool to help you achieve a rich, fulfilling prayer life!

Download Free Printables

Printable Prayer Journal

.

Dawn and her husband, Mike, at their cabin on the Little Red River in Georgetown, AR

Meet Dawn!

Hi, I’m Dawn
I am wife to my amazing man, (Mike) of 32 years. I am mother to two children, a daughter in heaven, and a 17 year old son. I am FAR from a perfect mom or wife, and we are definitely not a perfect family, but we strive to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ, and that is enough! I am a Registered Nurse, a homeschooling mom, a Sunday-school teacher, and a garden enthusiast. I love working with the young people at our local church. My favorite verse in the Bible is Isaiah 50:7, and I LOVE memorizing scripture. I also identify as a Prayer Warrior. Recently, I have launched my own online business called, “She Smiles at Her Future.” I love blogging, and I help new mothers and women to cope with the challenges of raising young children in a challenging culture. Come visit at Shesmilesatherfuture.com to learn more about our services and online products.

Follow Dawn on her Blog

Healthy Easy Snacks

Healthy Easy Snacks

by | Apr 19, 2021 | Julia, One Blessed Momma

I feel like my children are always asking for a snack.  Is this just me?

I don’t want to constantly feed them prepackaged snacks all the time.  Don’t get me wrong, at one point we were living off of snacks because we were always on the go with our little one in the hospital for three months.   Sometimes life can feel like survival mode.  Now that things have slowed down and we are obviously home more we can choose more healthy, yet also easy prep snacks.

Some of these ideas will take some prep-work in the beginning of the week but then it is a quick pull from the fridge snack. These are easily adapted to or already dairy/gluten free. We had to be dairy free for over four years and have complied a decent list.   Hope you enjoy our favorite go-to snacks and it inspires you to make at least one.

1. Pre-Packaged Snacks:

2. Fruit and Vegetables:

  • CLEMENTINES
  • APPLES & NUT BUTTER We also like to add coconut flakes or cocoa nibs
  • BERRIES WITH COCONUT MILK WHIPPED CREAM OR YOGURT
  • SOUR PATCH GRAPES Have you seen these yet?  Here’s a link for the recipe.  If you are not a recipe follower like me, this is what you do:  Juice limes over grapes, place in refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Take out and cover with coconut or monk fruit sugar.  Place in freezer for a couple hours and enjoy.  Please remember it is recommended for children under 4 to have their grapes cut.  From there it is determined by maturity and awareness/proximity of parent/supervisor.
  • BANANA WITH NUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE CHIPS (these are my childhood favorite)
  • KALE CHIPS
  • CARROTS/CELERY/CUCUMBER AND DIP 

Kale Chips

Zucchini Noodles

Apples and Dip

Berries

3. Prep Snacks:

What a blessing it is, even to have options to snacks.   We thank God everyday for the food we have available to us that helps to sustain and keep us healthy and strong.  Praying these snacks help your family stay healthy and strong as well and give you a little ease in physical and mental prep.  I know for me it can be hard to think about snacks when exhausted so I’ve compiled the list on one page you can print out (see below).  Along with a weekly meal prep to write out the snacks available that week and a yummy PB Ball Recipe Card. I hope you enjoy!

Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried any or share some of your healthy go-to snacks with this Momma community.   Also, don’t forget to stop over to instagram and Facebook and tag us so we can see what you made!  Thanks for stopping by!

Download your free printable

.

Meet Julia!

Julia is a wife to her high-school sweetheart, a mother to two beautiful girls and a follower of Christ.   She loves crafting, teaching and is forever grateful for a God who is in control of all unknowns and thankful we can have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Celebrating Christ on Easter

Celebrating Christ on Easter

by | Mar 28, 2021 | Melinda, One Blessed Momma

What do you celebrate on Easter Sunday? Or do you celebrate at all? Celebrating Easter and Christmas as Christians can be controversial. Even if you polled the three of us on this blog, I’m guessing you would get three different answers.

Do you celebrate the bunny that brings a basket full of goodies? Or a savior who came to earth, lived a perfect life and then allowed himself to be our perfect sacrifice?

From 2015 through 2019 we were attending a children’s Christian leadership conference (L2L) on Thursday through Sunday of Easter weekend.

This meant I didn’t worry about Easter celebrations at all. Our kids were 1, 10, 11, and 14 years old; they were either too young to care or old enough to not really care. We may not have been focused on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but we were definitely focused on our Christian walk.

Fast forward to 2020 when the world came to a halt, and suddenly we would be home for Easter and we had decisions to make.

2020 was a thrown-together afterthought, seriously my husband went shopping the night before to pick up a few things for each kid.

This year I have planned a few things to do with them over the week to make sure they understand the resurrection of Jesus, and why we need Him.

I have attempted to sort the activities to correspond with the activities in the last week before Jesus’ crucifixion. However, I am a firm believer in doing things in a way that works for your family. Don’t feel like you have to do everything on the list or nothing at all. And if Sunday’s activity doesn’t get done until Friday it doesn’t make it any less valuable to your children. 

Any time we can maintain their focus on our savior and what he has done for us is the perfect time to do the activity.

A plan

Sunday Jesus arrives in Jerusalem on a donkey
Matthew 21:1-11

Monday Cleansing the temple
Mark 11:15-19

Tuesday Judas speaks to chief priests
Matthew 26:14-16

Wednesday Easter Eggs

Thursday Jesus washes his disciples’ feet
John 13:1-20

Friday Jesus’ trials begin
John 18:19-24

Saturday Jesus is in the tomb
Matthew 27:27-66

Sunday Jesus has risen!
Matthew 28

Supplies needed:

Sunday

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem on a donkey.

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11 ESV

View full directions at http://www.freefuneaster.com/easter-crafts/clothespin-donkey-craft/

Supplies needed:

Monday

Jesus cleanses the temple.

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Matthew 21:12-13 ESV

Read the account of Jesus cleansing the temple with your children.

Then have them build and destroy a temple from blocks, or cardboard, or couch cushions.

Just before they knock their building over, review why Jesus was upset.

Supplies needed:

  • Child(ren)
  • Something to build with, cardboard, couch cushions, pillows, blocks, dominos, etc. Let your kids use their imaginations, if they’re anything like mine they’ll figure it out!

Tuesday

Judas speaks to the chief priests.

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

Matthew 26:14-16 ESV

Discuss betrayal with your kids.

  • What is betrayal?
  • Have you ever experienced a friend turning their back on you?
  • Have you ever betrayed someone’s trust?
  • How does betrayal make the person feel?

I found this great felt bag and coins craft, I wish I would have found it earlier on. They suggest having your kids return a silver coin for each good act they do (over lent), with the goal of returning all 30 coins of betrayal before Easter.
Click here for full instructions.

Supplies needed:

Wednesday

The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened on this day. So I am planning an Easter egg activity. Bonus, my kids loved creating these with me and have declared them dinosaur and dragon eggs, so they will be happy to use them far past easter.

Anybody else have tons of cardboard boxes at their house waiting to be recycled or reinvented?

I follow @miami_skye on Instagram. I attempted to create her egg craft, but I have a history of ignoring instructions. Sshhhh, don’t tell 🙂 so mine are a little different.

Because my kids declared them dinosaur and dragon eggs, I made a printable with 3 options, chicks, dinos, or dragons. I have three kids who are working on numbers in some capacity, so I printed all 3 and then “laminated” them with packaging tape.

My kids have loved matching their dinos, dragons, and chicks to their eggs.

 

Supplies needed:

Click the image to watch her video. Her Instagram is full of great ideas for reusing cardboard with your children.

Thursday

Jesus washes his disciples feet
John 13:1-20

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

John 13:1-20 ESV

Discuss servant attitude with your children.

  • What does it mean to be a servant?
  • How does it make you feel when someone serves you?
  • How would it feel to serve someone you know has betrayed you?
  • Who can we serve in our lives?

As the days get warmer, my children are running around with no shoes. I feel like this is the perfect time to teach them this story, along with it being the week before Easter. Jesus showed his servant attitude by washing the stinky, dirty feet of men who traveled by foot over dirt roads in sandals. Not to mention the fact that he also washed the dirty stinky feet of the man, the friend, who betrayed him.

Have your children take turns being the servant and the served. My children definitely need a little encouragement to wash each other’s feet.

Supplies needed:

  • Plastic wash bin or other suitable container
  • soap
  • water
  • towel(s) or washcloth(s)
  • dirty feet
  • children with a developing servant attitude

Friday

Friday Jesus’ trials begin

So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

John 18:12-24 ESV

I would challenge you to read the entire chapter of John 18. There is so much to unpack here and only you know where your kids are in maturity.

I am declaring Friday night movie night at our house. There are so many movies out there that depict the life and death of Christ.

You will need to pick one that suits your children’s maturity and age. Here are a couple choices, I would love to hear your favorites.

Read and Share Bible – Easter My children were very attentive to this 30 minute depiction of Jesus’ last week before his crucifixion.

Passion of the Christ this is obviously one for the parents and possibly older children.

Saturday

Saturday Jesus is in the tomb
Matthew 27:27-66

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

Jesus has died on the cross for my sins and yours. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Jesus was sent here so that no one should perish but all can have everlasting life. John 3:16

Through repentance and baptism, all of our sins can be washed away, and we can spend eternal life with our heavenly Father and our Savior. Acts 2:38

I found this great object lesson to teach baptism washes our sins away.

Supplies needed:

  • Plastic wash bin or other suitable container (you could use the same bin from Thursday)
  • Paper towel (one for a demonstration or 1 per child participating, I like to let my kids be hands-on I know I learn more if I am personally participating.)
  • 1 black permanent marker
  • Washable markers
  • Water

Sunday

Jesus has risen!
Matthew 28

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. nd for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ut the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Give your child an egg that is empty except a piece of gauze. Make sure it has something in it so they don’t think you just messed up 🙂 Remind them that when Jesus’ friends went to the tomb Sunday morning, he was not there, only the linens remained.

I plan to use a special egg, by size or color or both, for their empty egg and we will set aside a time to open it up so that it is special. 

Supplies needed:

  • 1 egg per child
  • 1 piece of gauze per child

The best news ever…

Jesus was born, sacrificed for us on a cross, and then rose from the dead. If you have not read and obeyed the gospels I can’t encourage you enough to do just that. 

The book of Mark is the shortest gospel and may be a great place to start. There are Bible apps that you can read and that you can listen to. Please get to know Jesus my Lord.

Here is a quick resource about God’s plan of salvation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us here.

The World Bible School is a great resource for studying the Bible. You can study at your own pace and are assigned a teacher. 

As Amazon Associates, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing additional but helps us to maintain our website. Thank you for your support. 

Download your free printable

Cardboard eggs craft templates and inserts. 
.

Meet Melinda!

Melinda is a Christian, a wife, and a mom of 6. She has a blended family. She's a recovering perfectionist who is far from perfect, but it makes her that much more grateful for God's grace and mercy in her life.

Learn more about Melinda and her family