Resurrection Eggs

Wonderful memories arose from this year's Easter celebration.  We made resurrection Easter eggs when we found an Easter egg dye kit by the same name at the store.

Curiously, the instructions dosed out WARM water and vinegar for all but the red and orange dye.  Much to our laughter, my son-in-law kept emphasizing the WARM in the instructions.  But, we couldn't get the red or orange to work without the vinegar, WARM water or not.  Here are some of the artists at work.

Here are some of the resurrection eggs that resulted form our decorating.

A good time was had by all.

Events like this are great ways for mothers to develop meaningful and long-lasting relationships with their whole family including their daughters.

He Is Risen!

This is a special time of year to reflect on the wonderful story of Easter.  Growing up, our children were always taught, yes, the Easter bunny will bring baskets at Easter and that is so cool.  We would dye eggs every year, have egg hunts in the back yard or we would go to an Easter egg hunt.  I have all kinds of Easter decorations, lots of bunnies and Easter eggs and spring decorations.  There was lots of excitement in the air for those fun things to be had, but we always made sure that our kids knew it was not about the bunny.

Easter is about the trial, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all things He went through so that those believing in Him will be saved and live in everlasting life.  The following video presents the price paid by Jesus for our redemption.  (Click the following link if you cannot see it on your tablet or smartphone, "Redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb")

The decorations that mean the most to me are the clay figurines of Jesus as he came out of the tomb on Easter morning.

The stone was rolled away! Mary, Jesus mother, and Mary Magdalene are outside of the tomb.  Roman guards are standing to the side and there also stands an angel.  At the top of the hill is an empty cross, that says "He Is Risen!"

It was on a shopping trip to Hobby Lobby with my two girls that I found these favorite Easter pieces.  They are nothing fancy, but they say all about Easter that we need to know.

There is another superb video below that I hope you all take time to watch.  It also describes what Jesus went through.  Listen for the part about Peter denying he even knows Jesus, just as many in our world do today.  The message of Easter, again, is that by His death we can be forgiven if we believe in Him.  He is alive for me and my family.  He is alive for you too, if you believe in Him.  For those of you who cannot see it on your tablets or smartphones because they need to be equipped for flash videos, click the following link, He's Alive!

 

The truth of scripture is something we took very seriously in our home.  The Bible counsels us to teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your home, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:7).  Sometimes, as adults grow older, it is harder for them to accept the simplicity of the gospel.  That is why the Lord counsels us to "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

One thing I always remember as Easter comes around is that we, almost every year, had an Easter program at church.   For many years I had the privilege of directing the children's program which usually had many songs in it as well as speaking parts.  I particularly remember one year we were serving in a country church in Virginia.  There was a little girl in the choir and her name was Jenny. Her one line for the program was the scripture, "He is not here, for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:6)  That was over 25 years ago and I will never forget the country twang, but the genuine sincerity with which Jenny would say her verse.  You see children just believe.

The thrill I see as a mom is that both my daughters and my son and His wife decorate with much emphasis on the cross of Christ.  We sing the old hymns like "The Old Rugged Cross" & "He Arose", along with many others.

Yes the "Easter Mantle" one of my daughters put up in her home reminds everyone entering her home where her and her family's heart is.  Make sure family, friends and guests always see Christ in your life and sense His presence in your home.  That can be a great witness for the One who gave His life for us!

Thank you all for the opportunity to share this Easter message with you.  May the Lord guide you and keep you and your family all the rest of your days.

Beautifulicious Banana Bread

A friend of mine went to Walmart the other day with a craving for bananas.  No, they don't drag their knuckles when they walk.  Now, my friend is not what you would call a power shopper, especially for fruits and vegetables.  But, the tickler sign saying $15.60 for 40 pounds of bananas got their attention.  "What a deal!" they thought.  At $0.39 per pound, it was just too good to pass up.

It cracked me up when they told me a couple of weeks later that they had to throw half of them away because they turned black.

Ickey-yickey!

They admitted that their stomach was doing their thinking when they were shopping.  But, seriously, we have all had bananas turn black on us before we could scarf them down.

As I was gently laughing with my friend, I told them how I never had to throw blackened bananas away.  "Really?" my friend asked in an unbelieving tone.  "Straight-up," I said.

There are a lot of things you can do with bananas.  (Checking this place out will make you think you are the Forrest Gump of Bananas: 100 Banana Uses).  I can save them for when I am ready to use them by putting them in a Ziploc bag and freeze them if and when they do turn black.

My favorite thing to do with bananas I don't outright eat is to make Banana Bread.  When you have 4 frozen bananas, just thaw them out and make a loaf of Banana Bread.  Freeze a bunch of bananas and you can make a bunch of Banana Bread.

I have been using the same Banana Bread recipe for over 35 years.  It's in a homemade recipe book my sister made for me. I put it in a folder so that recipes can be added to it. This recipe has been in our family forever and I wonder how many bananas have been saved and enjoyed because of it!  Here is the recipe:  

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
4 overripe bananas

(I use self-rising flour, therefore I never use salt and soda)

Here are the ingredients:

Thaw out the bananas if they were frozen.  Then, mash the bananas in a bowl.  Don't forget that four bananas make a loaf.  And with a little music or imagination, you can do the mash banana while you do, just swing your hips as you mash (insert "banana" for "potato" and click this link to do the latest dance craze as you cook, The Mash Banana!!!!!:>):

In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar, and add eggs and beat and mix well

Then, sift flour, salt and soda and bananas and mix well:

You can see that I am using my hand mixer, but you could use a stand mixer as well.  By the way, Amazon has a hand mixer you can get for under $9.00 and a hand & stand combo mixer, normally $32.49, that can be had for under $20.00.

Pour the well-mixed batter into a well-greased, floured loaf pan

Place on the center over rack and bake in 350-degree oven for one hour.

It is ready when the loaves are golden brown.  You can also stick a toothpick or a small knife in it, and if it comes out without batter sticking to it, it is ready.

If you are using the smaller loaf pans pictured, they only need 20-30 minutes to bake in 350-degree oven.

They're all ready.  That wonderful banana smell makes me want to lick my lips.

Now that is Beautifulicious!!!!!!!!

Optional ideas: You may put walnuts or pecans in the batter. Also you can put butter on top of the bread after baking and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar. Another idea is to spread a layer of butter cream or cream cheese icing after it has cooled. Some like to spread cream cheese on a slice of the bread. I like it warm with butter (Whatever your tastes prefer). The sky is the limit!!

My two daughters and my daughter-in-law love Banana Bread and they know many loaves have been baked in our home by me or them. It has been a joke with them through the years. "Mom would you be sure and save us some?" The little loaves are just a fun thing to pass around! Yes, I do always try and save them some.

Banana bread loaves freeze really well. And it's a great thing to pull out and defrost if you find out at the last minute that company is on their way. Just put on a pot of coffee and they will think you have been baking all afternoon! 

You can also make the small loaves and make a little basket to give to a friend for a birthday, give to a shut in, a neighbor or if you have a relative or friend stop in and you just want to give them a treat. It's a very nice way to show a little bit of tender love and kindness!! Enjoy!!

I love the wonderful memories these recipes bring to mind. Let me know how how you liked the recipe if you try it, and of course share any new twists and ideas you have about this or other recipes.  I'd love to try yours too!