I love Easter.
I love the joyful songs (Christ the Lord is Risen To-Day-ay…Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-lay-ay-loo-oo-yah!), the fragrant lilies, and the occasional bonnet that shows up in church (particularly when the ‘Hoos are still in the hunt, like they were on Easter Sunday last year):
I love dragging our big plywood egg out to the street late Saturday night (under the cover of darkness), and then waking up to the Good News Sunday morning:
And I love stuffing Easter baskets. One year, we had 23 college kids stay with us for the weekend. Never have I been so grateful for the Dollar Tree and its affordable stash of plastic eggs, candy, and gifts. Because nothing says “Happy Easter” like a chocolate bunny, a new toothbrush, and a tattoo sleeve:
This year, we won’t be welcoming any college students (other than Robbie, who says he mostly just wants to come home and sleep). Which is kind of a shame, cuz I have some basket upgrades in mind – upgrades that, truth be told, Mama Bunny will like even more than the kids:
It’s been a while since I’ve done a free giveaway, so how about this? Post a comment on this blog – share a favorite Easter tradition, a prayer verse you like, or anything you want to wish others a Happy Easter – and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of the treats in this basket (which, incidentally, would also make a great Mother’s Day gift). Here’s what we have:
Unshaken. This new book from Sally Burke and Cyndie Claypool de Neve (order your copy or download a free chapter here) outlines a four-step prayer process to help us keep our eyes on the Lord and pray with confidence, even when everything around us seems to be shaking.
I love the real-life stories these gals use to illustrate their prayer principles. And, as a bonus, they offer cleverly designed pages that are meant to be copied and shared:
One Word Cards. These beautiful 5×7″ cards pair the devotional musings of author Susan Alexander Yates with the stunning artwork of her daughter-in-law, Christy.
The cards – which feature one key word, a relevant Bible verse, and a simple prayer – come in four different sets (click here to see the collection), along with a wooden easel you can use to display them:
Scripture Prayers and Blessings. I created these little cards with help from the talented gals at Sisters Ink; they represent twelve of the best-loved Scripture prayers from my books. The marbled stock is scrumptiously thick and perfect for tucking into a child’s backpack, slipping into a note to a friend, or just keeping in your purse or car as a reminder to pray.
So how about it? Post a comment, share a story, offer up one of your favorite prayers…and you’ll automatically be entered to win. And since there are three prizes in the basket, we’ll have three winners…so hop to it, friends! Get a little something for Mama Bunny this Easter!
And for those who think that what Mama Bunny might really want is a new tattoo, try these. I can’t vouch for the design or the quality, but hey. They’re removable.
You’re welcome.
Love when I find a post to start my day! Thanks for reminding me to figure out a way to get basket goodies to my away from home kids!
I love to tell people, in our don’t eat raw cookie dough world, that growing up in Miami we hid the hard boiled eggs outside, again and again, and would still eat them! Apparently no refrigeration was needed!
Haha! Good tip on the eggs. Since you see them sitting out in French restaurants (the way we put out snack mix, I guess), I think you are right – boiled eggs do not need to be refrigerated. 🙂
And all God’s best to Ben and Kristi this Easter…your trip to see Ben will be the best gift of all! (But I hate not being with my kiddos on Easter…it is hard when they grow up!)
Finding your blog in my inbox is like finding a golden Easter egg (or, for one of my children, finding a yellow Peep)…a lovely surprise filled with sweet thoughts for my day. Thank you for writing and for surprises on Easters in the recent past and on mornings in my inbox.
You are so dear! And thanks for the Twitter like! (And guess what? You’re a winner!!!)
I remember when Natalie was one of your 23 Easter guests and as my 1st Easter without her I felt very confident she was surrounded by the love of the Lord and many Easter traditions, and of course ALL of the loving Berndt family!
We LOVED having Natalie…at Easter and always! And congratulations on your newest little bunny…we are so excited, and I am picturing all those precious grandchildren hunting for eggs on your turf!! xo
I love these prayer cards! We always make & decorate sugar cookies cut into bunnies, chicks, eggs, cross, flowers, etc. And growing up we had a neighborhood wide egg hunt with hundreds of eggs!
We set our alarm to wake up at 1:45 on Easter morning, wrap up in blankets on a chilly night, in our pajamas, sit on our front porch steps and wait for the music of the Moravian Band. When we hear them play in the distance we know they’ll be our way soon. We never know the exact time but when it drives into our neighborhood, we walk out to the street and are greeted by a dozen band members and treated to a joyful 1.5 minute band concert. Jesus Christ is Risen Today and Jesus Makes my Heart Rejoice usually make the playlist. Afterwards, the band boards the bus and heads to another neighborhood and we crawl back in bed having heard the good news.
What a crazy, fun tradition! I am not sure I could get my family to get out of bed…but it sounds like the experience is worth it! We certainly did love all the Moravian traditions when we lived in Winston-Salem; what a special community! 🙂
Our family loves your blog and we love the Easter season! Our favorite family memories are of getting up early to attend a sunrise service — our favorite being at Ft. Story a number of years ago. That particular year our children had just attended a youth conference and had arrived home late Saturday night. Getting up that morning was especially hard (and kinda like pulling teeth) but the one they talk about the most!
I have been to that sunrise service, and you are so right! You might get some complaints from the peanut gallery, but it is well worth the early morning wake up call to watch the sun come up over the ocean and know that Christ the Lord is risen today!!
I must say the Easter music and flowers do it for me. The music is a glimpse into heaven — where we will all be singing God’s praises!! Making a JOYFUL noise…that’s for sure! After the Altar is stripped bare on Maundy Thursday, it is overwhelming to see the abundant flowers on Easter morning — a resurrection of a different sort I suppose. Loved meeting you several years ago when you spoke in Atlanta — I love the story of how you chose my sister Margaret to be your friend! A blessing indeed. Happy Easter to you & your family!
Haha! Margaret certainly is a blessing – and I actually shared that story again in a friendship talk I did this week. So fun. Thanks for sharing your Easter reflections…like you, I love the contrast between the bare altar and the abundant, bright flowers on Easter. Very moving! Lots of love!