A Christ Centered Easter

I got this book a few years ago, and have finally pulled it out this year to use it. We have been wanting to make our Easter celebration more about Jesus Christ and less about candy, eggs, and bunnies. This book has been so wonderful! It gives you day-by-day activities and bible readings to do as a family. The daily readings and activities directly correlate to the Savior's last week upon the earth. We started last Sunday (Palm Sunday) with reading about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem--the girls learned more about why it is called "Palm Sunday" and then we went through the week reading and learning about Jesus cleansing the temple and teaching the people in parables. On Thursday, we talked about the Last Supper, Jesus washing His Apostles feet, his suffering in Gethsemane, and how Peter denied him three times that night. Friday we talked about the trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Today we talked a little about his burial and why guards were put at his tomb. I am so excited for tomorrow to come, so that we can talk about His Resurrection! This is the most excited about Easter I have been in many years, and I know that it is because we are focusing more on the true meaning of Easter--Jesus Christ.
Each day we have put up pictures that correspond to what we have been discussing, so we have pictures of Jesus all around our family room. Having those there has also helped our focus stay on Him and what Easter is really celebrating.
Tonight we are making the Easter cookies that you leave in the oven overnight and they are empty (hollow) the next morning--representing the tomb. I am excited to do them as a family. I've had the recipe for years, but Saturday nights have always been so busy dying eggs that we've never gotten around to it. I'll let you know how they turn out...
I want to share with you all my testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that he is real, and I know that He Lives! I am so thankful to Him for taking upon himself all of my sins and imperfections. Words cannot express my love for Him. I know that He loves me and came to this earth so that one day I might be able to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. In this day and age, I am so thankful for the knowledge that I am a daughter of God and that I know where I am headed--knowing this helps me and Travis to guide our family down the correct path. We are most certainly not perfect, but we try a little harder each day, and I know that with that and the Savior's atoning sacrifice we can get to where we want to be. I couldn't ask for more than that.
Happy Easter everyone! We love you!