Easter Path

This is an Easter activity we did at a church in Dallas. My sisters helped me recreate it at our house to help teach the children the Easter story. Enjoy!

IMG_3704

And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and threw them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.            Mark 11:7-9

IMG_3712

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him….When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. John 13:5, 12-15

IMG_3728

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

IMG_3739

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed. Luke 22:39-41

IMG_3748

(holding ice and watching an animation of the crucifixion)

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus….

IMG_3751

…Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.  Romans 3:25-28

IMG_3756

For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

IMG_3757

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mark 15:46

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 23:55-56

IMG_3763

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb…but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus….He is not here; he has risen! Luke 24:1,3,6

IMG_3773

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

IMG_3777

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

IMG_3782

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Circus Party

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, please join us in celebrating the double birthday of Lance and Eden!

pics 229

Entertaining us will be Mr. Stripes and Curly Girly the clowns – turning 6 and 2.

pics 239

Here’s the whole troop – definitely a three ring act! Let the show begin!

Step right up, step right up – today is your lucky day!

pics 273

Try your skill at the dart throwing booth. The darts are sharp, balloons are thin, it’s a sure win! (Flora literally “steps up” to increase the odds of winning).

pics 262

Roll a ball, knock them all down -  a prize for each boy and girl!pics 263

Pick a duck, every one is a winner! So easy a child can do it – in this case, the very young child.

pics 259 

Is the hand really quicker than the eye? Find out in a quick game of guessing – if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!

pics 280

A circus rolled into one act – Ivy is walking a “tightrope” in “clown shoes” while take a peanut in a spoon to feed the elephant.pics 296

Concessions included peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs and lemonade

 

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I present to you an original act by Mr. Stripes the clown!

.pics 308

And now, please direct your attention to the center ring where Mr. Stripes will blow out a ring of fire as part of the tiger act! Curly girly will charm the crowd with her birthday song routine. pics 317 

As a grand finale, Mr. Stripes will make a stupendous dive face first into a chocolate cake!

pics 318

After show entertainment included a cotton candy machine borrowed from a friend.

pics 323

Eden enjoys her sweet treat.

pics 243

Then we let everyone bounce off excess energy in Aunt Lori’s toddler bounce house…

 pics 256 

…and the big kid bounce house we made by enclosing our trampoline with sheets.

And so concludes the Greatest Show on Greenleaf Lane! Come back next year!

Newsletter

Sharing a few pictures from Christmas and a link to our annual newsletter: http://www.cahills.us/newsletters_files/2013_newsletter.pdf

IMG_1910

Christmas 2013 – the best gifts to have under the tree!

IMG_2131

Cahill clan in their footie pajamas.

Thanks to my brother in law Benjamin Cahill for taking these photos and to Uncle Kevin for making them laugh!

Baby Chicks!

Back in November we tried to hatch some Barred Rock chickens for Flora’s birthday. She loves zebras and these chickens are black and white striped. Having never worked an incubator before, I made some mistakes and our hatch rate was very low – 3 out of 3 dozen; none of which were the striped kind.

 pics 408

It did result in three very tame chickens, one of which is Eden’s special pet. Even after they made their home in the barn, Eden still catches and carries around her favorite chick, running after it and crying “chickie” if it gets away.

pics 064

We decided to give it another try while we still had the incubator. The first few hatched out during the night and I had the fun of waking the kids with the news.

pics 069

Almost as good as Christmas morning!pics 231

Over the next two days more and more hatched until we had 22!

pics 152

We kept them in the bathtub where they could run just out of reach of the smaller hands. Even still we lost “Tiny Tim” to over zealous handling.

pics 164

Everybody loves to hold the chickies…

pics 175 

Even Iris!

As soon as they had enough feathers to stay warm and before they became too stinky, we moved them out to the barn. They did great in their secondary pen until the last cool night before I let them out with the rest of the flock.

pics 045

One little chick that looked like this…

pics 054

…was reduced to this. We dubbed the chick “buzzard.”

For the most part they have adapted well to the flock. Each night Brian or I make sure all are back in the pen and counted. One evening 6 were missing. We looked and looked but couldn’t find them. The next morning we looked some more before discovering the hiding place….

pics 093

…a chest of drawers! Seems Flora got the idea this would make a good hen house and had shut them all inside. They started pecking around when they heard us feeding the others. I heard them and had to laugh when I opened the drawers and they started popping out!

pics 051

Ivy holds a favorite. I think they have names but never the same name twice, just whatever strikes the kid’s fancy that day. They love to play with the little chicks.

pics 029 

We also have a pretty multi-colored chicken with feathers on its legs and an extra toe on each foot!

pics 012

And Flora got her Zebra chickens – isn’t that fun?!

A perfect day

Today was wonderful – one of those days where everything goes well and you are so grateful to have lived, received the good and enjoyed each moment.

Our Sundays of late have been altered from the norm by babies, travel, illness and company. Today we were able to take the whole day to be together as family and rest from the labors of the week.

We started with an early run for Brian and then me (because he nicely let me sleep late). Cinnamon rolls prepared yesterday baked off into a scrumptious breakfast then the kids played happily while Brian and I listened to a sermon that exhorted and taught right where the Lord was working with me.

pics 275

Our school studies on muscles coincided happily with our Bible reading this week, covering the story of Samson. So family Bible time reviewed the full Biblical account and then some acting out. First a block temple built and pushed down four times (each kid needs a turn to be Samson of course).

pics 277

Next an illustration of how the Spirit of the Lord let strong rope be broken as easily as a cord burnt with fire.

pics 283

Next was play dough time – the haircutting set of course.

pics 289

And with that distraction each took their turn getting a haircut themselves – even mom!

After a quick lunch we enjoyed a family walk in the beautiful sunshine then rest time for everyone and mom fell asleep.

I awoke to find a father son project going in the garage!

pics 293 \

Lance braves the table saw to put some cuts on his AWANA pinewood derby car. pics 296

He was very decisive about what he wanted to do and Brian was creative in helping Lance do the work.pics 297

He would sand, check the texture and sand some more – very precise and very cute.

pics 300

Meanwhile Ivy and I worked on our book and enjoyed some hot tea. We learned how God made everyone different and beautiful. I love this girlie!

A yummy supper, clean up and bath time followed. At one point, when I was using a monkey diaper to cheer Eden, Brian beckoned me out of the bathroom just to dance to some beautiful music – such a romantic!

A beautiful, wonderful, restful day. Thank you Lord.

Support This Site