Making Easter Meaningful

Posted on March 24, 2009 by thebluehutch

A month ago I mentioned this free download about Lent and had big dreams about 40 days of focusing with my family. Well, a week ago I sat down, looked at the list for the first time and chose 26 items to help build anticipation for Easter, appreciation for what Jesus’ did for us on the cross and stress the miracle of the Resurrection. I figured we would start the morning after St. Patrick’s Day (when Shamrocks were out of their system from so many school crafts) and go from there.

My kids are SUPER visual so it gave me an opportunity to be crafty. A lady came through my line at work and bought a white flower pot. She told me that she was going to take a limb and paint it white and make “Easter Trees” for some families with children. I had already made the countdown circles during lunch that day and was looking for a way to hang them. Ta DA! The answer came from this customer!

The first day we learned the greeting “Christ is Risen” – – “He is Risen Indeed!” It is precious to hear my Bubba respond to me with “Risen Indeed!” LOVE IT!
Second day we planted grass and talked about God’s creation and how He gives all things life. We put soil on the platter and the kids scattered the seeds and we have been spraying water on it daily. The first shoots appeared today! It’s on the sun porch now but plan for it to be part of our centerpiece on Easter.

The third day was a butterfly craft using coffee filters, markers, and a spray bottle. It went surprising well considering my little brood’s needs. I don’t have a picture of the finished product but let’s just say you can’t tell mine from theirs’ and they ALL look adorable.

Other activities have included reading a special Easter book (The Parable of the Lily), praying for missionaries who are telling others about what Jesus did for them and talking about how WE can tell others too, hanging an Easter banner (not actually done yet ’cause I messed up the letter I and then ran out of paper), and tomorrow is eating by candlelight because He is the Light of the World. Fun, eh?
It really has been nice to have a plan. Simple daily activities have made it attainable so far. We’ll see how the rest of the weeks go. I’ll keep you “posted”. Get it? Posted! Blog post. . . I slay me.
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It Takes 4 Months

Posted on March 23, 2009 by thebluehutch

to “belong” at Wal*Mart.
to be trusted at Wal*Mart.
to be included in private jokes at Wal*Mart.
to be greeted when entering and exiting the store at Wal*Mart.
to be sat with in the employee lounge at Wal*Mart.
to be “family” at Wal*Mart.

That’s what I realized tonight “whilst at Wal*Mart”. 
The tragedy?
I turned in my two weeks notice yesterday.
“Et tu, Brute?”

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Summer Tshirt Fun

Posted on March 23, 2009 by thebluehutch
This summer my brother and his family are coming to the USA for a few months. We are going to be able to spend a little over a week with them and I am so excited. Except for the “constant chaos and I have an autistic kid” part, it is going to be GREAT!!! (And we’ll just think for and plan for the autistic little guy and he’ll be just fine. I mean, realllly, Pop is going to be there and that’s all he needs!)
So, anyway, the whole family is going to be together and that means a family photo and that means . . . tshirts. Yes, I have tried to tell you what a huge deal tshirts are to my family but it seems that some folks still don’t get it. I ordered shirts for each family unit today (colors represented above) and when I told one of my dear friends, her response was, “Okay, so tshirts really are a big deal for you guys, huh?” Uh – yeah.
So, the Patriarchs will be wearing green, Andrew and his clan will be in yellow, those from the Blue Hutch will, of course, be wearing blue (actually, we have the largest family – no jokes, Andy – and this was the only color that had all the sizes for the kids), and the Jacksons will be wearing their signature chocolate. I think it will make a beautiful shot and years from now my mom will be able to tell who goes with whom because we’ll be color coded. Priceless!
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