Thank you so much for all the great Easter ideas. I think I have come up with what we will do. I have to write it down anyway so I can remember each year so I thought I would share.
First, I must explain that I want our family's celebration to be focused on the fact that Christ is LIVING, and that because of Him everyone who dies will live again.
So first we are reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I love how this book portrays the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his return to life and bringing life to all those previously lost. We will likely watch the movie of it too with the kids that are old enough.
Second I have taken a twist on an advent calendar and a Lent calendar sent to me by a friend. I filled the 40 Easter eggs above with various things. 12 are filled like the Resurrection eggs so many of you suggested. They are numbered 1-12 so we can open one each day the 12 days before Easter.
Seven are filled with things we can do to remember that Camille will get her body back and we will all be able to live again in the flesh with her. These are things like going to her graveside, drawing pictures of what we think the day of her Resurrection will be like, sharing favorite memories of her etc... These are marked with the letters C A M I L L E so we can do them the week between Easter and her birthday.
The rest of the eggs have suggestions for simple activities for every day leading up to Easter to help us understand Easter and enjoy it. These are things like planting a seed and watching it grow or going without something for a day to better understand sacrifice. Also in there are notes telling us to go buy a bunch of Roses, Lilies, Gerber Daisies and Tulips and share our favorite things about the corresponding girl that day. (Not sure how I am going to translate this tradition of ours to a boy. I think I won't know till I meet the little guy. I didn't plan the flower thing in advance. It is just how I felt about each girl. Have to wait and see what inspires me and reminds me of a son.)
Also we are going to get caterpillars and watch them turn into butterflies. We will still dye eggs and have an egg hunt and I think our Easter baskets will be more special than before - with more meaningful gifts if not more expensive. And we will eat a meal with Lamb for Easter dinner as is tradition in my family.
I think overall the kids will love what I have come up with so far and I hope to add to it as the years pass. I am so grateful for the Savior's sacrifice and the promised gift of the Resurrection. It is a true reason to celebrate knowing that He has overcome death and through Him we will live again. This is the source of hope in my life - He is the source of my hope. I look forward to all we will do to celebrate this hope He offers.
