Watercolor Easter Egg Tree

This week we've been talking about and telling the story of the Resurrection.  I used this very simplified version for my little boys.  It focuses on the resurrection and ascension.  The moment when Jesus' tomb was found empty, the joy when his disciples heard and saw that he was alive, the wonder and awe of his ascension.  Also, one verse that I've been focusing on is (Matthew 28: 20 at And)  "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  This verse is so meaningful and comforting to me.  "I am with you always".  All that Christ is; love, good, truth, clarity and understanding is with us, forever.

So, with this sense of renewal and restoration that the season of Spring and Easter brings I've found myself thinking about what I want and don't want for my family. It's helped me to look at negative cycles of thought and behavior and think about shedding them.  Like shedding the cold, snow and ice for the warmth & new beginning of Spring.

In this spirit I decided we would make an Easter tree.  I took a beautiful bowl that my dear husband actually made in a glass blowing class and filled it with seeds that we've been finding in abundance in our neighborhood.  The boys have helped me gather these. Then we used some of our old watercolor paintings and traced and cut out eggs shapes.  Michael helped me with the cutting.  We talked about Spring, and renewal and what we want for our family.  What qualities do we want to focus on?  Michael came up with some good answers.  Some I translated into spiritual qualities and others I wrote exactly as he said.  For instance he said, "For Owen to stop getting sick all the time", so I said, "so, you want health for Owen and our family".  We wrote health on one egg.  Others he offered were: Joy, love, hugs and kisses, fun, yummy things to eat, to hear the birds all the time.  Michael also wrote 2 joke words, that is he writes some letters and I read it as it would sound.  He thinks they are hilarious! Mommy contributed peace, laughter, abundance, affection, safety and security.

We used a pin to make a small hole and then hung them up by yellow and blue thread.  We found a pine branch to hang them from.  Along with this line of thought and craft activity has come a spirit of clearing out.  I've cleared out old paperwork and belongings that have been hanging around & cluttering the house.  We still have more to do but we're on the right path.

Needless to say this has been a meaningful project for us.  It's helped us to focus on the good in our lives, shed unwanted thoughts and things and feel uplifted and renewed.

Until next time...