Easter Weekend in Victoria

This year for Easter, we travelled to Victoria where my parent live. The boys were on Spring Break so we were able to be together. We were blessed with excellent weather for the entire visit.

On Good Friday we took the BC ferry from Twawwassen (near Vancouver). On Saturday, my mom and I went to Butchart Gardens which is north of Victoria. The flowers put on an incredible display for us.

The options for lunch left a bit to be desired since the main restaurant (the Blue Poppy) was closed. Very strange for Easter weekend. One new thing that I noticed is the moss animals such as these three bears.

I always learn something when I visit Butchart. This flower was one that I'd never seen before.

A fritillaria raddeana.

I went to two of my favourite stores on Saturday afternoon - Mercedes Lane on Cook Street (women's clothes) and Super Chance (consignment store) in James Bay. I found a plate for my collection. On Saturday night we had supper at Odgen Point Cafe which is right next to the sea wall. I had a delicious quinoa and chicken salad. Here is C posing by the sea wall.

On Sunday morning we had a very good breakfast at Cora's in downtown Victoria. We went to my parent's church for Easter service. Three people were baptized and gave their testimonies. We had a delicious Easter buffet where my parent live. While we waited to be seated, a lady was playing various hymns on the piano. I played name that tune and my son C was quite impressed with how many I identified.

In the afternoon we went to Saxe Point park in Esquimalt. There was a plaque about the first person to ever to swim the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

My climber A enjoyed the challenge of the rocks. I enjoyed the views and pretended that I was along the coast of England.

Later we went to Oak Bay Marina and fed the seals with fish that was for sale. One seal was quite the ham and clapped for his food.

In the evening, my dad, J, and the boys played crokinole (my dad has a board) and the boys discovered a "new" game that has been around since the 1860s. What is crokinole? A game played on a board like this.

note: this is not my photo. Source.

On Monday morning I made quick visits to Monro Books and Murchie's Tea. We returned via the Sidney to Anacortes ferry.

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Good Friday - some thoughts.

Behold the Man by Antonio Ciseri

Today is Good Friday, one of the most misunderstood days of the year. Even my children don't understand it very well and they go to a Christian school. One of them asked me why Jesus rose from the dead. One of the simplest reasons is that if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, He wouldn't be fully God and fully man. Good Friday is the day we remember Jesus' death on the cross which is also known as the Passion of Christ.

The art above depicts Pilate with Jesus and Barabbas. The crowd was given the choice by Pontius Pilate to vote on which man should be freed - the criminal or Jesus, who led a perfect life. The crowd chose Barabbas. This article reminds me that I am Barabbas. I am the one who is guilty and Jesus took my punishment on the cross. He took my place and I am released.

Last night at our church we celebrate the Lord's supper with both a meal (soups and bread) and with communion. Yesterday was Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Latin word for commandment -mandatum. Jesus told his disciples:

John 13:34

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:

 just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (ESV)

Our pastor spoke briefly and reminded us that our faith is lived out in community. We as Christians aren't just in a vertical relationship with God, the horizontal (those around us) relationship with fellow believers is important as well. We have spiritual fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters to love.

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He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

image source

Up from the Grave He Arose - Text and Music by Robert Lowry.

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour.

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose;

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain;

And He lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Saviour.

Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose;

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain;

And He lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Saviour.

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.

Up from the grave He arose;

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes.

He arose a victor from the dark domain;

And He lives forever with his saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

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Resurrection Rolls

My son's first grade class made these during their Easter party.

Yes, there is still time to make these! Easter should be the most important Christian holiday but the resurrection message gets buried under all the chocolate, bunnies, and plastic eggs. If you would like to do a fun activity to teach kids the Biblical account of Christ's resurrection, look no further.

Materials needed:

- aluminum foil

- refrigerated crescent rolls - one tube

- melted butter in a bowl

- cinnamon

- large marshmallows

- cookie sheet

Directions:

1. Oven should be preheated to 375 degrees.

2. Cut/tear aluminium foil into pieces - one per child

3. Place the crescent roll on the foil and place the marshmallow on top - the marshmallow represents Jesus' body (go with it!)

You can read Matthew 27:57-60 (or have an older child read it) while you do this next part.

4. Dip the marshmallow into the butter - this represents anointing his body with oil

5. Shake the cinnamon on top of each marshmallow - this represent the spices put on Jesus' body.

6. Wrap each marshmallow with the crescent roll - this represents the burial cloths Jesus' body was wrapped in. Pinch the seams together very tightly to seal in the marshmallow as it melts.

7. Place all the foil pieces on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375. This represents waiting three days.

The cool thing is that the marshmallow disappears (melts) to leave an empty tomb. He is alive, He is risen!

These resurrection rolls taste delicious, too.

Here's a great closeup photo from the blog Beauty and Bedlam.

My son's classmates checking out their resurrection rolls.

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