A Happy Holy Thursday

We had a really nice, holy, fun day today. It was a beautiful, cool spring day. We had my nephew Carter with us for the day. The boys got up and quickly did their basic school work before Carter arrived. The boys played and played while I enjoyed getting some long-overdue chores done around the house.

At lunch time, I placed this basket in the center of the table....

Immediately, Carter picked up the unleavened bread and said the words of Jesus.... "Take this all of you and eat it. This is my Body which will be given up for you." The boys loved tasting the bread and talking about why it's unleavened and what that means. Then we talked about wine being made from grapes and why Jesus chose bread and wine to become the Sacrament of His Presence among us. We talked about Passover and Eucharist. We had quite a theological lunch! And the best part was how natural it was. I was not lecturing them or trying to get their attention. They were so prayerful and thoughtful and peaceful. Although we aren't yet able to do the late/long Holy Thursday Mass with them, we did enter into the rich, beautiful meaning of this day.

We seem to be making a tradition of having Carter with us for the coloring of our Easter eggs. (His mom hates eggs, so the poor kid would be deprived of this experience if it weren't for us!) The boys decided they wanted to color the eggs with Sharpies and crayons before dying them. They had a lot of fun.

Check out Carter's Ninja eggs!

We also did a cool science experiment! We filled several cups with a variety of liquids.... and then plopped a Peep in each cup. The boys really used their observation skills as they kept coming back to the counter all day to check on the Peeps.

 We tried to get some pictures to show results... but I'm not sure that you can really see much.

 Our main observations so far are that the laundry detergent broke down the Peep the most. The salt water caused its Peep to completely lose its color and shrink. The Peep-in-vinegar's eyeballs are floating around the cup. Heavy duty science, huh? ;) Those poor Peeps are still floating down there. We'll see what they look like in the morning. Jon will really laugh when he walks in and sees our "laboratory."

Tonight Ray had dance class (post on that coming soon) and we had to take Carter home. When we got back home, we did one more quick Science experiment. We predicted what would happen if we microwaved a Peep.... and then we observed it in action. The boys loved watching the Peep puff up and then immediately deflate.

I fully expect a visit from "PETP - People for the Ethical Treatment of Peeps" after this post!





I think the most touching moment of the day for me happened when we walked in the door tonight. The boys saw the leftover matzo bread and grapes on the counter and they went over and "acted out" the Last Supper again. They were so sweet and sincere. We spent some prayer time "in the garden" with Jesus and called it a night. 

Thank you, God, for all of your blessings,

epecially for your most awesome gift of the Eucharist.

Thank you for days like today.

And for drawing me closer to you

through the love and wonder and words of my children,

through the celebration of the liturgical year -

each year the same commemorations

but new and deeper experiences.

You are the same.

I am different.

I walk with you.... again, still.

As you stretch out your arms for me - for all of us - once again,

may we still ourselves enough

to accept your ultimate gift of your life and your love.

Amen.