Easter Cookies

We made these Easter cookies last night to give me a chance to talk with my kids about the Atonement and Resurrection. It is always nice to have moments where I can teach my children and share my testimony. Here is the recipe if you want to try it next year:
You Need 1- cup whole pecans 1-teaspoon vinegar 3 egg whites pinch of salt 1-cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon tape Bible EASTER COOKIES

Preheat the oven to 300 (this is important-don't wait 'til you're half-done with the recipe)

1. Place the pecans in the baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

2. Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl. Let each child smell the vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and He became thirsty, He was offered vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30

3. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. The eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life.

Read John 10:10-11

4. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand and let them taste it. Put the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

5. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

6. Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid to rest.

Read Matt. 27:57-60

8. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off.

9. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66

10. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight and that Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20-22

11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. the cookies are hollow! ON THE FIRST EASTER, Jesus' followers were amazed to find His tomb empty.

Read Matt. 28: 1-9

When I told Hayden that he'd have to wait until morning to have a cookie, you would have thought I was the meanest mom ever! He did not want to listen to another word I said after that. Luckily, I bought a treat at the store to entice him to listen to why we had to wait until morning. I anticipated the fight about waiting until morning. Who makes cookies with their kids and then makes them wait to eat them! Sheesh...

Luck

I have had a few people tell me how lucky I am that I have had good babies. They all have slept through the night by 8 weeks, they have good temperaments, they are happy and content and don't cry very often. Yep, I'm lucky. But often I think that it's not just luck.

I have some opinions when it comes to newborn babies and I feel like for the most part, my ideas work. When I was a new mom with Hayden, I had a lactation specialist tell me to just feed the baby whenever he wanted and to let him sleep whenever and wake up whenever. Let him determine his schedule. Thinking back to this, I am amazed that anyone would think this way. I wouldn't let a toddler determine when they slept or ate. Why should I let a newborn? I read a few books and took an approach that I felt like would work best and I put Hayden on a schedule. I fed him every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day (full feedings-making sure they got at least 3 oz. or nursed for 15-20 min.), KEPT him awake for an hour after I fed him, then I laid him down to fall asleep on his own. (I didn't let him cry it out. I would go back in and comfort him and give him his binkie, but ultimately he fell asleep on his own.) And low and behold, he was sleeping through the night (9 hours) by 6 weeks! I have done this with all three, and it has worked all three times! (not with Crew yet, but we're close!) This schedule makes it so that when they are awake, they aren't tired or hungry. They are content and happy. It totally works! I think that children thrive on a schedule, regardless of age. (the book the schedule is base on is called Babywise)

It takes some effort, for sure. Newborns want to sleep all the time, and they fall asleep when they are nursing and it's hard to wake them up. In my experience, when I have had enough sleep, I can handle a lot more than if I'm exhausted. I am more patient and I enjoy being a mother more. There's my two cents.