{We’ve come to one of my favorite weeks of the year, so I’ll quiet words and post only pictures this week as part of a blogging break.  The 52 ways posts will continue on Monday, April 1st with two encouragements for life and home.}

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The past week found me jotting random notes of how our family will focus on Easter this year.  We’ll celebrate Passover of course, it’s tradition — and new life cakes are back after a year or two break.  We’ll color eggs, which is not always tradition depending on our moods!

With the advent of Pinterest, my mind is blown away by ideas, yet I have a strong desire to keep things simple.  Our children are a little older, and so I consider this too.

Making traditions, stories and activities to match where they are – who we are as a family.

I think we have a plan.

I’ve found when my heart is centered on Christ, celebrating our faith comes more naturally {more calmly!} than if the goal is simply to complete a craft or activity.

In light of this, I try to find a devotional to feed my spirit.  Usually, it’s been Bread and Wine, but time for something fresh.

Thankfully, I found a new resource:  Love to the Uttermost by John Piper, especially designed for Holy Week 2013.  Check it out, it’s a FREE PDF download!

Hmmm…maybe hubby and I will read this together.

This weekend we’re making an Easter garden for the first time and will dye those eggs.  Vinegar Boy is being read aloud to the children {started a few weeks ago}; such a wonderful book.

For my preschooler, watercolor crosses are on the list — actually, for any of the children who want to!  And then there are more books…

• At Jerusalem’s Gate: Poems of Easter {for the older girls}
• The Story of Passover
• The First Easter
• That’s My Colt

Good Friday evening we remember the pain, Easter Sunday morning we celebrate the LIFE — both with our church circle of friends.  Celebrating faith within community is an important part of our week.

Oh, it does feel full, but not too much so.  For there are many hands to help, the children taking parts of the preparations all on their own.

We remember the sacrifice, the immeasurable love of our Savior…

… and we celebrate NEW LIFE in Christ.

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May you sense, see, hear and experience this love of our Savior in the upcoming week.  Abundant grace to your celebrations, whatever they are.