In Search Of Easter

They search for eggs hidden by their big cousin Jake.

An hour earlier, we had searched our hearts in receiving the Lord's supper.

My husband read the Passion Week and Resurrection story each night at dinner and completed it with all the cousins gathered around.

Oh, what a sweet blessing to hang out with families who believe!

Oliver asked if today was Easter Tuesday, since he had heard us talk of Easter Monday.

I told him as Christians, everyday is Easter, and that we need to search for ways to honour the One who came to give us life.

My prayer is that in the daily grind of life, I would celebrate Easter--the risen Jesus--in my worship, praise, gratitude, and obedience to Him.

How about you?

Are you in search of Easter?

He's waiting and can be found by you!

 

Drinking In The Springishness

Invigorated by honking swans, landing chickadees, waving grasses, bold geese, and steep, rooty hills we drink in an early, warm Spring before the thermometer plummets again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord

Psalm 96:13

Scramble To The Sugar Bush

I picked up the phone and my sister told me I needed to get in the car right now if I wanted to make it on time to the sugar bush with her. I darted to the clock in the kitchen, surveyed the kids and the house to see if we were presentable. Where was the farm? Oh, an hour and a half away. When did it start? Ah, just over an hour from then. Well, I thought to myself, we've done crazier things. I gathered the kiddos and scrambled to the sugar bush. After all, maple syrup time only comes once a year :) 

peeking at the sap

 

 Farmer James explains how they extract the sap from the sugar maples. 

 wagon ride

 

sap lines (some running 5,000 feet!)

old fashioned way of drilling holes in the trees

 Meg gives the drill a try.

 A hydrometer measures the sugar level in the sap.

 After making a hole and setting the spile, we hang the pail.

 Molly finds a friend...

 ...with beautiful eyes.

 Evaporator machine: water boils off, sap turns to syrup.

ordering the age of spiles 

 Caleb attempts to make a hole for the spile.

Oliver helps.

 grading the colour and density of the syrup

 testing the maple syrup... mmm!

enjoying some outdoor time 

 

Little legs get a break from a long-legged cousin :)