EASTER JOKES FOR THE KIDS

What do you call a rabbit with fleas?

Bugs Bunny

What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket?
Two points just like everybody!


Why did the Easter Bunny hide the egg?
Because it was a little chicken.


What do you call a dumb bunny?
A hare brain.

MOMMY, ARE YOU THE EASTER BUNNY?

Barbara Ward-Finneran

How many of us are being asked this very question this evening as we quiet our kids down for the night.  Or heard it all day long and or in the recent days gone past?

Easter Bunny questions certainly haven't rivaled the ones about Santa last Christmas.  But the fact that they are being asked at all, solidifies the knowing that there is doubt creeping into those maturing minds. Where have my "little boys gone?  Animated, electrical stuffed bunnies (Some were even scary! And, not just to the kids!) singing "Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail" are a thing of the past. Tonight I listened to the logical debate of my sons as to just what a little bunny could carry into each house.  I smiled as they reminisced about the year they got Batman & Robin costumes in their baskets, another when it was video games, still another with endless eggs filled with matchbox cars, and how almost every year new bathing suits. (Oh, oh!)  Amazing what they remember.  My heart goes out to that busy little bunny with so many memories to compete with from previous years!  Their giggle filled talk of memories faded and once again, "Mommy are you the Easter Bunny?"...

Listening to your children talk to you, and ask questions, from somewhere caught between the "innocence" and "growing up" can tighten your throat and well tears in your eyes.  With baited breath, most "answer" without giving more then is needed to be known.  Perhaps wondering if the answers you choose are "right".

I'm good with my answer.  It's almost verbatim what I told my boys at Christmas time...
It is the honest to goodness truth that I can look them in the eyes and say with absolutely no hesitation.

"I believe in the magic and miracles of Easter!"

There's just no questioning that, for me it is certainly a fact!

Good night my sweet boys, close your eyes and rest.... :)

GOOD FRIDAY

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar. The dates of Good Friday, which vary each year, occur between March 20th and April 23rd. It falls on the last Friday before Easter. It is the pinnacle of the Holy Week. All Christians observe this day with great humility and reverence. 

History of Good Friday

As early as the first century, the Church set aside every Friday as a special day of prayer and fasting. It was not until the fourth century, however, that the Church began observing the Friday before Easter as the day associated with the crucifixion of Christ. First called Holy or Great Friday by the Greek Church, the name "Good Friday" was adopted by the Roman Church around the sixth or seventh century. 

Good Friday Origins

There are two possible origins for the name "Good Friday". The first may have come from the Gallican Church in Gaul (modern-day France and Germany). The name "Gute Freitag" is Germanic in origin and literally means "good" or "holy" Friday. The second possibility is a variation on the name "God's Friday," where the word "good" was used to replace the word "God," which was often viewed as too holy to be spoken aloud.

Good Friday Traditions

Good Friday rituals and traditions are distinct from every other Church observances. They add to Good Friday's significance. The ceremony is somber, with priests and deacons dressing in black or purple vestments. The pulpit and the altar are bare; no candles are lit. The purpose behind the solemn presentation is to create an awareness of grief over the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son. Today, many churches hold special services on Good Friday evening to commemorate this important day.

(Information Cited From: http://www.churchyear.net/goodfriday.html )

LUNCH TIME POLL

Dawn Boyle

Over the River and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go! Today is the first of much traveling that I will do for this HOLY WEEK! Today we will celebrate Passover with my mother-in-law and her family. Then Sunday we split the day. Greek Easter at my brother and sister-in-laws in Bayville, NY and then we hit my Aunts for my Easter with my family...lots of food, lots of fun, lots of driving!

How are you spending the holidays?

Are you like me, do you celebrate multiple religious holidays?

Do you split the holidays with your spouse and their family?

When does it get easier?

Share your thoughts and comments. We always love to hear from you!

EATERY is open for EASTER

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

To me, the picture of Easter is little girls in frilly pastel dresses and shiny new shoes, and of course, cute little hats to match. It’s cute downy chicks, fluffy baby bunnies, and fragrant budding tulips, daffodils and sweet smelling hyacinths. Easter brings to mind straw baskets filled with green artificial grass, colored eggs and best of all, lots and lots of chocolate! For Christians around the world it’s the season of hope and new life, because of the Resurrection of Jesus.

People celebrate this special holiday in a variety of ways. One common tradition of many cultures is making Easter Bread. After the strict fasting of Lent, slightly sweet, rich breads filled with eggs, butter, sugar and flour are just the thing to serve!  Eggs symbolize rebirth, fertility, spring and the Resurrection and are found in abundance in these breads.

The following recipe includes placing raw eggs in the dough (color them first) and makes a beautiful centerpiece for your Easter table!

Easter Bread

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided

• 1/4 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

• 2/3 cup milk

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 eggs

• 5 whole eggs, dyed if desired

• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions: 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.

Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly. Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long log about 36 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braided ring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and slide the eggs between the braids of dough.

 Place loaf on a buttered baking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Brush risen loaf with melted butter.

Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until golden.

Enjoy and have a happy and blessed Easter!

SAVE A TREE FOR EASTER

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

Easter is just around the corner and I can’t wait! I love this time of year with the newborn chicks, the little, fluffy- tailed bunnies, the daffodils and tulips, but mostly, I love the

Chocolate!

Some of you may know that I gave up chocolate (my life’s blood) for Lent. I must admit I slipped up once and had a tiny piece of chocolate cake when we were on vacation, but otherwise I’ve been true blue! I was hoping after the first few days it would get easier, but it hasn’t. I crave it each and every day!

Because of my love affair with chocolate, any article I see with that word in it catches my eye. I was browsing and came across Cool Earth’s Blog. A couple years ago my school worked with this organization to save 199,273 acres of rainforest. This year, they’re asking for people to choose one of 12 endangered species of rainforest trees to “adopt” and save. Of course the tree I picked was the Cacao.