Steph's Home!

We collected Steph from the station this evening. She was weighed down with various things, including a cloak for me, and beer for Bob [Shall there be no more capes and ale? he declaimed!]

...and this beautiful bouquet of flowers...

These were delivered to her at work this week - as a thank- you present. A commuter sitting opposite her left the train at Denmark Hill- and then she spotted his diary on the seat. In the front it gave his details [a consultant from King's College Hospital] so she rang the hospital and arranged to get the diary back to him.

Well done Steph for your good deed - and well done him for showing his gratitude!

Enhanced!

I occasionally wonder why a peace loving, non-violent girl like myself gets so much enjoyment from detective novels and TV shows. I think it is to do with the psychology and unravelling of plots. From Sherlock Holmes via Wimsey, Poirot, Morse, Rebus and co via all those 'religious' sleuths [check them out here] I do like to curl up with a cup of tea and a book describing a good murder!

But I also enjoy TV detective programmes, especially some of the American ones. NCIS is great - it has a superb cast, and I have liked Mark Harmon for years [I first noticed him in Moonlighting, then he was in Chicago Hope and West Wing] and of course, David McCallum has been a favourite since the early 1960s and 'The Man From Uncle' [then he was in 'Colditz' and 'Sapphire and Steel'] For a man of 77, he wears pretty well!

And Bob and I both like CSI [the original Vegas, plus the spinoffs set in Miami and New York]

However we do occasionally find the plotlines a little far-fetched and the things they manage to do with technology just a tad over-the-top.

The other week we were watching one episode, and Bob declared "I have seen the Mythbusters programme based on this very same accidental-death-scenario"

I was greatly amused therefore, to come across these two items recently. Sorry - if you do not watch CSI, these will mean nothing to you. if you are a fan, I hope they make you smile too!

First up, a pie-chart

And then a story-board

I really shouldn't do these Internet quizzes though - in 'which NCIS character are you?' I came out as Abby.

 

Yeah, right, me, a Goth with a tattoo on her neck? [but I have got the biker boots, and a fondness for computer geeks]

Explaining Easter #5

I have no idea where you will find a passion flower at this time of year! In previous years I have actually picked a few from our garden, and put them on a piece of kitchen paper in a tupperware box and kept the box in the freezer for months. My friend Bette in London used to do that, then thaw one on Christmas Day and place it on her Christmas cake - and tell everyone the story below, and remind them that Jesus was born to die.

I guess you may find a silk one in a florists somewhere [I doubt that they would have real ones, and if they do they would be prohibitively expensive] But you could just use a picture from the Internet, like this...

It is helpful to remind children that the word passion has various meanings - one referring to a strong feeling or emotion, the other being the name we give to the suffering of Jesus. It is this second definition that gives the flower its name.

THE STORY OF THE PASSION FLOWER

Jacomo Bosio was a Catholic Priest in Rome, in 1609. He was presented with a Passion Flower,  brought back to Italy for the first time from the New World [where the flower grows wild, by the wayside] by Emmanuel de Villegas, a Mexican Jesuit priest. Jacomo looked at the flower and declared it to be God's Masterpiece - and said that the various parts of the plant symbolised the story of Easter.

• The five petals and five sepals represent ten 'faithful' apostles after the arrest of Jesus; Judas was omitted for betraying Christ, and Peter for denying knowing Jesus.
• The five stamens represent the five wounds. [hands, feet, side]
• The lance-shaped leaves represent the spears which pierced Him;
• The spots on the undersides represent the 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas for betraying Christ.
• The tendrils represent the lash which scourged Jesus
• The red stains- Christ’s blood
• The fragrance – the perfume brought by the women
• The fruit – the world Christ came to save

The story is very well documented - and children - and adults - are usually fascinated by it. I love the fact that a simple wild flower could be used to tell the story. [you might just want to file this idea away, and use it again in the summer!!]

Blue Birthday Giveaway

Well, I went downstairs, filled the kettle, then spotted this

 

And I decided that I should have a

Blog Birthday Blue Bundle

now I know that not everyone who reads the blog shares my interest in crafting - so this giveaway is lots of little generally useful bits and pieces like stationery/toiletries etc

All with a blue theme. Oh, and a book with a blue cover!

Yes, there is a length of blue ribbon in there - but even non-crafters have things to tie up sometimes!

I know the Red Giveaway [see here]is running till tomorrow night [midnight 31st] but you can enter both. So please comment on THIS post before midnight Easter Monday [5th April]

aqua, azure, cobalt , cornflower, cerulean, cyan, electric blue, gentian,  ice blue, indigo, lapis lazuli, mazarine, midnight blue, navy, peacock, periwinkle, powder blue, Prussian blue, royal blue, sapphire, saxe, sky blue, slate blue, steel blue, teal, turquoise, ultramarine

Go on - leave a comment - Gilly, my Purple Prizewinner last week, tells me she has never won anything before. And I think it is important that I find reasons to keep using the Village Post Office, or we may lose it.

Two Whole Years...

...and I am still blogging!

The actual anniversary was yesterday [but I forgot, till this morning!] but I really think this needs celebrating in some way.

I will have to have yet another giveaway, I think. I have spent the entire day chained to the PC, preparing schoolwork for next term, so I haven't seen anyone other than Bob- and I haven't been able to do anything for my Lent Giveaway. I shall go and potter around a bit. watch this space...

[I have only recently realised that I can change my font colour quite easily - feeling 'in the pink' this afternoon]

Explaining Easter #4

Floss is doing a great job of preparing an Easter Garden - check it out here, and over at The MadHouse, the MiniMads are busy with their crafts.

Now THIS one is a VERY different take on the story. But I like it because of the ideas involved and the opportunity to chat with the children during the preparation process.

Read it through first, so you can work out the best time to do it with your children. You need to prepare them in the evening and eat them the next day - and it may not suit your family to do it on Saturday/Sunday. ALSO once you have started this recipe, your oven is out of use till breakfast - so make sure you have got an alternative evening meal sorted out!!!

And this is obviously not suitable for children with nut allergies. [perhaps you could substitute an alternative 'crunch' - like breakfast cereal - to smash up?]

The recipe gives the full Bible references - with older children, you may want to encourage them to look up the passages in the Bible and check them out - for younger ones, I would just tell them the relevant bit of the story.

This recipe does work - I have done it successfully a number of times!

 

 EASTER STORY COOKIES

Bible [see note above]

1 cup whole pecans, almonds or walnuts [see note above]

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch of salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 large size Ziploc type plastic bag

wooden spoon

hand blender/whisk

baking sheet [lined with waxed/parchment paper]

masking tape

Preheat oven to 300˚F / gas 3 / 150˚C.

METHOD
Place the nuts in the plastic bag and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. [John 19:1-3. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face.

Let each child smell the vinegar [and possibly taste some]. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. John 19:28-30...Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.]

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. [John 10:10-11. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."]

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. [Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.]

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. [Psalm 34:8--Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him ~and John 3:16--"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."]

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the colour white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. [Isaiah 1:18--"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." And John 3:1-3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."]

Fold in broken nuts. Line baking sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.[Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away]

Place the baking sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of masking tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. [Matthew 27:65-66 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.]

GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. [John 16:20 "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, buy your grief will turn to joy." And John 16:22 "So with you~ Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."]

On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice ~the cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
[Matthew 28:1-9 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped his feet and worshipped Him.]

Eat the cookies, celebrate the joy of the Resurrection!

If you do try this out, please let me know how it goes with your children!

Best Foot Forward

My replacement camera from Fuji has just been delivered [thanks to our friend Jaz, the wonderful CityLink Courier!]

So I took a picture of the first thing that came to hand - well actually, to feet

I have just changed the laces in these trainers for 'Cut The Carbon ones. The limited edition 'Cut the Carbon' shoelaces are the first to hold a Fairtrade Mark. They were made by Fair Deal out of organic cotton from Egypt, but were manufactured in the UK.

The shoelaces were produced to support the charities' Cut the Carbon march, the longest ever protest walk which ran in Autumn 2009. Christian Aid launched a petition calling for the UK Government to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050 to prevent millions of people in the developing world from suffering.

  The shoes are ancient ones, which Liz left behind when she was at Uni I think  - so I must have had them for at least eight years.

But I was wearing them in school a couple of weeks ago and a boy said "Airwalk! they are really cool, Miss!"

I didn't realise I was so fashionable.

Despite their great age, these shoes are still very comfortable, and just the thing to wear with jeans when I am relaxing on my Day Off!

There In A Jiffy!

I spent some time getting lots of parcels ready for posting this morning. Fortunately we seem to have a load of jiffy bags which are so useful for this purpose.

First up was Gilly's Purple Parcel and Elizabeth's giveaway prize.

I had some other parcels to wrap too, and my Easter cards.

 

Quite a heap when it came to it. And I used the last of my Christmas stamps on the Easter cards!

Now this little lot is winging its way to India, and Peru [and Yorkshire, Cheshire , Suffolk, Surrey, Essex and Warwickshire]

In the Post Office they warned us the Peruvian one could 'take up to three months' - but we said we didn't mind, and anyway, the last one had only been a couple of weeks in arriving.

The internet, emails, and mobile phones are great for keeping in touch - but nothing quite compares with our smiling postlady coming to the door with a letter or a parcel!

Explaining Easter #3

Another story for the children, about Palm Sunday ...

When the King or Queen visits a city [or the President if that's what you have in your country] how do they travel?

Queen Elizabeth still goes to some events in her carriage

But she usually goes in a posh Bentley car with a little crown on top!

[Someone told me I need to get her permission to use her picture, but it is Sunday and I expect she is busy at church so I am afraid I have not been able to ask her. Hope she doesn't mind!]

She always smiles and seems happy to see people though

President Obama flies around America in Air Force One, his special plane [can you see his badge on the side? He doesn't have a crown]

In years gone by, kings arrived on special warhorses

Or they rode in chariots

These expensive ways of travel showed the people watching that this was an IMPORTANT, POWERFUL visitor.

As well as that, Royal people are not supposed to put their feet on the dirty muddy earth - often special carpets are laid down for them

And this is how it always was when a King visited your town - except when Jesus came to Jerusalem. He was the greatest King of all - and he arrived riding on a little donkey

The ordinary people were so pleased to see him, they waved and cheered and shouted "Hosanna" [that means 'Praise The Lord'] Some people put their coats on the ground for the donkey to walk on - other people looked around to see what they could use.

They spotted some palm trees

Quickly they climbed up and pulled out lots of leaves like this...

They took some of the leaves and spread them on the ground to make a soft green carpet under the donkey's feet - and some they waved as they cheered, like huge green flags.

People clapped and sang and danced, and it was the best carnival ever.

And so every year, on the last Sunday before Easter, we celebrate Palm Sunday. In some churches, people are given little crosses woven from palm leaves

But the important thing to remember is, we can praise and worship Jesus the King whoever we are, whatever we have. We don't need to be rich enough to have big car to come to church in, or a red carpet to walk on - and it doesn't matter if we make a lot of noise, or sing quietly. In Jerusalem 2000 years ago, the ordinary people praised Jesus with the things they had around them [palm leaves] and what really mattered was that their hearts were right, and they loved him, and meant the things they said.

In our church yesterday we sung a song [to an old sea shanty tune called "Drunken sailor"] about Palm Sunday - and it reminds us that we mustn't just sing praises to Jesus, we must serve him too - and do the things that show his love to other people and care for them like he did.

We have a king who rides a donkey, [x3]

And his name is Jesus.

Jesus, the king, is risen, [x3]

Early in the morning.

Trees are waving a royal welcome, [x3]

For the king called Jesus.

We have a king who cares for people,[x3]

And his name is Jesus.

What shall we do with our life this morning ? [x3]

Give it up in service!

Palm Sunday !

You'll have to wait and see what happens to this handiwork.

My campaign to give away stuff during Lent, and to reduce the Great Hoard of Craftiness, and the Great Stash of Fabrics continues with limited success. On Friday, Fiona said at the NEC "I think I ought to get some buttons to incorporate them into my beadwork" and looked at some overpriced items on one stand. "NO!" I said, and told her not to buy any. Back home again, I gave her a plastic jar and told her to fill it from the three tins full of buttons on the coffee table. Felt very pleased with myself - that was Friday's Lent Giveaway sorted.

Then at church today, two people came to me with bags of bits and pieces "thought you could find a use for these" they said...

Lunch is cooking, Bob's watching his recording of the Grand Prix, and I am already excited by the possibilities!

Explaining Easter #2

I did my first post on this topic yesterday [here]

And Floss has begun her series [here]

Today I am sharing a very simple idea - Bob did this with the local Beaver Pack one evening last week.

The 'props' are readily available!

 

 

What do we think of at Easter?  - eggs!

Here is one [from a Poundshop]

 

 

 

The things inside this egg can help to tell the story of the first Easter.

Bob just had six items as his time with the boys was quite limited

 

 

 

• dice - to remind us the soldiers gambled over Jesus' robe
• a nail - they nailed Jesus to the cross
• a cross - where he was crucified
• a stone - to remind us of the big stone in front of the tomb
• an egg and a chick - symbolising new life
• and the empty egg shells- because the tomb was empty!

You can use more or fewer items depending on how much detail of the detail of the story you want to tell [and how much you can fit in your egg!] For example, you could also include

• A piece of greenery [a sprig of cypress/cupressus works well for 'real' small-scale stuff, or use some artificial silk leaves] can represent the palm branches
• A tiny goblet - [from a doll's house set or made of silver foil] for the last supper
• A small silver coin or sequin for the 30 pieces of silver
• A length of knotted thread for the whip
• A scrap of purple cloth can represent the robe
• A small silk flower [the tomb was in a garden]

In our Sunday School today, the children are assembling these, [but we're omitting stones and nails for the tiny children] and making the crosses from cut-up pipecleaners. We are threading a Hama bead on each 'arm' of the cross, and including this slip in each egg.

This is a good one to do with children aged 5-10, I find. They love the idea of all those miniature things coming out of the egg - and when you lay the objects in a line, they enjoy trying to remember what each item symbolises. [You can often get tiny dice in bead shops or craft shops]

Scarlet Ribbons- Another Giveaway

The winner of the Purple Giveaway was

Well done, Gilly. Thank you everyone who entered, but don't despair, next up there is a RED packet of goodies on offer.

What is Red? by Mary O'Neill

Red is a sunset
Blazing and bright.
Red is feeling brave
With all your might.
Red is a sunburn
Spot on your nose,
Sometimes red
Is a red red rose.
Red squiggles out
When you cut your hand.
Red is a brick
And the sound of a band.
Red is hotness
You get inside
When you're embarrassed
And want to hide.
Fire-cracker, fire-engine
Fire-flicker red -

And when you're angry
Red runs through your head.
Red is an Indian,
A Valentine heart,
The trimmings on
A circus cart.
Red is a lipstick
Red is a shout
Red is a signal
That says: "Watch out!"
Red is a great big
Rubber ball.
Red is the giant-est
Colour of all.
Red is a show-off,
No doubt about it.
But can you imagine
Living without it?

This latest Lenten Giveaway is red - ribbons and buttons and bows and threads and more crafting supplies.

blood, blush, brick, burgundy, cardinal, carmine, cerise, cherry, claret, copper, coral, crimson, fuchsia, garnet, geranium, magenta, maroon, pink, puce, rose, ruby, russet, rust, salmon, scarlet, titian, vermilion, wine.

Please comment before midnight Wednesday 31st March to be included.

Happy The Bride The Sun Shines On...

 

Here is a prayer Bob read at Lee and Shayla's wedding today

Scottish Wedding Prayer

Lord help us to remember when
We first met and the strong
love that grew between us.
To work that love into
practical things so that nothing
can divide us.
We ask for words both kind
and loving and hearts always
ready to ask forgiveness
as well as to forgive.
Dear Lord, we put our
marriage into your hands

And I read 1 Corinthians 13.

The colours of the day were brown, ivory and gold.

Explaining Easter #1

One of my blogfriends said she was finding it hard to explain Easter to her two sons [just 5 and almost 4] So I wrote them a letter [with pictures] about Easter.

Floss has suggested that we might like to share ideas about explaining Easter to littl'uns. So here is the letter I sent [names changed to protect the innocent, as they say]

It isn't deep theology. And I have avoided too much stress on the pain of crucifixion. Also the letter doesn't mention the atonement. That is not because I think those issues are unimportant. I think they are crucial parts of the story.[Just noticed that I used the word 'crucial' there - without registering its Latin root!]

However this is a letter to two very small children, and so I wouldn't want to load them down with too much at one go [the letter is quite long enough already] When they are ready they will ask the next questions [If Jesus was so powerful, why did he let them do that to him? etc]

Dear Jack and Joe

Your Mum tells me you are two very clever little boys, and that you have been asking lots of questions about Easter. I have two girls – Liz and Steph. They are much bigger than you, but they used to ask lots of questions too. So here is what I used to say to them…

When you are at school, you have the long holiday each Summer – but also holidays at Christmas and Easter. That is because for Christians, those are two important times when we remember Jesus being born, and dying.

I am sure you know all about Christmas – the baby being born and put in a manger, and the shepherds and the wise men who came to see Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus. I wonder what you can remember about those Wise Men?

They followed a star as it moved across the sky, and it led them to Bethlehem. When they found the baby, they gave him three VERY STRANGE presents. We usually give new babies USEFUL things, like bibs and bootees and teddy bears to cuddle. They gave him some gold, some frankincense and some myrrh.

Do you know what those things are?

Gold is precious metal, used for wedding rings and kings crowns.

Frankincense is a bit like a scented candle that people burn – often when they are praying, and the smoke is a sign their prayers are rising to God

Myrrh is another thing which smells beautiful, like best perfume. People would use this when someone died [we put flowers on graves now, but in hot countries, fresh flowers wouldn’t last long. Myrrh kept making a beautiful perfume for a long time]

Why ever did they give a BABY presents like that do you think? Well, they were very clever men, and each present meant something.

The gold meant they thought Jesus was someone special and powerful, like a King.

The frankincense meant they thought Jesus would help people to understand about God

The myrrh meant they thought he would have pain and sadness, and then die.

Well, the men left the presents with Mary, and went home. And Jesus grew up. And he was such a wonderful person

He was so special, and powerful

When people were hungry he gave them food

When they had parties, he made wine so they could celebrate

When they were sick, he made them better

When they were frightened by thunderstorms, he made the weather calm down.

Wow! What a special person, and what a great friend to have!

And as well as DOING all those great things, Jesus was the best storyteller ever. He told lots of fantastic stories – funny ones, sad ones, ones to make you think – and all of them helped people to understand more about God and how much God loved them.

Especially Jesus loved little children and ALWAYS made time to talk to them.

He said lots of good things. One day, he said that bad people might kill him, but if that happened, he would not stay dead. “Stop talking like that!” his friend Peter said “We don’t want to think about horrid things!” and they didn’t understand what Jesus meant.

But Jesus did not like it when people were cruel. And especially he was not pleased with anybody who stopped other people from praying to God. One day he stepped into the Temple, where people went when they wanted to talk to God. He found that lots of market traders had set up stalls and were selling all sorts of things, and shouting about their bargains. “Stop this!” he shouted “You have taken God’s special place and made it into a Poundshop!”

That made the important people who organised the Temple very angry! They said “JESUS makes it too easy. WE are the people who know about God. The ORDINARY people ought to come to US. If they PAY us, we could say prayers to God in a proper, POSH voice. Jesus tells them they can talk to God for themselves. We have all sorts of rules to obey – Jesus says God loves them even when they break the rules. He is TOO popular. We must get rid of him!”

And that is what they did – one Thursday night, when Jesus was praying quietly in a garden, they took soldiers and captured him and the next day [Friday] they hit him and hurt him and finally killed him, by hanging him on a cross.

His friends were very sad, and they took his body down from the cross. It was a hot country and the ground was too hard to dig a grave, so they put the body of Jesus in a cave in another garden, and rolled a HUGE stone in front of it, so nobody could get in.

All day Saturday, Jesus’ friends felt so miserable. Then one of them said “Let us get some of that lovely myrrh perfume, and take it to the cave.” So next morning, just as the sun rose, they set off really early to the cave.

On the way, one of the girls got worried “How will we move the big stone? We aren’t strong enough!” she said. But when they got there, the big stone was already rolled away.

They were a bit scared them, but one of them bravely looked inside the cave. Jesus’ body was not there! ”Where is he?” she shouted. And then they saw a man in a white robe sitting quietly in the corner. It was an angel – one of God’s special messengers.

“He isn’t here – he is alive again like he promised” said the angel. “Go home and wait for him”

And the friends of Jesus did that – but they were still confused and scared “What if those soldiers come and kill us, because we were his friends?” they said, and locked the door. But then Jesus was there, in the room with them.

“I told you I would come alive again” he said. And he hugged them, and talked to them, and even had a breakfast of barbecued fish, on the beach, with them. They could see he really was there and really alive and they had not imagined it.

One of his friends said “Stay with us forever, Jesus” – but Jesus explained that it could not be like that.

He could only be in one place at one time [when your Mum is in the kitchen with Jack, she cannot be in the garden with Joe at the same time, can she?]

Jesus said he was going to go back to God in Heaven. “If I go back, I will send my Holy Spirit, and he will be with each one of you, wherever you are – and he will help you, and make you feel brave and strong. I am going back to Heaven, and I am going to prepare a special place for you there” And a few days later, that is just what he did.

Christians believe that Jesus is in Heaven with God, but his Spirit [who we cannot see] is with us and helps us every day. He helps us to be brave when we are scared, he makes us laugh when we are happy, and he loves us especially when we are sad.

And every year, Christians celebrate Christmas, and remember Jesus being born as a baby. We give each other presents just like the wise men gave baby Jesus presents. Those old men WERE very clever weren’t they? Jesus WAS special, he DID help people get closer to God, and he DID suffer a sad death.

But we also remember Easter every year – and even though killing Jesus was the most cruel thing anyone could do, we call the day GOOD Friday because through it God made good things happen. Easter Sunday reminds us each year that Jesus didn’t STAY dead, and if we love Him, one day we will go to Heaven and live with him forever. Heaven is a place where nobody is sad, or in pain, or scared or lonely, a place full of God and his love. And some of those good things are ours to enjoy now – we can be happy, and surrounded by God’s love wherever we are. To remind ourselves of that new and special life, we have Easter Eggs [an empty egg reminds us the cave was empty, and an egg reminds us of the new life of the little chick] and sometimes we eat Hot Cross Buns, to remember the cross of Jesus.

Well, this has been a VERY long letter, but I hope it has helped answer some of your questions. I am sure if you have some more, Mummy will tell me. God bless you and all your family

Lots of love - Angela