Easter Poem

"!Feliz Pascua de Resurrreccion!"
"Happy Easter!"
I smile to Juan, from Colombia,
who bags my groceries

"Happy Easter!"
I smile to the Pharmacist
Gladness exuberates
in flowers

We play mini golf
small boy with long
flowing locks
darts past

The dad and a friend
capped, bearded
fringed tallit trickles
down the waist

Blue thread reminds
to keep God's commands
(Numbers 15:38-41)

I ask about his little boy
"We cut hair at 3 years,
it's our tradition."
"In India there is a similar practice,"
I say

"It's our Passover week,"
he says
I know this means strict
dietary laws, Seder feast,
and no lamb.

"We are celebrating Easter,"
I say.     They nod.
"The Passover Lamb."
Did you hear me?
I wonder

"God bless you!" We say
to each other and
depart

"Pascua"

I love this word in Spanish
"Easter" and "Passover"
inextricably linked

Lamb's blood
saves us
Smeared on the doorposts
of our hearts

The Innocent One
Sacrificial Lamb
His life for ours
His blood for ours

When Christ agonized in the garden
Did it seem Good Friday to Him?

When His disciples betrayed,
abandoned and denied Him
Was it a Good Friday?

When He was mocked,
scourged and nailed to the Cross -
Was it a Good Friday?

When the whole world and
even His own Father
turned His back on Him -
Was it a Good Friday?

Or when the sky darkened
the rocks split
the temple curtain rent twain

And all of Satan's folly
was crushed under
Christ's heel

When, after that 1st awful Day
The 2nd day of waiting and wondering
Then, the 3rd day - at Sunrise.....

The rock pushed away
Angels attending

We came with our
anxieties and questions

And He calls us
by name

Now it is "Happy Easter"

He has risen victorious
He will reign victorious
till all His enemies
become a footstool
under His feet

His Spirit is sent
Lives within us

Together we will cry
with the host of heaven,

"Worthy is the Lamb
that was slain...."!

Pain

What is pain?
Anguish of soul
or body

They're inextricably mixed

I cry out
"Why God?"
"What did I do wrong?"

He answers me in
the sweet silence of
Pain.

Pain is
knowing where you are
and not running from it

Pain accepts
because you cannot escape

Pain crushes
       wounds
       humbles us

Pride, the unwelcome guest
packs up and leaves

Pain releases the
tight fist and
opens us up

to Life

Compassionate eyes
for all suffering

Grace comes

My 6 year old, Raja,
slips his thin arm in mine
"I'll help you, mommy!"

My dear hubby
signals me to see
the golden haze
outside

Rain washed slab stones
shine

Surprise!!

"Come quick, everyone!"
They rush to see

We beckon our neighbors
with an insistent knock

"Look, look" -
It's a double rainbow!

Glorious, bright and full
it fills our sky

"I'm so glad you showed us,"
they say,
"We would've missed it!"

In five minutes it's gone -
Clouds burn with envy

Later, suds flying
Grimy plates washed clean

and, Surprise!

Globe of liquid rainbows
rests on the soap bottle

A wink and a promise

God is in control
And all is well.

Yummy breakfast for kids

What's your kids favorite breakfast?  Could it be pancakes?  Is that yours too?  Here's a healthy and fun recipe they will love.. and you too!

BANANA PANCAKES:

In your blender put:

1 ripe banana

1 egg

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. flour

1/2 t. vanilla (optional)

1 t. agave syrup, honey or maple syrup

Blend!

Put 1 ts. ghee (clarified butter) on HOT griddle or skillet for each pancake.

NOTE:  ghee does not smoke! (And neither should you:->), pancakes will be more like crepes!!!

HEALTHY ADDITIONS: this is the fun part as a mom as you want your kids favorite foods packed full of nutrition.  Here goes!

instead of regular milk, substitute your favorite alternative - rice, nut milks, kefir, yogurt, buttermilk...whatever you think they'll eat!  I have a friend who uses cottage cheese too!

instead of plain flour, substitute whole grain, whole wheat (partial!), gluten-free flours, etc.  I sometimes add a little wheat germ, ground flax seed, or a scoop of protein powder

in addition to the banana, add 1/4 c. pureed sweet potatoes/carrot mixture (I freeze it in small batches for these little additions!), or you can always substitute with apple sauce or whatever fruit your child enjoys.  If you add too much, just add another egg and small scoop of flour and it will cook fine.

 

Hope you all enjoy it!  Kids love this recipe and even I will spread a little peanut butter on it and roll it up for a quick lunch!