A White House Memory

It was a normal Monday morning, lazing around the house, recovering from an Easter Eggstravaganza of a weekend, starting laundry, and making my grocery list. We were about to venture out to my all time favorite store the HT, when the phone rang. 

10:15---- Phone rings.
“We got an extra group ticket to the White House Easter Egg Roll.  Would you guys like to go?It is for the 12:00 group.”

I frantically start thinking about how we could make this work.  I mean the kids are dressed, but not appropriately dressed for the White House.   They are dressed for the Harris Teeter.
I tell the friend we’ll call them right back, and discuss it with Dave.   
          I mean surely we’ll get tickets another year.  
         And the ticket was only for 4 so he wouldn’t be able to go  
         And can I really get all of us ready to go in time??
         And what about our groceries?


We had tried to get tickets through Easter Egg Roll Lottery and didn’t get selected this year.  Did you know that anyone can enter the lottery for tickets to both the Easter Egg roll and the Christmas Tree Lighting?   Well, anyone can enter, which means a lot of people get declined tickets…. but you can also get them through a House/ Senate member.    So I am thinking that surely we’ll get a ticket next year or the next…. but what I have come to learn over the past couple days is that it is extremely hard to get tickets. 

So, I am SO thankful for my (usually not impulsive) husband, who realized in the moment that we should not pass this opportunity up. 
He quickly helped me to get the children re-dressed, packed us up, and dropped us off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

~~~~

 

We waited in a LONG line to enter the gates into the White House lawn….It was hot and there were over 5,000 people all waiting for our 12:00 entrance time.

The children did great waiting, and the Parks and Rec staff had ample drinks and snacks available to appease antsy little people

After about an hour of waiting, we finally made it through the welcome gates, and up onto the grassy lawn we went.



A small private affair, it was not.  But it sure was fun!



We frolicked and played on the White House lawn,
in awe of the great masterpiece in the backdrop
and in awe of the great nation it represents.



We met another family with 3 children,
and we swapped cameras and took photos for each other.



I may or may not have bribed my children to smile nicely
for this picture… or else.



What sweet pictures capturing a special memory!



It was such a fun experience… and one we will remember forever!

Pictures were taken

Eggs were rolled
(well actually they weren’t… my kids were more interested in other activities than actually rolling an egg)

Games were played

Naps were missed

Much water was consumed

Cheeks and shoulders were burned
(yes, I am that mom who forgot to put sunscreen on her kids)

Souvenir Eggs Treasured

Long lost friends hugged
Yes, while standing in line we found out some of
our Greensboro friends were there too!  We thought we’d never run into them in the mass crowds, but we somehow we found them!

And most of all…
Hearts were thankful for a great opportunity to make a memory!

 

And as always, Mr. Jokester makes it lively for us all!
So thankful for this great city we live in and the fun memories our children will have of growing up here. 

Thanks for sharing in our White House Adventure!

If you want a great book
to introduce your kids to the White House, I highly recommend 
the book Woodrow, the White House Mouse

It is where our children first heard about the White House Easter Egg Roll, along with all sorts of facts about the White House

The book is a favorite around here!  There is also….

House Mouse, Senate Mouse
Courthouse Mouse
and Woodrow for President.

What great fun stories to help introduce our children to politics, government and the principles our great nation was founded on!
We may not always understand or agree with the way our government is run, or decisions that are made… but one thing we firmly desire is for our children to grow up with a healthy honor and respect for the government and authorities God has placed to lead our country.

And all that brought to you from the
cutest little press secretaries ever!

Easter Traditions

As I finish pulling down my Easter Activities today  (I really should have been more on the ball with this) I thought I would link back to some favorite posts explaining how we celebrate The Resurrection with our family.

Easter Tomb

Throughout the year, one of the main “searches” that brings people to my Blog is “Resurrection Play set”.  Though I have beseeched Little People (twice) on behalf of all moms everywhere, they have not listened.   So, forget a Little People Resurrection Playset…. and Make your own.
         See here how much our kids have enjoyed it!

 

Lenten Lights

We love to decorate our table with Lenten lights (we celebrate the week before Easter) It is a great way to anticipate that great day of Resurrection!

Jelly Bean Prayer

I love putting together little goody bags of Jelly Beans with this
Jelly Bean Prayer in it.  It is a great favor for preschool classes.

 

Great Devotional Books

Check out some of my favorite Devotional books leading up to Easter.  No time to order these books this year?  Spend the next few weeks reading through amazing scriptures that show old testament prophecies and how they were fulfilled.  

Rocks in the Basket

We began a new tradition last year called Rocks in the Basket that I really loved.   It was a great visual to talk to our kids about sin, and why Jesus’ death pays the penalty for our sin.   Check out how our Baskets turned out and how curious and into it my kids get!  Check out both links above to get a better feel for how to do these baskets.

Empty Tomb Rolls

We tried one year to do the Empty Tomb Cookies, but they were a little too Complex (something about me and meringue that never works out).  Instead, I found I loved the Resurrection Rolls from Courtney over at Women Living Well .  She posted it last year too and that is where we got the idea from.   We still incorporate much of the scripture references as we do it though.
      *I don’t think either of these women are the originators of the above ideas, but it is where I found the ideas from.  It is so hard to credit “traditions” unless they are clearly in a book or someone’s original idea.

The Gospel

I think most of all, as we prepare for Easter, and celebrating the Resurrection… we must meditate on the Gospel and ask ourselves the hard question of “Do I really believe this?”   For if we do not truly believe this great sacrifice that was made on our behalf, all these celebrations are in vain.  

 

~~~~~
I pray you have a meaningful few weeks leading up to Easter and Celebrating the Resurrection with your children!

~~~~~

 

I am linking this post up over with Impress Your Kids where dozens of bloggers are linking up Easter ideas.  Go and link up your own and get some great ideas from others.

God showed us The One that was to come…

Below are a list of Old Testament Prophesies
About Jesus that all came true in one day

Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Matthew 10:4)

Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15)

Money to be thrown down in God's house (Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:5a)

Price given for potter's field (Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:7)

Forsaken by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50)

Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-61)

Mute before accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-19)

Wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26)

Smitten and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Micah 5:1; Matthew 26:67)

Mocked (Psalm 22:7,8; Matthew 27:31)

Fell under the cross (Psalm 109:24; John 19:17; Luke 23:26) 

Hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33) 

Crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38) 

Made intercession for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)

Rejected by his own people (Isaiah 53:3; John 7:5,48)

Hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4; John 15:25)

Friends stood afar off (Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49)

People shook their heads (Psalm 109:25; Matthew 27:39) 

Stared upon (Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35)

Garments parted and lots cast (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23,24) 

Suffered thirst (Psalm 69:21; John 19:28)

Gall and vinegar offered Him (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34) 

His forsaken cry (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46) 

Committed Himself to God (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46) 

His bones not broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33) 

His heart broken (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34).

His side pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34) 

Darkness over the land (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45) 

Buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)

~~~~~

I can’t help but wonder…How did they miss it?  How did so many miss that Jesus was The One that God had spoken of? And then I am convicted… how is it that I miss it every day?   Why do I often put Jesus on the shelf rather than treat Him like the Savior who died for my sins? 

They missed it…
            People still miss it…
                         I didn’t miss it….
                                        Yet I miss it every day.

 

Have you missed it?