I have fallen behind here this week as I have been going through some challenging days lately and my emotions have been going wild. My body just seems to be taking its time to recover. Blogging time has been out the window. I would appreciate your prayers. Thus, I have not had a chance to read chapter 8 for the Hospitality book discussion or post that summary for the week. I will give that a break this week for all of those participating and allow you to get caught up. 
For now, I wanted to share a few more resources to help you plan and prepare for the upcoming Resurrection Sunday this week. I hope you find these useful!
Adding Meaning to Your Easter Celebrations – family friendly ideas for the holiday!
Holy Week Ideas - our friend Jon shares some great ideas, sermons, and books for Holy Week.
5-Day Easter Unit Study – The Teaching Home provides a complimentary five day unit study focusing on the joyful celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. The goals of the study are to: Teach our children the heart of the gospel, Proclaim to the world the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ – and salvation through faith in Him and then thank and praise Him! This may be a little late for this year but you could continue it through the aftermath of Sunday as well or save it for next year.
Living Books Easter Holiday Helper - a free e-book with a short collection of poems, stories, picture study, and copywork to make Easter more meaningful. This resource is used in the 5-day unit study.
Make your own Resurrection Eggs – we purchased a set like these growing up, but how much more fun and frugal to make your own!
Hot Cross Buns recipe - Traditional bread for Good Friday, with the cross as a symbol of Christ and the resurrection, in a healthy fashion! Fun baking project with kids.
How to Naturally Dye Eggs - ideas for dying eggs naturally!
Easter Cookies – cookies for Easter with a purpose!
Hello,
I recently came upon your blog and thoughts regarding Holy Week. As a former Protestant I used to wonder why not more celebration during Holy Week. Then this year as a student in the Catholic Church, RCIA, we experienced Lent beginning with Ash Wednesday, traversing 40 days in the desert with Christ.
Holy week began with a passion play on Palm Sunday, vespers each evening, Holy Thursday Mass with the presentation of the sacramental oil for baptism and confirmation, Stations of the cross on Good Friday and an evening service venerating the cross of Christ, Saturday Vigil begins in the evening in the darkness then the service of baptism and confirmation of new members is celebrated with the resurrection of our Lord. Easter Sunday morning is then a full celebration of the glory of God….. spiritual and physical communion with Jesus and His people.
I highly suggest and thoroughly recommend the Church for all who seek complete communion in prayer, worship and service.
Hi Lindsay…I just gave birth to my little Joseph last week…he is our 6th little blessing so I do understand how postpartum can sometimes be very emotionally and physically challenging. I will be praying for you. It will get easier and you’re going to have a wonderful time raising your family. Take care and take your time healing and resting up.
I am going to pray for you right now, Lindsay. Your family needs you. Don’t fret over this website. It will be waiting for you when you are ready. Take care.
I am a 32 year old mama to 7 sweet blessings myself. I recently had my 7th who is only 3 weeks old. I know that he is the third baby I have struggled with postpartum emotions. Each time I have always felt alone and isolated in what I was feeling and often kept things to myself. I think it is great you have kept your heart open to share and I urge you to stay at that place of openess. I sure feel that the Lord uses postpartum sensitivity to keep us living in the moment and season that we have before us and not pick up to move on too quickly. If we will embrace this season the Lord is faithful to use it for His glory. Blessings and Peace.
Lindsay,
Somehow I stumbled on your blog a few months back and have appreciated it very much. It’s got to be a bit strange when there are many strangers out there following your life and passions in this way. We feel as though we have a glimpse into your world, but you don’t know us at all… With that said and for what it’s worth from a total stranger, I read your post here and felt compelled to breathe a word of encouragement your way.
I have an 18 month old son and had these moments you speak of as well – the “lows” if you will. I want to give everything I have to my family, my home and those around me that I love and desire to serve. I had such great expectations on/of myself that I didn’t even know I had after having a baby. I thought I had done all the proper preparation of my body, mind and heart leading up to having this little guy. Well I guess not because in retrospect I can see that the hard moments were even harder than I knew and it was mostly because I was in subtle ways being a bit hard on myself. I just want to encourage you to take a step back, look at your new circumstances and needs and draw some new and realistic lines for yourself. Maybe you have already but I know as women we always want to push ourselves “just a little more” and we need to let go just a little more. You are doing great. Not because of the things you DO but because of the virtuous woman that you ARE because of Jesus. With that said I am currently doing a bible study that has rocked my world as a woman of God. It is called Because Of Jesus by Connie Witter. It is based on Proverbs 31 but it is so refreshing for we young ambitious wives and moms because she approaches it more from the angle of helping us to understand we already are a Virtuous woman in Christ and our virtue isn’t based on what we do. I have no idea of this would speak to you or not, but I just felt gently compelled to shoot the note to you and mention this study as it is very freeing and appropriate in times like these.
Blessings and deep peace to you in this time. He delights in you!
Jamie
Hey Lindsey,
Praying you have a restful encouraging Easter. Though I didn’t meet you I did see you and enjoyed meeting your sister Christa again at Paul and Megan’s wedding. We have a fun Easter tradition where we bake a cake in a glass round bowl shaped casserole dish and decorate one side with brown frosting with a path to three crosses we put on the top. On the other side we color coconut and sprinkle it over green frosting around a hole we cut to make look like the empty tomb. We are all older but someone still gets around to decorating the cake each year. It makes for a nice centerpiece that is Christ centered and a special Easter dessert. If you send me your email address I could try emailing you pictures of this year’s so you have a better idea. Rejoice today in our risen Savior!
Dear Lindsay,
I am sorry that you are not feeling well and I will pray for you. I had a very serious case of the baby blues after my daughter was born. Please, please do what you need. Rest, pray, sing, rest. Going from 1-2 kids is a harder than you think. We love you. Accept help.
Lemon
Please be patient with yourself and get the rest you need and deserve. We’re all supporting you.
Going from 1-2 kids was hard for me. I suddenly had to figure out how to divide my time and still having family and sibling time as well. Baby Girl is 15 months and it continues to be a challenge. Cut yourself some slack and realize that it’s a new phase in your family. And lean hard on the Lord. Even if it’s just a few minutes of worship music. Cherish it.
I was surprised to see you blogging so much, so soon. I wish you luck on getting through the hormones. I only have one so can’t really comment on two. You have a lot on your plate. Ask for help if you need it.
Susan
Lindsay,
You were on my mind last night. I was thinking lately how faithful you are to alway keep your blog so well updated, even with two little ones. You’re always so good to find useful resources for us. I pray God will give you some much needed rest – consecutive hours of sleep! And help your body heal quickly.
Blessings,
Shannon in Texas
Well, I’m new here, and already I’m blown away by all that you’ve accomplished, not to mention having a BABY!! So IMHO, you are more than overdue for a nice break
I’m sure I speak for many of your loyal readers when I say we will all be here when you are rested and refreshed and ready to go. The Lord gives us these opportunites to rest (whether the rest is from blogging or any of our other daily “must-do’s”!), so you take it easy and look at your family and know that we’re not going anywhere!!
Blessings to you, Lindsay!
I want to let you know you are so not alone in the emotions department. I think it really took 6 months for my hormones to stabilize for baby 2, and all the way till maybe 9-12 months for baby three. I feel so wonderful now, so this shall pass. It is a wonderful time for growth and to hold our Savior’s hand, but it is so difficult, my purest empathies to you, I will pray for you. Here is a picture that I love so much that helps me to remember his tangible help, I purchased it and put it in my kitchen. http://gallery.christ.org/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3029&g2_serialNumber=2
Also, I too was making hot cross buns, which I think is really fun. My sister in law sent me an idea that I also like a whole lot with the lesson it teaches too. You just use crescent rolls, wrap a marshmallow (representing Christ’s body) which you dip in butter to represent the oils and cinnamon sugar to represent the spices. The roll is empty, like the tomb was, after baked. (Make sure to pinch all the edges shut.) My sister in law included scriptures etc from Matthew, see http://www.myjoyfulpreschool.hazubu.com, Easter Plans Best wishes Lindsey!!
Praying for you. Some might disagree with me, but I honestly believe that boys are harder on our bodies than girls…try adding 1 tablespoon of liquid chlorophyll to your water, it does help.
Hang in there Lindsay! This challenging time may seem like it’s lasting for a while, but it will be gone before you know it! I thought going from 1 to 2 kids was the most challenging, each kid after that seems to get easier! Please don’t be hard on yourself or have unreasonable expectations. I don’t know how many times my husband had to comfort his bawling wife because she wanted to be more than she possibly could be at the time! I’m sure your husband is just as understanding. I pray that he will be aware of your needs and has a heart to serve you in this oh so challenging time! Enjoy this sweet stage of mothering!
There is a time and season for everything – for slowing down, for having ups & downs, for blogging, for napping, for laughing, for playing, for ministering, for being ministered to. Be patient with your body/mind/spirit, and let other people love you the way you love them so well!
THANK YOU for this resource list – it’s awesome!
I am praying for you. Those Horomones!!!! enjoy your new one these days will be gone so quickly!
Lindsay,
I’m praying that you would feel encouraged and hopeful in the Lord and His healing and presence. Remember, when we are weak, then we are strong. You really are a blessing to so many.
Lindsay… to help w/the emotional ups and downs. try some fish oil capsules.
I’ve missed ya, but I understand completely!
Give yourself whatever gifts of time and rest you need to feel better – and know that you’re surrounded by caring thoughts and prayers and heartfelt wishes. Rest easy.
I will be praying for you! You should never feel bad about taking a break. I have been where you are 4 times and I remember feeling the way you do. Please take care of yourself and don’t feel guilty for taking care of your family instead of blogging.
Do not feel bad for taking the time you need to restore your health – physical, emotional and spiritual. Childbirth and the early days afterwards are incredibly challenging. And the transition to two children from one is also a different experience to work through. It will get easier – but give yourself time and continue your focus on your own priorities – your own ‘health’ and your family.
Oh Lindsay,
My daughter had a baby 2 weeks ago, such a blessing. Her husband and her moved in two months ago. She had a homebirth and I was her doula, her midwife visited the first 5 days and I was there to teach her how to breast feed, in the wee hours….when only the crickets are awake! She remained in bed the first 7 days and the this past week her midwife gave her permission to leave the bedroom a go downstairs, but once she was downstairs she had to remain until bedtime! She went to Bible study last night where there are several new mommas and while they were talking and the girls were saying ….it is so hard to breast feed and clean and heal!! My daughter said…oh my I have had my mom and my sister there and it is still hard!! Lindsay we will be praying for healing, hormonal balance, and I pray that as you make eye contact with your husband that you will be refreshed! You are a joy thank you for sharing this with us.
I love this compilation…especially the Resurrection eggs. I haven’t heard of anything like it before.
Enjoy this time that is holy in more ways than one and take care of you
Lindsay, I’ve posted some Mission-Minded Family prayer and outreach ideas for Passover, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday on our new site.
Hope you’re feeling better.
Blessings to you and your beautiful family!
Ann
Lindsay,
Take care of yourself and that sweet little family of yours!
Don’t apologize at all for taking a break! You could take a month off without writing a single post and I’m sure everyone would understand. At least everyone who has given birth before.
God Bless,
Bethany
Hey Lindsay,
Just wanted to send a note of encouragement. My little girl is almost 8 months old now, but she was born 2 months early! It took longer for me to recover than what I wanted since I was sitting up at the hospital every day. : ) I know you know this, but the Lord will help you through. Everyone goes through baby blues. You’re doing great! Just take your time recovering and enjoy your babies.