Search Results for: blog you dont celebrate easter

Why Celebrate Easter?

Most everyone loves having a few days off at Easter and they love Easter eggs. Many of us will probably eat way too much chocolate. But how many people stop and think about why we celebrate Easter? Do they even know? Have you ever talked to your friends about why we celebrate Easter? The world wants to depict Easter with Easter bunnies and eggs and while that can be fun, there is a deeper significance to Easter that many people are not aware of. One idea I liked of getting the message out there came, from a teenage girl at … Continue reading →

What is Easter Really?

It might shock some to learn that Easter is not actually a Christian holiday. Easter has very clear pagan roots that predate Christ in the flesh. The name “Easter” derives from the pagan queen of heaven Ishtar or Astarte, as well as various other names depending on the region celebrating. During some Easter celebrations, men and women would assemble in a circle around a fire each placing a piece of oatcake in a shepherd’s bonnet. One of the pieces would be blackened. Each person was blindfolded and chose a piece of oatcake out of the bonnet. Whoever chose the blackened … Continue reading →

Fun Outdoor Activities for Families

Good news for cash-strapped families: You don’t need to put the brakes on your summer road trip because you’re pinching pennies. Dozens of cities across the country are offering free family fun in the sun this summer. Take a look at these outdoor adventures that won’t cost you a penny to partake in: VIRGINIA Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is best known for its wild pony round-ups that take place each July. However, the 14,000-acre park also features dozens of other free activities, including bird watching, kayaking, and fishing. The refuge is filled with dunes, marshes and maritime forests. You can … Continue reading →

More Free Family Fun in the Great Outdoors

If you get off the couch and out of the house this summer, you’ll find that there are a host of exciting events just waiting for your family to enjoy. Not only will you get the chance to have fun in the sun, but all of the following family-friendly attractions are free: MARYLAND Ocean City is making summer fun for kids and their parents with an array of free activities, from movie nights, concerts and storytelling around a bonfire to shows and demonstrations at the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Don’t miss Tuesday night “Beach Olympics” where you can go … Continue reading →

Going (Coco) NUTS In Hawaii

It’s the only food festival in the world where I don’t walk away 5 pounds heavier. If it were not for the fact that I am allergic to the hearty fruit I would eat everything in sight at Kauai’s Coconut Festival. Believe me (I was born and raised in Hawaii); if you find yourself in the “Aloha State” during the month of October this is one event you don’t want to miss. The 11th annual Kauai Coconut Festival takes place this year on October 6th and 7th at Kapaa Beach Park on the lush eastern portion of the Hawaiian Island … Continue reading →

Reflecting on Palm Sunday

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“Rejoice, greatly O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zachariah 9:9, NKJV Palm Sunday is the day we celebrate the fulfillment of this prophecy foretold in the book of Zachariah. The story of this fulfillment can be found in Luke chapter 19 starting in verse 28, as well as Mark chapter 11, Matthew chapter 21, and John chapter 12 beginning with verse 12. The fulfillment of prophesy goes a bit like this: … Continue reading →

Kids’ Books Starring Internationally Adopted Kids

In two previous blogs in my series on adoption-themed books for kids, I talked about adoption books specifically focused on children from China and on kids from Korea and Vietnam . This blog showcases books featuring children adopted from Eastern Europe and Latin America. I also highlight books which feature internationally-adopted children without specifying a country. Eastern Europe: Borya and the Burps: An Eastern European Adoption Story Author Joan McNamara tells of how Borya was used to being in his crib in the room with many other cribs, and how wonderful but how strange it is to be with parents … Continue reading →

Holiday Opportunity

As you may or may not know, I do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday for many of the same reasons I do not celebrate Easter as a religious holiday. I have outlined those reasons in a previous blog, and that is not what this blog is about. While I do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday I do celebrate it in a secular way. I exchange gifts with family and friends. I help cook the family-style mashed potatoes. I bake the Christmas cookies and decorate them with red and green icing and sprinkles on top. One of … Continue reading →