Team Schuurman: We do, but we don't

     Funny title, right? It's the answer that I often think when people ask if we celebrate Easter. This past week, I realized that not many people know the REAL reason we celebrate Easter. In case you're one of them, we (Christians) celebrate Easter because it's when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and three days later he came back to life! He proved he could beat death and is now at the right hand of God Almighty. Anyone who calls on His name will be saved because he paid our debts for us.
     So what does that have to do with the title? Well, we absolutely celebrate Easter. We've spent the past week teaching Marcus and those around us (children, co-workers, peers, etc) about Palm Sunday and the Lord's experiences up through the day he died and then rose again. It's been insightful and rejuvenating for us to recall those events, straight out of the Bible. We don't however, get all hyped about the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs. Now, before you get all huffy, we're soooo not judging those who do. Seriously, if that fits your fancy, have at it. But we've chosen, as a family, not to do the whole Easter Egg hunt or say that the Easter Bunny's coming to visit (just like we choose not to do Santa).
     "But Leah, you're taking all the fun out of it!" you may be thinking. And that's ok to say. Trust me, I've already heard that a lot. We, however, are focusing more on the true reason we have Easter and less on the sugar-filled comas our children can experience the next day due to all the chocolate bunnies and fruity candies found in colorful eggs. If you think about it, realizing that Jesus PAID IT ALL for us, brings SUCH JOY! There's a freedom and unexplainable peace that comes in knowing He's our Savior and we will one day be in Heaven worshiping Him. If you're unfamiliar, please talk to me. I'm super passionate about it and love telling others about how we all share the same opportunity.
     So did we go out and buy new dresses and outfits? Did we take lots of pictures? Did we eat any candy? Were there plastic eggs in our house? Sure - someone gave Marcus a new outfit, I take too many pictures of him daily anyway, and yes, we scrounged as much candy out of the kids at church as we possibly could. The plastic eggs were a set of "Resurrection Eggs" that helps anyone, but kids in particular, retell the story from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday. By no means are we perfect, but I just wanted to take time to explain our thoughts on Easter in hopes that this better explains what I mean when I say, "we do, but we don't."
     And speaking of pictures, you know I couldn't do a blog without some, right? ;)