Hi friends~ Thanks SO much for praying for us this past weekend. It was a wonderful trip to Nashville and I got to see and serve some precious and dearly missed friends. The Lord took care of every detail and was an excellent Traveling Companion (as always). I’m home for a few weeks, then will be packing “Big Pink” {the gargantuan pink suitcase that I’m famous for over-stuffing}and heading to Oregon at the end of this month. Oregon! I can’t wait!!! Any of you Oregon girls out there who will be at the retreat – this is a shout out to YOU! I’m praying for and expecting a God-Work there!!! Will you join me???
I had so many Easter things I wanted to share this week. But got into town on Sunday night, headed straight to Bible Study, then to a Youth Picnic, and fell into bed when I got home. When I awoke and kissed Abigail good morning on Monday, my lips literally burned. She had a high fever, and ended up testing positive for the flu. Of all things! We got the flu on the absolute LAST week that it’s going around… Shortly, both Nathan and I started feeling sick, and to make a long boring story short – We’ve all been in bed-ish for the past 3 days. I’ve slept away so much time this week, but am thankful that I’ll be up and around by this Easter weekend. The rest has been good, though. I’ve read and played a lot of “Draw Something” with the kids this week. We all sat around in the den playing each other on our i-pod/phones. I guess that’s the new way to play “family games”. Haha. James has stayed healthy and we pray he continues this way. He’s been a trouper and a patient servant of us all. Thanks so much, honey ~ your help and frequent trips to Kroger have made us happy. 😉 We love you!!!
Since Easter is in just a few days, I wanted to make sure that I got this post out about the longest standing Walker Easter tradition – the Cross Cake. In fact, before the Lord healed me, I wrote about it in my children’s journals so that they could have the instructions and a pattern to make a cross cake even after I went to live with Jesus. But praise God… I’m alive here and still making cross cakes with the family each Easter. I shared the post last year and am re-posting here.
PS: It doesn’t have to be fancy… this was last year’s cake… notice the lovely serving platter??? It’s the thought and the memory that counts, right? 😉 (I think this was just a yellow cake with a milk chocolate – from a can – frosting. Please don’t judge. Grin.)
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Need a delicious and meaningful dessert for your Easter dinner? (Or a special treat for Easter breakfast?) This is a tradition we started on our oldest’s first Easter: The Cross Cake.
It’s so simple, but carries the beautiful message of Easter into the traditional Sunday dinner. Simply make a rectangular cake, and cut out the four corners to leave the shape of the cross. Then decorate and serve. I’ve used many different cake mixes (yes… I’m a cake-mix-kind-of-gal) for the cake, but a favorite one is “Quick Red Velvet Cake” (recipe follows).
Even as the children were babies, they had a part in making this Easter Cross Cake. Nathan’s was 5 months old on his 1st Easter, so as I frosted the cake, I took his little fingers and ran them through the icing to make the “swirls” on it. This is a picture of our 1st Easter Cross Cake and of Nathan.
The message that year said: Jesus lives for Nathan, Mommy, and Daddy!
By the time Abigail had her first Easter, Nathan was big enough to help ice the cake and choose what would go on it. He chose jelly beans. Then Abigail got to help add the jelly beans to the cake. (Btw, the color on jelly beans run when they are damp.) It wasn’t too pretty, but a lesson was taught and a memory was made. (And, the cake was delicious – this one was a spice cake.) 😉
I love those pictures. Where in the world has the time gone?
But I dreamingly digress…
Anyway, no matter how old you or your children are, this Cross Cake makes a wonderful addition to Easter dinner – a delicious reminder of the mercy and grace God gave to us through Jesus’ death AND RESURRECTION! He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!!
Quick Red Velvet Cake
Cake:
1 pkg Pilsbury Moist Supreme German Chocolate Cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 (1 oz) bottle red food color
3 eggs
Frosting:
(I used canned… vanilla or cream cheese are my favorites, but whatever is easiest for you will work!)
In large bowl, combine all cake ingredients at low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes at high speed. Pour batter into greased and floured pans. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched in center. Cool 15 minutes, then remove from pan(s).
If making the cross cake, cut the corners out, leaving the shape of the cross. Then frost and decorate as desired. Be sure to take pictures, so you can start your own Easter Cross Cake tradition.
Much love,
Jennifer
