All Things Easter

'Tis the Easter season, and Jillian is very aware of all it brings. For one, she was excited to learn of a coloring contest sponsored by the local paper. She selected one of three pictures to color and submit (the other two she colored and requested to send them to two lucky homes--The Widmers and Great Grandma Helen). Of course, she thinks she is going to win the contest, and has informed me numerous times that she wants to buy roller skates with her winnings. We'll see how that plan works out for her. In any case, she did a pretty darn good job with her official submission. Very strategic use of color, in my opinion.

More importantly, she has been learning about the Resurrection and the true meaning of Easter at preschool. Her knowledge developed over about a week's time, and began with a random tidbit of information one day as I was clipping her fingernails.
J: "Mom, Jesus died".
Me: "Yes, he did. Do you know what happened?"
J: "Well, there were some really bad guys. And that's all I know"

A few days later she started talking about angels out of the blue.
J: "Angels are really strong, Mom".
Me: "Oh really? How do you know that?"
J: "Well they moved that big rock"
Me: "What?"
J: "The angels were really big and strong, and they moved a heavy rock"

A couple days later:
J: "Mom, Jesus died for our......"
Me: "Yes?"
J: "That's it"

Then, finally, one night at dinner, it all came out as a story
J: "Mom, the mean people put Jesus somewhere. And he stayed there for 3 days. It's called a tomb. The angels moved that big heavy rock and Mary said 'Jesus is gone!'
Me: "Wow, Jillian, that's right. That's really good. Where did Jesus go?"
J: "When he got out of there, he was saved! Maybe he went back to his disciples, or his family....I don't know where he went, Mom".

Since that day she has also told me that "the mean guys did something to Jesus' hands and feet". This was also just after she came out of preschool with a popsicle stick cross craft. I asked her what she made, awaiting the obvious anticipated response. She promptly replied: "A letter T!" I guess she hasn't quite put ALL the pieces of the story together...but she is pretty darn close.