An Easter Song

The Tomb IS Empty!

 AN EASTER SONG by Susan Coolidge

A song of sunshine through the rain,
Of spring across the snow,
A balm to heal the hurts of pain,
A peace surpassing woe.
Lift up your heads, ye sorrowing ones,
And be ye glad of heart.
For Calvary and Easter Day,
Earth's saddest day and gladdest day.
Were just one day apart!

With shudder of despair and loss
The world's deep heart was wrung.
As lifted high upon his cross
The Lord of Glory hung,
When rocks were rent, ghostly forms
Stole forth in street and mart ;
But Calvary and Easter day.
Earth's blackest day and whitest day,
Were just one day apart !  

No hint or whisper stirred the air
To tell what joy should be;
The sad disciples, grieving there.
Nor help nor hope could see.
Yet all the while the glad, near sun
Made ready its swift dart,
And Calvary and Easter Day,
The darkest day and brightest day,
Were just one day apart !

Oh, when the strife of tongues is loud,
And the heart of hope beats low.
When the prophets prophesy of ill.
And the mourners come and go,
In this sure thought let us abide.
And keep and stay our heart —
That Calvary and Easter Day
Earth's heaviest day and happiest day.
Were but one day apart !

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Craft Old-Fashioned Lantern Silhouettes

Crayon flames glow behind silhouettes of antique lanterns cut from black construction paper.

        These little paper lanterns hang from a black paper chain, decorating our family cupboard during the Fall holidays. The patterns for the flat lanterns are based upon antique tin versions and the crayon colored flames are drawn on separate pieces of white paper that are glued to the back sides of the black paper cut-outs.

       For this craft you will need the following supplies: crayons, white school glue, a white pencil, stapler (optional) white paper, black construction paper, a ruler and a pair of scissors.

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Cut strips of construction paper 1/2" wide and 5-6 inches long. Loop these inside one another using either white glue or a stapler to tack the ends of each loop shut. Make the paper chain long enough to drape onto a cabinet or to hand across a window.
   
2. Decide what size you want your lanterns to be. Cut out the proper length and width of a black construction paper rectangle. 
3. Fold this rectangle in half lengthwise. 
4. Use a pencil or white crayon to draw your lantern's design, either the left or right side only if you want the pattern to have equal window designs on both sides of the lantern. 
5. Then cut the window design and the outer shape of the lantern out on one half of the pattern. 
6. Unfold the lantern to reveal a pattern that has a symmetrical design.
7. If you want a lantern with an asymmetrical design you will need to draw a silhouette directly on top of a unfolded, rectangular paper to cut away every negative shape slowly and carefully.
8. Color the faux flames of your lantern on bright white paper and glue these paper fires to the backside of your paper lanterns to make these look as though they are lit.
9. Cut an additional construction paper loop to attach the lanterns to your paper chain.
10. Now you can hang up some vintage looking lamps to decorate for Fall or Halloween.
    

Above are the silhouette patterns I cut from black construction paper.

 

Links to Old-Fashioned Lamps:

• A variety of old-styled lanterns and lamps still made by craftsmen
  
• How to make an old tin can lantern

The Snow Storm

 The Snow-Storm
by Anne M. Cooper

It is fun to sit in the window-seat,
When all outdoors is snow and sleet,
For everywhere I look I see
Things that are n't what they seem to be.

The fence-posts, each with a cap of snow,
Look like soldiers all in a row;
While just over there, the kitchen pump
Looks like a rabbit about to jump.

Down by the gate, that tall white ghost
Is really only the hitching-post;
While under the tree, that polar bear
Is only our rustic chair.

A handy little frog craft...

       The only supplies you will need for this craft is: green, white yellow, and red construction paper, scissors, white school glue and a young person's hand to trace around.
       If you are working with students younger than five or six, the craft may be easier to accomplish with green paint and a hand print. But, as you students age, it is more of a challenge for them to trace around his or her hand and cut the shape out with scissors.
       Cut three circle shapes for the eye balls: two from green paper and one from yellow. Then cut the yellow circle in half and glue the two halves to the lower halves of the green circles. This will make your green frog friend look sleepy...
       Cut a larger green oval from construction paper for the frogs mouth. Use a green crayon to make the lips look puffy! Then cut a long red tongue from paper and curl it around your crayon. Uncurl it and glue one tip between the frog's puffy lips.
       Now you can choose to mount this silly looking frog to a bulletin board, or a paper pond scene.

 

More Handy Frog Crafts:

• Frog craft for kids from KROKOTAK
• Funny frogs moving paper toys easy paper crafts by 123 Easy Paper Crafts DIY 
• Paper frog origami by PaperManCraft
  

Seal Lullaby by Rudyard Kipling

 Seal Lullaby
by Rudyard Kipling

Oh! hush thee, my baby, the night is behind
us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so
green.
The moon, o'er the combers, looks down-
ward to find us
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.
Where billow meets billow, there soft be thy
pillow;
Ah, weary wee flipperling, curl at thy
ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark
overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging
seas.

 

The Snowman's Resolution

The Snowman's Resolution
by Aileen Fisher

The snowman's hat was crooked
And his nose was out of place
And several of his whiskers
Had fallen from his face.

But the snowman didn't notice
For he was trying to think
Of a New Year's resolution
That wouldn't melt or shrink.

He thought and planned and pondered
With his little snow-ball head
Till his eyes began to glisten
And his toes began to spread;

And at last he said, "I've got it-
I'll make a firm resolve
That no matter what the weather
My smile will not dissolve."

Now the snowman acted wisely
And his resolution won
For his splinter smile was wooden
And it didn't mind the sun!

Snowdrops by Laurence Alma-Tadema

SNOWDROPS

Little ladies, white and green,

With your spears about you,

Will you tell us where you've been

Since we lived without you?

You are sweet, and fresh and clean,

With your pearly faces; 

In the dark earth where you've been,

There are wondrous places;

Yet you come again, serene,

When the leaves are hidden;

Bringing joy from where you've been,

You return unbidden

Little ladies, white and green,

Are you glad to cheer us?

Hunger not for where you've been,

Stay till Spring be near us!