Busy Celebrating

Hi Sweet Friends

Oops...

I was too busy Celebrating my mom's

80th Birthday that I forgot to take many photos

I got a few

But none of the family

21 of us silly members

Having a super fun time

At mom's

50's Style Celebration

We all had a great time

Mom has been through so much in recent years

She's battled many serious illnesses

Including a broken hip and mini stroke

But has bounced back each and every time

This past summer she bought her own home

And now lives alone

LOVES IT!!

God has been faithful to heal her

And we are So very grateful that we

Have been able to celebrate another year with her

It is always fun to have my 3 K's around

They are such Joy in my life

HA HA HA

Fortunately we didn't Need the fire extinguisher

Mom's Birthday is April 4th

I'll send her all of your birthday wishes

Cards welcome :)

Easter was a bit of a rough day for me

But I did get 45 minutes with all of my kiddos and grands

I can Never get a good photo of all of them

But at least they were all in one place

At the same time

Lots of hugs and smiles

And finally

I purchased a card today

Wrote it out with kind and loving words

Signed it

Addressed it

Stamped it and placed it in the mail

I'm sure in a few days

I'll be SO surprised to receive it - LOL

Be Happy and Blessed

The Presence of Easter ... Revisited

Sweet Friends,

In the middle of Holy Week

I decided to share a post I wrote 5 years ago

May it help focus our hearts

On what Easter really is

Blessings to You

April 21, 2011

The Presence of Easter

Holidays! Oh how I love them! Ribbons, wrappings, flags, fireworks, turkeys, pilgrims, Santa's, lights, hearts, and even egg laying bunnies! Oh, and did I mention Candy??? The hustle and bustle of each holiday brings with it excitement for the big day with all it's splendor.

We are standing at the eve of another such holiday. The world shows us how it will play out. The stores are filled with candy, bunnies, eggs and decoration upon decoration just waiting for our purchases! The lines for those overpriced but coveted Easter Baskets grow longer each day. What child wouldn't want one or two? What parent wouldn't spend their last dollars to buy one? I mean come on, it's Easter for goodness sake.

The presents of Easter shine and cause out little ones to spend sleepless nights with anticipation of what they will receive. Our eyes as parents/grandparents wait expectantly to see those little faces light up with joy when they see their awaited gifts. Yet again lost in the fuss of commercialism is the true meaning of the holiday upon us.

The presence of Easter! Have we forgotten what Easter really is? In the presents of Easter have we lost the presence of Jesus?

Let's take a walk back in time and see if we can find what so many of us are missing and are desperate for.

As I open my Bible and begin to read the accounts leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus I find the presence of Easter in Gethsemane.

It is in Gethsemane that we see the anguish of Jesus, fully man, fully God and fully devoted to His purpose. As he prayed for His Father to take the cup from Him the pain he began to feel from that which He would face poured out of Him as drops of blood. I look at the price for my sin alone and the anguish I feel during this season of grief but I can hardly fathom the weight of the sin of a fallen world being place on one man's shoulders. With one word He could have changed everything, He could have said no, but he chose Love.

Easter is also found in the heart of a mother. This young mother whom like you and I, carried hope and dreams for her young son. As she pondered and treasured the words spoken to her by an angel, was there anything in her that could have seen the future? Now she stands at the precipice, the place where her heart will break and the son she loved will face His darkest hour. There was probably nothing that could hold her back from attempting to protect her child yet she chose Love.

It's found in the cross! Let's close our eyes for just a moment and picture that old rugged cross high atop a hill with the body of a man nailed to it. Imagine the wounds, the blood, the mockery and undeniable hatred that men of 'honor' held for the man of God. Yet, in that moment: "It is Finished", there must have fallen an eerie silence upon the crowd as the sun darkened and the veil was rent. I can only imagine that some felt a deep sense of loss while others a deep regret and fear. On that cross Jesus could have turned a deaf ear toward our sin, our pain, our weakness, yet He chose Love.

Ultimately we find Easter and hope in the empty tomb. As the women approached the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with burial oils they found the tomb empty. Fear and confusion must have filled their souls but in the days that followed hope began to pour forth as the realization of Christ's resurrection became evident. Today, some 2000 years hence we continue to have a great hope of a future, one in heaven for eternity, one that will never be lacking or troublesome. Hope of spending our forever's with that very same Jesus who so willingly said yes to death and no to self all because of Love.

Also in the empty tomb we find peace. I doubt there was peace in those first days when the women found the tomb empty or when the disciples learned about the mystery of the missing body. Yet, in the days that followed and now with our knowledge and hindsight view we have peace! An everlasting peace that allows us to walk day by day through our Gethsemane's, our broken hearts, our crosses and our emptiness and know He walks with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, because of Love!

That hope and that peace bring me to my knees in humble adoration. How can I become so lost in eggs and bunnies when there is such a hope for my eternity, for my forever? This Easter season it will be my privilege to spend time in prayer at my own Gethsemane, the place where my soul meets Jesus' heart. My prayer is that each of you is able to do the same. Rest in the Lord as you Seek and Find the Presence of Easter.


Considering Easter with Great Joy, Cindy

My 3 K's and a peak at Easter

Hi Sweet Friends

Thank you for stopping by

Today I was able to enjoy a bit of spring break

With My 3 K's

Besides playing

We walked to Taco Bell

It was in the upper 80's

So as we walked home

The girls enjoyed a sweet cool treat

A little ice cream never hurt anybody

Well, except my tummy

But who cares

When you get to watch these sweet faces

Enjoy a treat

I am happy to report that

Besides sticky fingers and chocolate faces

All three K's came home clean!!

The 2 smallest K's played outside for awhile before our

Hike to have lunch and ice cream

The sun was a little intense for smiling photos

Most of the afternoon was playing inside

It got a bit too warm

Little K~Baby was so excited

To give Nana a Shot!!!!

And K~Bel was making sure Nana

Had her check up 

While K~Bug enjoyed a bit of music

And a few fun games on her phone

I Love that I get to hang out with all 3 girls during

Spring Break

I just can't wait for Summer

I have not done a lot of decorating for Easter

But enjoyed pulling out a few fun pieces

For the table

That the K's are sure to enjoy

My little lambs and a cute bucket

Along with a few eggs and flowers

Make for a sweet and simple vignette

I found the white/pink table runner at goodwill last fall for $2

It's quilted with cute pink eggs

I'll need to get a better photo next time

I LOVE Thursday's

May you each be blessed for taking the time

To stop by

I hope you leave a comment

I certainly love to read them

Blessings for a Great weekend ahead

Delayed Easter / Giveaway

Hi Friends

Sorry to be a bit delayed in sharing a few Easter Photos

It's been a hectic week

But a good one

Here are just a few of my favs

From a wonderful Easter

And my mom's 79th Birthday celebration

My 3 K's

 

6 of my mom's 12 Great Grands

 

I think they wanted to find a few eggs

Or, maybe it was the candy :)

 

I think they found enough

 

My mom's birthday was Saturday

So we celebrated on Easter

 

Mom with 6 tired and sugared up greats

 

The REAL EASTER Message

Had 'Sunday' not happened

We would have no hope

YET

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

Praise God for HOPE!!

Don't forget to go HERE and enter to win my 

700th post giveaway!!!!

Have a Blessed Week Ahead!

 

HE HAS RISEN ...

May your Easter Sunday

Be Blessed and Joy~Filled

May Your Heart be Thankful

For ALL He Has Done

And ALL He Has Created You To Be

I am Grateful for the Cross
BUT
I am SO Grateful 
For The Empty Tomb

Happy Easter!!

Evidence of Spring

Hi Friends,

Today I thought I'd share a few photos

I took this morning near the office where I work

Although are temps are in the 90's

We are seeing evidence of Spring and not Summer yet

 

I'm not sure you can see clearly in the above photo

But there are 3 bees happily gathering pollen off of these beauties

 

It seems all of the floral blooms I found

Were in the orange tones today

I'll check around tomorrow for some other color

 

Above are a few of the older little Easter pieces I have

That were my sons' when they were little

The little bunnies have lost an ear or two

But they still bring back sweet memories

I've kept my Easter displays rather simple this year

A few books, pillows, bunnies and eggs

Are all this new Easter runner needed

(Thank you Judy at 20 North Ora)

 

I do love these eggs I found at HobLob this year

I love the soft colors and gentle words of comfort they share

 

I pray you are enjoying a beautiful Easter Week

And that your Easter is filled with Family and Love

You are a Blessing to my Heart

Thank you for your sweet comments

And words of Encouragement

Blessings, Cindy xoxo

 

Spring Mantle

HA

I don't have a mantle in my home

SO

The best I can do is to put a few Eastery items on my entry console

I've used a few of my late husband's old books
He had several Winnie the Pooh books
And the colors fit in just great

I found this cute bunny at a thrift store the other day
For only $3 
He's about 1 foot tall 

My mom hand painted this egg several years ago
I think it fits perfectly on this little guys back
In fact the little egg he is holding happens to be the same colors

I used my new (old) silver footed tray
to set the bunny and a musical nest on

I almost always have a few candy sticks around the house
I usually pick them up at one of my favorite antique stores
I added them to this cute little tin basket I've had for years

This is the first year I've used these egg cups
That I found a few years ago

So, it's not a mantle and it's not gorgeous
As some are I've seen this year
But I have many little hands that love to touch things
Therefore, I must decorate with items
That can be loved and cuddled by sweet little hands

I find JOY in things that remind me of happy times
Where are you finding your JOY today?

Revisionary Life ~~ Thrifty Life Thursday 
Timewashed ~~ Blissful Whites Wednesday

Working on a Little Project

It is a nice quiet Monday evening at home
I decided to work on a little project
Using these itmes

I found these egg cups at a yard sale a couple years ago
I think I paid $5 for 4

Always need to have a little candy for the grands
YES, I limit it!!!

Did you know that I think YOU are Wonderful

I'm not super creative
So we will see if my little project
Becomes blog worthy when finished or not

Enjoy a Super Week