Happy Jesus' Birthday

The Son of God became a man to
enable men to become the sons of God.

-C.S.Lewis

Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is God;
And where there is God; there is no need.

-Leo Tolstoy

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.

-John Greenleaf Whittier

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you:

You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths,

lying in a manger.”And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Luke 2:11-14

Merry Christmas Friends
May God's presence be with you

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

Full Hearts

Hi Sweet Friends

It's been a busy season around here

Having Madi home has been good

But challenging as well

Trying to balance medications and moods

Lots of restless and sleep deprived nights

But, my heart is full

And I'm thankful for all that my Lord

Is teaching me during this time

Last week I ordered a sweet heart

From Stephanie's Etsy shop

It arrived and is making it's debut in my LR

It's hanging on one side of my entertainment center

I love looking at it

On the other side of the entertainment center

I hung some smaller hearts

That I handmade last year

I just added them to ribbon so I could hang them this year

I love little plant sticks

And have had these two for years

I love hearts so these get two votes for loving

I just added them to a vintage glass bottle

And used red/white candy to hold them

Candy is a fun way to decorate, I say

You get to have a snack now and again

AND, you don't have to find a place to store it

Win...Win

A small heart wreath on the front door

Just a sweet little welcome

I love the two little birds

But just realized that they are facing away from each other

Hmmm...need to change that tomorrow :)

My Heart was FILLED the other day

When I had unexpected guests

They were only in Phoenix for 30 minutes

But my friends from Texas stopped by

On their way to CA

Madi wasn't sure about the 'camera' being used

But at least I got a great photo of my friends

Although we only had a few minutes to share

My Heart was Filled with Love and Joy

For these moments

Thank you Bill and Susan for the HUGS!!!

Susan told me that everybody needs

At least one 20 second hug a day to stay healthy

Well, I don't often get any hugs

LOVED that I got several on Saturday!!!

Another unexpected 'hug' came in the mail today

My blog friend 'DEB' surprised me with

A sweet package filled with Valentine JOY

Thank You Deb

I felt that hug as well

So, I have a full heart

A heart full of Love

And JOY

And, although I didn't take a photo

I made myself a cake last night

(Haven't made a cake in ages)

Now, I'm going to have myself a piece

May you have a blessed weekend ahead

4 Years

Mark Wells Cain

December 31, 1949

December 24, 2010

Though the pain of losing you remains

The JOYS of living with you

Will tenderly keep my heart in Love

You Are Missed

Forever My Guy

It's Difficult to be Honest on the really Tough Days

Getting married in a State Historic Park/Ghost Town
Was one of the most fun and special events of my life
Besides the fact that it snowed a couple of inches that morning
And as the clouds cleared it became almost unbearably cold
While many made it to our 'destination' wedding
Some got stuck on a dirt road 
(because they thought taking the 'short' cut would be faster)

Having my dress get stuck on rusty nails

As I walked down the isle was hilarious

(Although I might Not have thought so at the time)

And the guys totally enjoyed freezing feet

Due to wearing what they called 'plastic' shoes

Yes, we walked on wet dirt roads to our photo shoot

Because we needed to have photos taken in front of

His family's vintage home

I guess this is where my love of 'vintage' really took root

Accepting the Cain Family Name was an honor

And it still is today

A family that made it's name during the California Gold Rush

And is forever a part of history

Marrying a man who was my very best friend

Uniting on one very special day

In a church and a town with a deep rooted history

Making a commitment to a lifetime of love

33 years ago today

(May 16, 1981)

I married this small town country guy who loved and honored a silly city girl

Who never owned a pair of jeans until we got hitched

He respected my wisdom and accepted my crazy ideas

He prayed me through infertility

And believed in our choices to adopt our special boys

He Loved the Lord and imparted grace during tough times

It's difficult to be Honest on the really Tough Days

My pride wants to be strong and stand firm

On the truth that I really am doing well 

Yet on days like today

I am weak, sad and feeling fragile

I miss my Guy SO much it hurts

Yes, even after 3 years

So today, or this week, if you see me

Or talk to me, or text me

Or think of me

Send an extra prayer toward heaven or just

Give me a Hug

Because once in awhile

I still have a tough day

Valentine Gifties

Happy Valentine's Day

I decided to make a little gift for each of the girls at our office

I found these clear plastic boxes at Target

The $1 spot - 3 for $1

 I cut some squares out of scrapbook paper

And then used a corner punch to pretty them up

Target also had their 'pink' candy packages on sale

So I picked up several bags

 Also at Target

I found a pack of glittery hearts for just a couple $$

They came in all sorts of sizes

So I was able to decorate each box a little differently

 Added some candy

And then some more candy

Voila !!!

A perfect little treat for our office staff

Turning what could be a difficult day in the life of a widow

Into a Fun and Joyful Day

I believe when we turn our sorrow's into blessing someone else

God, in turn, blesses us

Happy Valentine's Day To you All

And Remember

Even if you don't have a Valentine to Love and Celebrate with

GOD is Always present

To Love YOU!!!