Easter/ birthday pictures

 We had a lovely Easter this year. I wore a dress that my mom had given me last fall. It was very springy! We had a great church service and then my parents visited and had dinner with us. 

The week after Easter was my birthday... it's not the "big one" yet! One more year! My family gave me the flowers at church and we were able to take them home. They were so pretty on the kitchen counter for about 10 days! We enjoyed going to lunch at "First Watch" and they had a yummy lavender lemon drink called "Purple Haze." It was delicious!

We enjoyed an outdoor concert on the afternoon of my birthday. It was fun to be surrounded by music in the quad. The kids enjoyed it too!

My daughter and son-in-law sent me this pillow. The design is from my mother-in-law's painting of pansies. I couldn't believe that it was stuffed in the mailbox! They gave me a fanny pack too and it has the same design. I like how it looks on this chair.

Mallory and Bethany gave me a "Comfy" which is a wearable blanket. It is so soft and keeps me warm on chilly days.

One of my favorite gifts is this cute and comfy pair of Xero shoes... I like the Mary Jane style and they look great with socks or without! 

Joshua even shopped with me to spend some cash from my parents. We bought two pairs of denim capris from Kohl's. I also bought a book called "Love Is." It will be a great book to read, I'm looking forward to it! I felt very loved and spoiled by all of the cards that I received too. It was a sweet day!

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 143:8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Jude 1:21
keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Easter 2021

 We had a wonderful Easter this year. I enjoyed decorating our house before Palm Sunday with a few Spring and Easter decorations. The two little bunny people were in a collection that a cousin gave me for our wedding.💜 

We were very thankful to be able to have our church's "Experience the Passion" event this year on Good Friday. Last year it was canceled. It was a special event, where we could see, smell, taste, hear and feel the events of the last week of Christ's life. There is always a live dove at the beginning, along with a Seder Passover meal, 30 silver coins, a place to wash feet, and more. It is a very impactful event.

These two stations often make me cry, to think of the pain that Christ endured even before the cross. That crown has very long thorns! That flagram (whip) has lead weights on the end with nails and glass embedded in it. So cruel! And that soldier's armor is very heavy! 

We had a fun time decorating eggs with the 3 kids at home on Saturday. We only did 12 eggs this year because the kids don't all like to eat hard-boiled eggs (I do!). We had one that broke weird, so we only dyed 11 this time. I've enjoyed several this week!

Working on egg dying...

He was the last one, patiently waiting to finish his last egg...

The completed set! Love all of our bright colors!

We had a lovely church service, enjoyed the music, and a lovely brunch at home afterward. Then my parents joined us here for a ham and potato dinner. My baking daughter, Mallory made us a cake, and my mom brought a cake too! It was a very nice day! 

Joshua leading worship at our church on Easter Sunday, Mallory sang too!

Sure love this crew!

I sure enjoy this family and getting to see my parents regularly. I know there won't always be my four kids sitting around me in church each week. I know that my parents will not always be here, to join us for dinner, games, and cake, so I am trying to treasure the time. I am enjoying it all. I know that these are some of the best days of my life, surrounded by those I love. Enjoy the pictures!

Sure love this guy... enjoyed wearing my new (to me) LuLaRoe!

She was not proud of this cake. She didn't have time to chill it before frosting it. The frosting was runnier than she wanted, and it was a little messy. If Daddy were awake when she was making it, he would have given her some advice and help (he is our resident cake decorator for parties!). It was fine, not perfect, but it was yummy! She hasn't decorated cakes too often lately, and needs more practice!

What about you? Did you do anything special for Easter this year?

Matthew 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds, you have been healed.”

Lent 2021

 This year for Lent, I did two things. At the end of January, I took a blood test which showed food sensitivities such as peanuts, almonds, soy, dairy, and more. I began an elimination diet at that point in time. Several of my cousins suggested that I try to do the Whole30 diet. I researched the diet, and it was not much more than what I was already doing. The main difference between my diet and the Whole30 diet was that the diet said no gluten and no sugar. I thought I could try it for Lent. One of my sweet cousins sent me her Whole30 book AND her Whole30 cookbook.

I did not read every word of each book, but I read most of the intro to the main book, and then I copied a bunch of recipes to use. Every recipe that we made from these books was very tasty! They were well seasoned and had a nice variety of meats, veggies and fruit. 

 I did not follow the guide perfectly. The author says no smoothies because drinking your food sends a wrong message to your brain. Sorry, I did drink smoothies about once a week or so. They were only fruit, flax seeds, and Whole30-approved protein powder. I ate a lot of nuts (mostly walnuts and pecans) with raisins for snacks. They do allow nuts but try to restrict eating too many, as well as dried fruit, mostly because it usually contains added sugar. I did chew some gum, but not until after 20 days or so... a lot of gum contains soy. The author does not recommend replacing sugar with other additives, but just to go without. She says, "You will survive 30 days without cream or sugar in your coffee." I haven't put sugar in my coffee for years, and I've used alternative kinds of milk for several years. Right now I really like oat milk!

A yummy dinner with greens, pork chops, applesauce, and cauliflower rice... we loved it!

I did like the diet, there were so many great recipes that we enjoyed for dinner. I found eating eggs every breakfast to be getting boring, which is why I had a smoothie sometimes and varied the eggs and meat. For lunch, I ate canned chicken, cashew butter, and apple/ banana/ celery, or grapes, kiwi, olives, or leftover dinners. I felt like I missed gluten the most. I hadn't been eating a lot of bread or sugar anyway, but I do like a piece of toast, a tortilla, or an English muffin with breakfast. I was glad that I could still eat white potatoes. I missed legumes a little bit. In all, it was a good challenge for me. I do not know if I lost any weight, because we don't own a scale! That was not important to me, it was just that I wanted to eat healthier meals. 

Another thing that I did was I read a devotional book each day in addition to my other daily devotions. I found this book at Goodwill. It was a really nice book to read. It had some great challenges and different things to "fast," such as pride, appearances, spending for a day, apathy, revisionism, stinginess, and much more. It had a reading, a reflection, something to fast, a reading about the history of Lent, and a Bible reading each day. It was very well written, and I learned things that I did not know. I learned about the woman who broke an alabaster vial of nard, but that it was spikenard, an essential oil that I own! I was fascinated to think that Jesus may have smelled like spikenard for several days after that anointing, and probably even while He was on the cross! It has a woody, musky smell to it. My husband really likes the scent.

What did you do for Lent this year? Did you learn anything new? I'd love to hear about it!

John 12:3
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 16:32-33
 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 15:5
 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.

March crafts

 This past weekend, my hubby was out of town and I had some free time on my hands. Several weeks ago my daughters and I were shopping at Target (one of my favorite stores!), and we found some canvases on sale for just over a dollar. We bought four. Two of the canvases my hubby and I used for Valentine's Day weekend when we painted together. I had two more left and decided to use them for March crafts.

I do not have many St. Patrick's Day decorations. I have a few shamrocks and green candle holders that I put out, but I've never spent time creating much until this year. I was inspired looking at Pinterest for ideas. I decided to try some things. I was also inspired by a friend who decorated her home and posted pictures on Facebook of her decorations. I also went to the Dollar Tree and bought a balsa wood shamrock wreath there. The photos below are what I came up with.

I painted this canvas several colors of green acrylic paints. It was fun to just "free style." It has gold and burlap piece stapled on the back, with a felt shamrock on the front. I have several green candle holders on this ledge between our TV room and dining room/ kitchen table area.

I need to buy more small, detail paint brushes... it was hard to paint the letters.

This was one that I saw on Pinterest and I painted this canvas to look like what I saw. It's not perfect either, but I'm happy with the way that it turned out. I staple gunned a piece of twine to that back so that I could hang it on my porch. Years ago, I bought green ribbon that has white shamrocks on it, so I put a piece of that ribbon on the twine too. It was a fun weekend painting and creating. I have another piece that I printed on card stock and used mod-podge to glue it onto a piece of wood. I like that one too, but there is no picture of it. It says, "Let the shamrock serve as a reminder to thee, of God's perfect presence in His Holy Trinity."

Last year I printed this Irish blessing and framed it. I like having it out during March.

I'll keep these decorations out for most of March. Toward the end of the month, I may switch some things out for spring and Palm Sunday/ Easter decorations.

What about you-- do you have any St. Patrick's Day decorations that you have made? Or where did you buy them?  

Matthew 5:1-12
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Easter highlights 2020

We enjoyed taking time together to dye eggs again this year. I. keep thinking one day the kids will be too old for it, but they still like it for now!

 Mallory's favorite egg...

 Bethany showing her eggs...

 so pretty...

 Mallory showing her eggs...

 My egg and the purple dye...

 Such vibrant colors, we used assorted neon colors (bought on sale) this year, and loved it!

 We played Settlers of Catan on Saturday night, and I WON! 

 We painted fingernails, and Bethany joined us-- she painted her fingernails for the first time ever. (I never let the girls paint their nails when they sucked their thumbs.)

 We took family photos outside after our home online church. Love these people!

 And we topped it off by finishing our puzzle, so springy!

How was your Easter? We missed seeing my parents, and going to see a performance of Handel's "Messiah", but we did listen to it from the London Philharmonic. It was lovely!


Some verses related to Easter...

John 20
The Empty Tomb

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.  So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,  as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.  Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)  Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”  At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples

 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas

 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Lent 2017

Some of my more diligent readers may remember some of my other posts about Lent. Last year, I made a daily sacrifice of some sort, which I enjoyed. This year, I pondered about things I needed to do, different positive things that I could add in to my routine. The first thing that popped into my head was exercise. I have never been a super fit person. I'm happy to nap, read a book on the couch or play a game with the kids in my spare time. I knew it was something I needed to change, so I committed to walking and exercising more.

I got new Asics shoes as an early birthday present!

I have been walking more in the last year anyway. In our homeschool co-op, there is a mom that offers a free exercise class on Tuesday afternoons. I've attended that the past few years and enjoy that, but I felt like I needed more. My walks were pretty sporadic before, if I felt like I needed sleep more, I would take a nap.

But during Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter), I decided to walk or exercise every day. My goal per day is 5,000 steps. I just really never get over that, so I adjusted my goal to 5,000 instead of 10,000, because that is more achievable to me. According to my phone apps, I have met my goal way more often in the past 6 weeks than ever before. I have been using an app called "My Fitness Pal" that I can use to track steps, add in any exercise that I do each day, as well as track my diet, entering foods that I eat. My hubby encouraged me to use this app, and honestly I have enjoyed it.

So how did I do? How is this applicable to God?

Well, honestly, the results of this "exercise more" commitment have amazed me. I feel physically better ALL over. My back has hurt MUCH less. I've felt happier, and less achy overall. I've enjoyed getting out into God's creation, seeing the landscape change over the days and weeks, with Spring nearly happening before my eyes. I've enjoyed the fresh air, seeing neighbors and chatting, and getting out of the house.
I've prayed during my walks for anyone that pops into my brain. I've listened to Christian music on my headphones while I walked. I have really liked it. I've been encouraged and blessed through the exercise.

What did you do during Lent this year?

This has been a good, new habit for me to undertake. I think I will try to continue it this spring and early summer, maybe until it gets too hot...


Some verses about walking...

Genesis 13:17
Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” (God spoke to Abram)

Deuteronomy 6:7
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

On the Road to Emmaus...
Luke 24:15
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

Luke 24:17
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

Easter 2016

Our Easter weekend began with our Good Friday service at church. Joshua and Caleb washed the girls' feet, just like Jesus did at the Last Supper. On Saturday night, we dyed Easter eggs. The kids were very creative this year, dabbing them with felt dipped in food coloring, and using food coloring in rice, shaking the eggs in them. Of crows, we used white crayon and rubber bands again too. It was serious business! We were happy with how they all turned out, and I've been enjoying eating them all week!

 See the rubber bands?

 Halfway dyed...getting there!

 Shaking them in dyed rice...

 Dabbing with felt...

 Bethany waiting to dip again...

 Bethany showing her Hulk egg (green and purple) and Captain America egg (blue and red).

So colorful!

 We had a wonderful Easter service at church, I've been singing "Wonderful Cross" all week! My parents came over for lunch, and we took photos in the blooming back yard! It was lovely! Too bad Caleb didn't feel well that morning and had to miss church, mean little stomach bug! But he did dress up again for the picture!

Isaiah 53:5-6 NIV
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 11:24-26
Jesus said to her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.