{ Blog 365 #99 - Easter 2023 }

{ Blog 365 #98 - Preparing for Easter }

 

 

 

{ A quiet kind of Easter and some sewing lessons }

I wasn't going to set any kind of table.  I was just going to bake a ham, make some mashed potatoes and that was going to be it.  As Easter got closer I started thinking that I was not having the right attitude towards this special day.

Just because it is a little different this year, it does not mean we have to ignore it or act insignificant to it either.  So I changed my attitude and decided to go ahead and make a nice meal, set the table, dye eggs which the kids actually asked to do this year, and even made a fresh batch of rolls.

It was quiet, but it was wonderful.  We sat as a family, just like old times, enjoyed our meal, talked and laughed.  The day went by slow, I took my time cooking, didn't have to worry about setting special tables, waiting on guests, rushing to cook a ton of food and make sure everything is ready.  In other words, no pressure at all.  Much as I love hosting family, I have to say that I actually really enjoyed our quiet Easter.

Today, I got through the housework pretty quick, then pulled out my fabric stash and started working on some new patchwork placemats.  I had made some a very long time ago and we loved them, but with all the washing and use I got out of them, they quickly started falling apart.

Since then, I've been meaning to make new ones but hadn't yet gotten around to it.

I find that sewing has pretty much the same effect on me as crochet does.  I can sit with my sewing machine and fabric, for hours and just allow myself to relax, let my mind go and quietly work away.

Finding a spot by one of my windows, is even better.  I set up my ironing board right at the window, and while I work I am privy to the chirping of the birds outside as I watch them flying around picking at the ground for worms.

I could not find my old placemat pattern so tried to make it from memory.  It kind of worked and it kind of didn't work. 

Ok let me try to explain.  I know how to sew, how to place the fabrics and which side and what not.  But for some reason today, I could not get my mind on the right track.  I sewed the same placemat 3 times, and all 3 times there was something I had to pull apart and restart.

As I did that, a thought creeped into my mind.  Just a little nudge from God above, reminding me that this is His experience with me as a Christian.  I KNOW what is right and what is wrong, I know what I should be doing, but yet at times I push through, making mistake after mistake, trying to restart over and just going right back to messing it up yet again.

I got that message loud and clear, and so I set the work aside, packed it all up and have left it for tomorrow where I can start new with a fresh clear mind and actually get some work done instead of wasting time.

Everyday brings new mercies right?

Curt and I also had to make a quick trip to Lawton to run an errand for my mother and father in law.  They live 3 hours south of us and would have to make a 4 to 5 hour car trip.  We don't want them doing that, my mother in law is still dealing with treatments for her breast cancer, and my father in law is recovering from heart surgery. 

So we popped up there real quick, did what we had to do and were back home in no time.

I guess tomorrow, it is back to the sewing machine to start fresh, and hopefully have some pretty place mats by dinner time.

{ Happy Easter }

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” -- John 11:25-26
 

Just wanted to pop on real quick to wish you all a very Happy Easter.  Hope you have a blessed day with your family, and remember that our Savior is Risen, there is nothing more joyful than that thought alone.

{ Stumbling towards Easter }

I have always been a Christian who feels things deeply, who still cries for the injustices Jesus suffered, who can't listen to a Christian song without a lump in her throat and a tear in the corner of her eye.

Some moments are harder than others.  Sometimes I can sing a whole song with a big smile on my face, but more often than not, I can't.  I croak, I choke, I swat at the tears flowing down my face.

I used to be embarrassed of feeling this way, I thought "what a wuss, you're so weak, why are you feeling that way, you should be happy when you think of God."

I am.   

And more often than not those are tears of joy, of pure unconditional love directed to the One and Only.  The I Am.  The Almighty Lord who has blessed me continuously, who has seem me through some of my darkest moments and who has never left my side, even when I tried to run in the opposite direction.

I've had my share of ups and downs, I've stumbled, I've fallen, I've questioned, I've yelled out in frustration and asked why me?  And the answer has always been "why NOT you?"

The week leading up to Easter is extremely hard for me, I literally cry at the drop of a hat.  Anything related to the Resurrection, to the suffering our Lord endured and to the real meaning of Easter, just breaks me.

This morning, as I was doing my blog reading, my friend Linds posted a link and asked us to read it, she said it was breathtaking.  I value her opinion immensely and I knew that if she was posting this, it had to be something worth reading.

My word, I wasn't prepared for it.

Broken Hallelujah by Jen Hatmaker.

I bawled through this post, and found myself without words.  It was as if she was taking the words right out of my mouth and then also hitting me with profound statements that I hadn't thought of.

One thing we have taught our children from a very young age, is that Easter is not about egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and big fluffy bunnies running around.  They know the real meaning, they know what it is about.

Does it mean that we don't incorporate the fun parts for them?  Absolutely not.  But I think there's a difference in letting them have fun and believe that is what Easter is about, and allowing them to still have that fun but know deep in their hearts what the real reason is for that day.

There will still be Ham and Hot Cross Buns on Easter Sunday, but there will also be "Jesus of Nazareth" on TV, and prayers and the reading of the Bible.

I only hope I can get through it all without crying my eyes out.

He will see me through it, just like He has through every other instance in my life. 

“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)

{ Happy Easter! }

May you all have a blessed day!

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

Happy Easter!

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."


I still can't read that verse without tears forming in my eyes, it is truly powerful isn't it?

It's Easter morning, the egg hunt has been completed, though it was inside this year because of the rain and the wet grass out back.

I have a beautiful spiral ham cooking away in the slow cooker, I also have a cheesy potato casserole in the other slow cooker, the scents in the house are drool worthy right now.

Here in a few minutes we'll start decorating Easter Eggs and while the kids do that, I'll be making deviled eggs out of the other half a dozen.

I have to say, I love Easter, I love the quietness of the day and the feelings and emotions it evokes in me, the way my mind is constantly reminded of the Lord's Resurrection and what it signifies for us.

So my dear friends, I am going to go and enjoy this day, I hope you're all having a blessed time with your families.

Happy Easter!

I'm glad it's friday!

Not much has been going on here, other than the fact that I woke up yesterday morning feeling so sick, stomach cramps and nauseated etc. Thankfully the stomach thing seems to have gone but I still feel like I have to throw up all the time. Hopefully it goes away soon.

Even though I felt awful today, I spent the afternoon in the kitchen, baking. 48 cupcakes!


It's our little man's birthday tomorrow, I can't believe he's turning 6 years old, where did my little baby go? So, I made 24 cupcakes for him to take to school this morning and then another 24 for us at home, it's only fair right?

The kids got to decorate them which was a huge help for me. Tomorrow will be a full day of celebration, it will start with a special breakfast of Pumpkin Pancakes which Nicholas loves, opening presents and then we'll be doing whatever the little man wants to.

We have this tradition on birthdays, the kids get to pick whatever they want to do, within the realm of possibility of course, they pick what they want to eat for dinner, what kind of cake mommy bakes (I've ALWAYS baked their cakes, since their first birthday) and whatever activities we do.

So this is what he wants:

• Pizza from Pizza Hut
• Play Rock Band with the family
• Play Super Mario Party 8 with the family
• Play GI Joe's with daddy and sister
• Go to the park

No birthday party, no big hoopla. Just a day of fun "6 year old" style. It makes me smile because it's so simple but yet it's the things that he loves and make him happy, and that's what we want.

I snapped some pics of the kids yesterday, they were wearing their new t-shirts from the Kruger National Park, and they wanted to show Tita. Excuse me while I switch to Portuguese for a second LOL

Nela, aqui estao os miudos com as t-shirts que envias-te. Adoraram e vestiram logo no mesmo dia para a escola. Beijocas!




We're gearing up for Easter on Sunday, I'm going to do a little Egg Hunt here at home as it seems we'll be getting rain this weekend. We'll also decorate eggs and enjoy a delicious Mustard Glazed Ham and a lot more yummy goodness.

But for me, the best part is watching Jesus of Nazareth. I watch it every single year and it never gets old, it always warms my heart and it always brings tears to my eyes. It also makes me think of home and my childhood, that's how long I've been enjoying this amazing movie.

You can catch it on Sunday the 12th at 7:00 pm on the TBN channel.

Oh and before I forget, here is a cute link to share with your kids. From Precious Moments, The Resurrection Story told by Katie Bennet. It's so sweet :)



I'm off, I am still not 100% and sitting here on the computer is starting to give me a headache. I'll leave you with a link to last night's dinner which unfortunately I was unable to enjoy....but the kids and Curt loved it. Crockpot Salsa Chicken....YUM!