Serendipity Sunday: Resurrection Morn.....

Serendipity: Making a delightful or unexpected discovery

"He has risen!"
~Mark 16:6~

This weeks discovery was a poem I penned in April of 2006. This is a reprint here on my blog and I hope you will not mind. I am thinking I may just make it an annual tradition.

Resurrection Morn
By Sandy Babb, April 2006

Today we celebrate resurrection morn

The day that true hope for mankind was born

The story of hope began with the Savior’s birth

Very few realized this small babes worth

The story goes on as the child waxed and grew strong

He came to preach and to teach right from wrong

He chose twelve men to walk by His side

One of whom that could be bribed

They traveled both far and wide

Teaching by the sea, on hill, and in the countryside

The message of Him was spread far abroad

Rumor was rampant that this was the true Son of God

Those in power in those days

Resented his message and refused His ways

With malice and cunning they began to plot

How to rid themselves of this perceived blot

Fear of a kingdom they thought would come

Not understanding that it was a kingdom of heaven, not an earthly one

They twisted His words and mocked His ways

They struck up a bargain with the one who would betray

The story unfolds in a garden scene

A place where the mood was tense not serene

He gathered with Him there three of His disciples to pray

He cried out to the Father that this cup be taken away

Not what I want but what Thou will

He yielded Himself willingly, peaceful, and still

Along came a multitude with swords and staves

A treacherous kiss gave Him away

He was seized by their hands and lead to where He stood

Falsely accused, none saying good

Silently He stood, knowing what came

Suffering, humiliation, mocking, revile, and shame

They clothed Him in purple and inscribed a sign

They gave Him to drink myrrh mingled with wine

The crowd that gathered cried with pitiless glee

“Crucify, crucify, crucify He!”

“Save thyself, come down from the cross!”

Praise God He did not or all hope for mankind would be lost

There He hung pinned to a cross

Where He cried out to God through the darkness in a loud voice

With His last breath heaved, He gave up the ghost

He returned home to His Father and the heavenly hosts

Here the story does not end in tragic death

But leads to a conclusion in which we can all safely rest

His body was shrouded, placed in a tomb, and sealed with a great stone

The tomb of Joseph of Arimeathea, which he had hewed and honed

Guards there were posted on that fateful third day

The earth began to shake, with fear and trembling they fainted dead away

Along came three women on the Sabbath day

Wondering how they could roll the great stone away

When they arrived the stone was rolled away and there sat a young man all clothed in white

They were quite amazed and filled with fright

He who sat there said be not afraid

He whom you seek is risen, His not here, see for yourselves then be on your way

They looked and they trembled and were quite amazed

“He is risen! He is alive!” they cried

He appeared to many after He died

This is the story of how hope was born

That long ago day that we now call Easter morn

Praise God He is risen just as He said

Our Savior, He lives, alive and not dead!

May each of you have a blessed Easter!

Blessings,

Miss Sandy

Listen My Children.....

"Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

~Psalm 34:11~

(Mother and Son by Robert Duncan photo source)

Today I am celebrating Mother's Day. It is not the one on the calendar that all mother's celebrate together each May, but the one on which I became a mother for the very first time. Today I will enter my 28th year of being a mother. I have been quite reflective today, thinking back over all those years and thinking forward to the coming ones. I think I have but one regret and that is for the missed opportunities of faith training by coming to Christ later in life, but I choose not to dwell on what cannot be changed and thankful for what was changed. My son is now a husband, a father, and the spiritual leader of his home. He has now stepped into the shoes of being a faith trainer of his little son and with another little addition arriving in September.

I used to wonder if his father and I trained him well enough. We only had seven short years as believers before he left our home to make his own. Part of this time, being babes ourselves in new found faith, we just had to grow up together. I confess we made plenty of mistakes and outright blunders. I pray that somehow we had done more harm than good.

One of my prayers for my son has been that by God's grace he would be able to make it on what little foundation of faith we had been able to offer him. I used to wonder if it was enough. Had we really gotten across to him the importance of faithfulness and continued efforts at growth and focus on God. I wondered if life and its requirements of family, work, or pleasure would crowd out and take over that growing relationship with God. I knew how easily life can happen and having a vital relationship with our Heavenly Father takes concentrated effort and requires time. So, I spent much time storing up prayers for those future times in his life.

As I opened my Bible to Psalm 34 and began to read, verse 11 captured my attention. "Come, my children, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord." A scene I recently witnessed at the library flashed through my mind. A storyteller sat in the midst of a crowd of children and held their rapt attention as she shared a story with them. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be awesome to capture your child's rapt attention during those early faith training years?" I wondered what I might have taught my son during that time.

As I drove home with the sight of those children so eager to hear and learn fresh on my mind I began to think what advice I would offer my own son in regard to faith training with his son. As I drove, God inspired me with some teaching points in the form of a poem based on Psalm 34: 11.

Listen My Children

Listen my children and you shall hear,
How to love the Lord and of godly fear.

We will teach you to do good,
To find peace and pursue it as you should.

The Lord is near to those that pray,
You must seek Him night and day.

For He promises life full and long,
When you follow Him you can't go wrong.

Listen, our little ones, guard your speech,
It is God's truth that we are trying to teach.

Taste and see that the Lord is good,
And obey Him as you always should.

It is our honor, privilege, and prayer,
To teach you with discipline, dedication, and care.

Sin not little feet that are so swift to run,
For God's punishment is no fun.

Sin not little hands, be gentle, kind, and never mean,
May your hands be washed and stay clean.

For the dirt of sin clings hard and fast,
It's lingering stains can last and last.

Sin not little mind with thoughts ugly and black,
When you do things God's way, nothing will you lack.

Sin not little eyes at that which you look,
Keep thought and vision on God's Holy Book.

Sin not little heart but be filled with truth,
With God's Word hidden in your heart, you will be living proof.

Proof of the love of a Savior that died,
Proof of the truth of which He testified.

Proof of His love so great and strong,
Proof that He gives us life eternity long.

Be swift little child to run to your Heavenly Father,
Remember to Him nothing is a bother.

Bow on your knees and spend time in prayer,
Remember when you do, He is always there.

He always listens, helps, and sends comfort,
We can run to the safety of His strong fort.

Be generous of time, talent, and treasure,
You will receive God's blessings beyond measure.

Don't let reward your motivation be,
But to honor God and bring Him glory.

Listen my children and you shall hear,
Of the way to God who is ever near.

Open your heart when you hear Him call,
Do not delay, do not stall.

Salvation is free, a gift from above,
Given by Jesus and bestowed upon us by His great love.

His Spirit will then in your heart dwell,
All will be swept clean and all made well.

Listen my children and you shall hear,
How to love the Lord and of godly fear.

Now to you parents, these are some of things I would teach,
If it was for Jesus I wanted my children to reach.

I would ask God to make me to be,
A living example and reflection of He.

I would ask Him for wisdom and grace beyond measure,
To enable me to faithfully and consistently raise His little treasure.

This is a treasure that is only on loan,
Someday you will release it to be on its own.

Whether it stands or falters and fails,
May well depend upon the cross an those nails.

Do they know Jesus, does He live in their heart?
This is the place that I would start.

Be patient, loving, kind, and strong,
With His help you can't go wrong.

Looking to the Lord each step of the way,
Seeking His direction choosing wisely what you say.

Tell them the truth and show them the way,
Don't live with regret on some future day.

My fears were unfounded and the time we had to train was just enough to root and ground our son in the important stuff. It's never too late, start where you are and God will meet you there. I have watched him grow into a wonderful man, husband, and father as well as assuming his role of faith trainer for the next generation of our family. This is the best Mother's Day gift I could ever receive. Happy Birthday to my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday: Prayers of Gratitude.....

Serendipity: An unexpected or delightful discovery

"Grow flowers of gratitude in the soil of prayer."
~Verbena Woods~

This weeks delightful discovery was a little volume of prayers that lifted my spirits as I suffer through illness. When things are not as they should be it is a perfect time to count our blessings and to spend time expressing our gratitude for the things that are right rather than focusing on that which has upset the balance of our daily life. I find that for me, illness is a call to stillness and it is a perfect opportunity to spend much time in prayer.

Prayers of Gratitude for Each Day
Taken from Grateful Hearts Give Thanks A Treasury Of Graces and Blessings
By Bob & Emilie Barnes

"Thou has given so much to me,
Give one thing more, ~ a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me.
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."

~George Herbert~"I thank God and I praise Him
for the sunset that lifts my spirit,
the morning that lets my
soul take flight in search
of wildflowers, the songbirds that
waken my world. And I
thank God for His presence
in my life, for family and friends,
for joy and even sorrows
that strengthen my life, for
the awareness that
God's love is the essence of
all happiness, the bond between
heaven and earth."

~Neil Fitzgerald~"Praise the Lord for sunshine,
Praise the Lord for rain,
Praise the Lord for pleasure,
Praise the Lord for pain,
Praise the Lord for lessons learned
Through every joy and sorrow,
Praise the Lord for days gone by,
And for each new tomorrow."

~Alice Joyce Davidson~"I give thanks, O God,
for all You have so lovingly done for me!
For each need comes Your faithfulness.
During suffering come Your compassion.
On every journey comes your closeness.
My deepest praise sings out in a blended anthem with
believers all over the world ~ thanking You for the abundant
life found in Christ Jesus!"

~Charlotte Adelsperger~

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday: Seeing God.....

Serendipity: Making a delightful or unexpected discovery

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
~Genesis 1:1~

This weeks delightful discovery was actually a rediscovery while visiting a favorite volume of poetry, Heart Gifts, by Helen Steiner Rice. This poem expresses beautifully the fingerprint of God in His creation, evidence that He is with us at all times. Since I am revisiting a favorite poem, I thought I would illustrate it with a few favorite photos that I have taken, which have previously been featured here on my blog. Enjoy God's best blessings in your day today!

Everywhere Across the Lane You See God's
Face and Touch His Hand

~Helen Steiner Rice~

Each time you look up in the sky,
Or watch the fluffy clouds drift by,Or feel the sunshine warm and bright,Or watch the dark night turn to light,Or hear a bluebird gayly sing,Or see the winter turn to spring,Or stop to pick a daffodil,Or gather some violets on some hill...Or touch a leaf or see a tree,It's all God whispering, "This Is Me...
And I am Faith and I am Light
And in Me there shall be no night."

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday:Praise.....

Serendipity: An instance of making a delightful and unexpected discovery

~American Heritage Dictionary~(praise poster source)

"...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
~Hebrews 13:15~

This week my delightful and unexpected discovery is the following poem. It is written by Elizabeth Rowe (1674-1737). She was a poet and novelist, the eldest daughter of a minister. Born in Ilchester, Somersetshire, England, she began writing at the age of twelve. By age nineteen she became a principal contributor of poetry to "The Athenina Mercury" many of these poems were reprinted in "Poems on Several Occasions". She married poet, Thomas Rowe, in 1710. Their marriage was reportedly happy but sadly, short lived. Thomas died of tuberculosis, they had only been married for five years, and Elizabeth was inconsolable.

Her father died four years after her husband, leaving her a considerable inheritance, half the annual income of which she gave to charity. Her literary production was high during these years and most of the texts she published were devotional or moral. Despite the reputation of being a bereaved recluse, Elizabeth maintained a wide and active correspondence and was closely involved in local concerns until she died of apoplexy at the age of sixty-two. Her works continued to be popular well into the nineteenth century, went through multiple editions, circulated on both sides of the Atlantic, and were frequently translated.

Not all was happy in Elizabeth's life, yet through her life's work of writing words shines her ability to praise God for His goodness and to see Him in the world around her.

"PRAISE"

by Elizabeth Rowe
1674-1737


The glorious armies of the sky
To thee, Almighty King,
Triumphant anthems consecrate,
And hallelujahs sing.
(skyscape above Quill Cottage)

But still their most exalted flights
Fall vastly short of thee:
How distant them must human praise
From thy perfections be!(monarch butterfly visiting Quill Cottage)

Yet how, my God, shall I refrain
When to my ravished sense
Each creature everywhere around
Displays thy excellence!(gray squirrel at Lobo Landing, Heber Springs, AR)

The active lights that shine above,
In their eternal dance,
Reveal their skillful Maker's praise
With silent elegance.
(moonshine over Quill Cottage)

The blushes of the morn confess
That thou art still more fair,
When in the east its beams revive,
To gild the fields of air.(sunrise over St. Simons Island, GA)

The fragrant, the refreshing breeze
Of ev'ry flowery bloom
In balmy whispers own, from thee
Their pleasing odours come.(flower in Gavin Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, AR)

The singing birds, the warbling winds,
And waters murmuring fall
To praise the first Almighty Cause
With different voices call.
(mini water grotto at Gavin Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs, AR)

Thy numerous works exalt thee thus,
And shall I silent be?
No, rather let me cease to breathe,
Than cease from praising thee!


"The more you praise God for His goodness, the more you will see it manifested in your life."
~Stormie Omartian~

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

Serendipity Sunday: Soul's Gift

Serendipity: An instance of making a delightful and unexpected discovery.

~American Heritage Dictionary~(Image from my personal collection)

Etymology: In 1754, Horace Walpole (1717-92) coined the word, serendipity. In a letter to Mr. Mann he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale, "The Three Princes of Serendip," whose heroes "were always making discoveries, by accident or sagacity, of things they were not in quest of." The name is from Serendip, an old name for Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), from Arabic Sarandib, from Skt. Simhaladvipa "Dwelling -Place-of-Lions Island." Serendipitous form c. 1950.
~Online Etymology Dictionary~

Serendipity Sunday is something I have been thinking about adding to my blog for quite some time now. Often I can be going about my daily quest of the task at hand when suddenly and unexpectedly I make a delightful discovery about some truth from Scripture. At times it is made real before me in everyday acts and observations, other times it is while I am reading my Bible. I believe the Lord speaks to us in many ways and any discovery we make is indeed a serendipitous one. In these Sunday posts I will share some of the discoveries or observations I have made. I invite you to join me on my journey of serendipity.

SOUL'S GIFT

by Sandy Babb
August 10, 2002

Did you ever catch a glimpse of the early morning sun,
aimed in such a way that it casts a golden glow?
Illumined was the object upon which it hit,
warmed by a kiss from the sun which shone up it.
Beauty in the brightness, sparkling glow,
that was a gift that warmed my soul.
Ordinary were the objects being shone upon,
yet when touched by the sun,
they took on a different form,
which made them seem above the norm.

So it is with us you see,
when the Son, Jesus, shines upon we.
No longer ordinary in our use,
this is something only the Master's touch can produce.
Upon acceptance of Christ in our heart, no longer common are we,
we become princes and princess', children of the King.
Warmed by the kiss of ruby red blood which flowed from Him,
He gave us new life to begin.
Beauty in the brightness, sparkling glow,
this is a gift that warmed my soul.

NOTE: This poem was inspired by a slant of morning sunlight shining into my kitchen pantry. It hit the row of glass containers and wall in such a way that it held breathtaking beauty. The objects being shone upon were common ordinary everyday objects but the light made them glow. It reminded me of a song that says, "illumine me Savior Divine." The illumination of Christ upon an ordinary object lends it to become something so much more than it was. It holds great potential and breathtaking beauty after Christ has transformed it. It truly is a gift that warms the soul.

This week, may serendipity find you when you least expect it!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

The Father's View.....

Today I wanted to share a personal journal entry with you. The entry is accompanied by a poem that I wrote to sort out how I was feeling at the moment. I often feel like such a struggler and straggler in my walk of faith. On this day, I realized that I often see myself in a negative light and it made me wonder what the Father's view of me was. The first seven answers to the question posed in the poem portion of the entry are what I think He sees and the last answer is what I hope He sees. My prayer is that a fellow struggler will be encouraged by this offering.

JOURNAL ENTRY

October 10, 2005

Have you ever wondered what the Father sees when He looks down upon His children? I pondered this question the other morning as I read Psalm 53:2. Scripture says that God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any to understand and any that were seeking God. In Psalm 102:19 it says he looked down from the height of His sanctuary and beheld the earth. And in 1 Samuel 16:7 it says that God looks not upon the outward appearance, but upon the heart. These verses made we wonder what God saw when He looked at me.

In His mercy and grace He sees me not only truly as I am but with all the potential of what I can be. He looks at me through eyes of grace. His view of me is much kinder than I often have of myself. His focus is more clear and not on outward appearance. His view is not biased or based on society’s standards. It is not about fad, fashion, or frame size. His view is never hinged on the opinion of others and it never swings or changes. It is not based on our attitude or actions for we could never be or do enough good to merit His loving look. His view of me never dims, darkens, or fades for He knows me the best and loves me the most. He even tells me in His Word that I am the apple of His eye.

God’s eyes view us with great attention, observation, estimations, and judgment. He observes us with great care and is extremely attentive to us. We attract his attention and He looks upon us with either disappointment or pleasure. He is interested in us and wants our attention in return. His eyes are watchful over us. His penetrating stare can often grab our attention and make us aware of our shortcomings. From His view, God, pays close attention to His children.

His looks are long and loving. They are kind and gracious. They are generous. They are often searching and sincere. His gaze offers compassion, protection, and direction. His mere glimpse can shed light. His wink can encourage. In a blink of an eye He can return.

And so I wondered,” God, what do You see when You look at me?”

THE FATHER'S VIEW

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Your daughter wounded and starving

Not knowing what she is doing

Void of hope with no peace, dying in despair

All because she ceased to lift heart and eyes in prayer

Forgetting to look unto whence her help comes

Sitting and complaining with loud groans

Forgetting that her heart is Your home

Father, what do you see when you look at me?

Crying for help with a desperate plea

Earnest in prayer, lifting every care

Wholly and souly dependent upon Thee

Bowed and bent, service spent showing others to Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Full of joy, laughter bubbling

No soul travail or troubling

Fully trusting in Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

A soul that’s dirty, a heart that’s hurting

Needing cleansing to be free

Wash me, will me, Lord please fill me

With more and more of Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Bowed and humbled having stumbled

Broken unto Thee

Worn and weary very clearly

Needing restoration and salvation from the sin

That so easily besets me

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Tears I’m sowing, sorrow owing

To trial and troubling worldly care

Heart despairing, not well fairing

In holding the hope promised by Thee

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

Celebration, jubilation, pouring out of praise

To my Savior whose divine favor set me free

Power overflowing, blood atoning grace enjoyed by me

Spirit guiding, behind You hiding

In comfort and in safety

A heart that’s racing, a joy beat pacing, with every pulse

O Sovereign Savior, such sweet savor ,Thou art to me

Never ceasing, but increasing

Love and grace and peace

Father, what do You see when You look at me?

A child that is forgiven

Who has a home in heaven

A daughter all glorious within

A saint from sinner, allowed to enter

Fellowship with Him

Not forsaken or forgotten

With high price thou were boughten

Precious treasure, no depth can measure

My love for thee

Sweet daughter, I, Your Father, can only see

Plans that prosper and that foster

All my hopes and dreams for Thee.

I hear your prayers and all your cares

You can always depend upon me

I know your faith

When it is tested and when it is rested, in me

I see you heart and its intentions

And your past sins I never mention

I see your desire and I inspire

The best that lives within

I see your struggles and I double

My Spirits strength within

I see your tears, I know your fears

And calm them with my peace

I know your battles and from fighting them, I will never cease

My might will only increase

I hear you laughter and your praise

They bring joy to my heart and a smile to my face

I know you moods and your motives

Nothing is hidden from me

I love you dearly and sincerely

For all time and eternity.

Blessings,
Miss Sandy

EASTER PARADE!!!

It's the Easter Parade!

Welcome to my home. I hope you are enjoying the Easter Parade, getting some great ideas, and meeting some wonderful new friends! I adore the season we are moving into, after all the gray I am so ready to see the world fill with color. I poked about my yard a few days ago and found some wonderful surprises. As I stepped out the door a wonderful site was near, a glass egg in the grass!Out in the field I found baby bunnies and baskets playing among the bluelets!
What to my wondering eyes should appear but and entire bunny family wondering if the parade was near!Nestled in the lilies was another pretty egg!A little duck rolled right by on his way into the parade line!
I found some chicks in the feed out by the barn!I walked around checking to see what was beginning to bloom and I found a few more surprises! There was a bucket of bunnies near the vinca vine! There was a lamb in my lavender!A chick in my chives!And a jumper in my jonquils! I hope you enjoyed these little Easter basket treats. The muslin bunny egg covers, the yarn chick and lamb, and the tiny bunnies and baskets are nineteen years old! I made them when my daughter was one! I am making some updated versions for my grandson. If you would like free patterns and instructions for the egg covers or bitty bunnies, email me and I will send them to you. For instructions on making the yarn covered eggs go here.The first shy violet of spring!Why don't we step inside. Have a seat in the dining nook and let's enjoy a refreshing glass of raspberry tea. Oh, look, everyone is lining up for the Easter Parade!Just let me change my shoes, grab my gloves and purse, oh, and I must not forget my bonnet, with all the frills upon it, for the Easter Parade!Can you believe this tray of sweetness? Can you believe that these were mine when I was little? You know the picture of Little Miss Sandy on my sidebar, this is the very bonnet I am wearing in the picture! My mother said she had a surprise for me and presented me with a box and inside were these perfectly preserved items from my babyhood!The shoes were even still in their original box! How cute is this?Here I am in a few pictures actually wearing the shoes, gloves, and bonnet!Now that I am all ready, lets go check out that parade line! Look at all those bunnies with their bundles and the babies in the wagon!Oh, did you see those feathery floats? They have ducks in dishes and chicks in crystal! These sweet little flocked feathered friends have been in our family since my son was very small, they used to decorate his Easter basket.Here come more bunnies, birdies, and chicks! It looks like the band is ready to strike up and some singing is going to begin! These two little ceramic egg boxes were given to me by my late grandmother when I was very young.How fun! Two competing teams of bunnies in an egg rolling contest!Look at that sweet pair! She's hoping he will bid on her basket at the box social after the parade!Look at those darling parade flags! These two children's hankies were given to me by my grandmother when I was four. I starched them and stitched them to card stock using some fun vintage buttons!Oh my, look at this next float going by!Looks like these little birdies like a bit of bling!I made this wreath several years ago, not just decorated it, but actually wove the wreath from wild grapevines harvested from our woods. Swinging from them to pull them down was great fun, until I noticed a neighbor stopped in the road watching, but that is a story for another day, back to the subject at hand. As I was saying, I made this wreath and it gets transformed every so often, for now it is home to some birdie friends.

The jewels you see draped and resting in the nest belonged to my grandmother. She is what would be termed today as a girly girl! She loved getting her hair and nails done, perfume, makeup, fashionable clothing, and jewelry was a fashion passion for her.
When these went out of style they became my play things. I have a whole box and much of it is back in style today and my daughter loves wearing it and I do too!

The wreath is filled with silk and paper florals such as hydrangea blossoms, paper roses, and dogwood blossoms. I so wanted to show you pictures of the wild dogwoods that bloom in our woods but the tiny leaves are just starting to unfurl. Dog woods are one of my favorite spring things and I love the legend that goes along with them.

THE LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD:

An old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucification, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such cruel use it greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember."

Look! There's another float going by! It's a tiny train pulling an Easter tree full of opalescent eggs, colorful lace bows, and tiny peeps peeking out of their nests!This tiny tree skirt is packed full of memories. Each little panel of fabric was a remnant of fabric that were used to make tiny little pieces of clothing for my daughter when she was a toddler. For free pattern and instructions on making this little beauty, email me and I will send them to you!
Ahhh, so there is my dashing ducky friend, it seems he has joined in on another part of the parade route! He is accompanied by a darling mama duck and her bitsy baby! They are resting a bit under a daffodil tree! I have heard of pheasant under glass before, but chicks, this I adore!
Perhaps you are in need of a new window treatment, this might just fit the bill, a sassy pale yellow and white dotted swiss apron spread across the sill!To create this bit of sheer spring beauty all you need is an apron and three thumb tacks! Oh, and if you are very very vertically challenged like me, a step stool is a must. Simply tack the center section of the apron band to the top of your window sill. Flair the apron out to fit your window and tack the two sides, leaving the ties in front. Simply tie the apron strings in a bow in front and wah-la! instant window treatment. If you have a bigger window, just tack up a whole row for a pretty effect! I have to admit this dotted swiss miss is not mine. She belongs to my daughter and is part of her "when she gets her own place someday collection". She graciously loaned her to me.
I don't know about you but all this parading around has made me hungry. Shall we dine? These are the place settings I used for today's luncheon. The china was passed down to me from my great aunt Sylvia. The goblets, egg cups serving as candle holders, Easter egg spreaders, table cloth, and hankies are all fab flea market finds.These pretty little pockets are super easy to make and a pretty addition to any table. For a little extra sparkle, I clipped one of my grandmothers earrings on each and slipped the silverware inside.To fold the pocket use a hankie or napkin, (if you use a hankie I suggest you iron and starch it to give it some body or you will end up with a floppy pocket), lay out flat with right side of fabric up. Fold fabric into a triangle and iron.Fold down one corner to meet the straight edge and iron.Turn over.Draw each pointed end toward the middle of the triangle, overlapping a bit, tuck the pointed end in and press.Turn over and you have a pretty little pocket !Mmmm, looks like there is going to be plenty of bunny food on the menu!
We had a scrumptious Strawberry Spinach Salad, recipe compliments of Betty at She Sews Pretty! Betty submitted this recipe for the Sweet Treats and Roses Swap, for the recipe AND 40 other tasteful treats with the added bonus of a couple of beauty product recipes go here. This salad is a must try, the dressing is wonderful! My gal pals and I have declared this "our" salad.
I think I'll have what the birds are having, dessert!
I got this super simple treat from another blogger, only I can't remember who it was! If it was you, let me know so I can give you credit! Purchase creme horns from the bakery, slice , dip the bottom in powdered sugar so they don't stick to the plate, place a slice of strawberry on top and dust with powdered sugar! Enjoy!These pretty little pies are also simple and quick to make. Purchase mini graham pie shells, one can of pre-made pie filling, I chose lemon, fill shells, bake for 10 minutes at 350F to set filling, allow to cool. I topped these tart cuties with a half a strawberry and a bit of mint. You can top with cool whip or whipped cream to garnish. I used a mixture of 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 tbsp. sugar, and 1 to 2 tbsp. milk, beat with a mixer until smooth, about the consistency of frosting, then filled a pastry bag, using a star tip, piping the creamy mixture around the edges. These birds really like their berries and they serve them up right dipped in chocolate! These sweet porcelain birds are a part of my mothers bird collection. She gave them to me a couple of years ago. I came across them as I was moving some boxes in storage and decided that the return of my feathered friends is a definite sign of spring! This has been a wonderful parade with fun, food, and fellowship. I'd like to end my post with my very favorite part of Spring and Easter and that is celebrating the true meaning of the season, the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I reserved a special place in my family room for this decor and as a visual reminder of the true meaning of celebration. This is where I placed my resurrection scene. This little scene was a new addition to my decor this year. It is the first one I have ever seen and was purchased at Hobby Lobby for half price for $9.99! I used my palm trees from my nativity set and added some real rock to beef up the tomb along with some silk palm branches, lilies, and candles. Fontanini makes a quality porcelain set, the figures range from about $17.00 and up each.
The top shelf features a picture of the Good Shepherd and belonged to my great aunt and uncle. I needed something to fill the blank space on each side of the print so I made these two framed pieces.
I bought frames from a dollar store. I chose them because they have a deep indented mat the stands back from the glass. I used two pages from an old hymn book for background paper. I printed off two vintage Easter card images from a program I have but you could use real cards or post cards. I glued the images to the center of each hymn page and then using a clear drying craft glue, ran a line of glue around the edges of the image and sprinkled on mica chips, which can be purchased at Michael's in the scrapbook section. After this was dry I adhered the piece to the back of the mat with a little tape. I then used some clay flowers, off white leaves, and pearl beads, purchased in the wedding decor section of Hobby Lobby, to the front of the mat with hot glue, making sure it would still slide back into the frame. I filled in with a little green moss to cover the stems.

In our family we have an Easter or for that matter an any holiday tradition, and that is that I write a poem or a blessing for the event and share it at our family gathering. The following is a poem that I wrote in 2006 to share at our family celebration, it tells the Easter story.

Today we celebrate resurrection morn

The day that true hope for mankind was born

The story of hope began with the Savior’s birth

Very few realized this small babes worth

The story goes on as the child waxed and grew strong

He came to preach and to teach right from wrong

He chose twelve men to walk by His side

One of whom that could be bribed

They traveled both far and wide

Teaching by the sea, on hill, and in the countryside

The message of Him was spread far abroad

Rumor was rampant that this was the true Son of God

Those in power in those days

Resented his message and refused His ways

With malice and cunning they began to plot

How to rid themselves of this perceived blot

Fear of a kingdom they thought would come

Not understanding that it was a kingdom of heaven, not an earthly one

They twisted His words and mocked His ways

They struck up a bargain with the one who would betray

The story unfolds in a garden scene

A place where the mood was tense not serene

He gathered with Him there three of His disciples to pray

He cried out to the Father that this cup be taken away

Not what I want but what Thou will

He yielded Himself willingly, peaceful, and still

Along came a multitude with swords and staves

A treacherous kiss gave Him away

He was seized by their hands and lead to where He stood

Falsely accused, none saying good

Silently He stood, knowing what came

Suffering, humiliation, mocking, revile, and shame

They clothed Him in purple and inscribed a sign

They gave Him to drink myrrh mingled with wine

The crowd that gathered cried with pitiless glee

“Crucify, crucify, crucify He!”

“Save thyself, come down from the cross!”

Praise God He did not or all hope for mankind would be lost

There He hung pinned to a cross

Where He cried out to God through the darkness in a loud voice

With His last breath heaved, He gave up the ghost

He returned home to His Father and the heavenly hosts

Here the story does not end in tragic death

But leads to a conclusion in which we can all safely rest

His body was shrouded, placed in a tomb, and sealed with a great stone

The tomb of Joseph of Arimeathea, which he had hewed and honed

Guards there were posted on that fateful third day

The earth began to shake, with fear and trembling they fainted dead away

Along came three women on the Sabbath day

Wondering how they could roll the great stone away

When they arrived the stone was rolled away and there sat a young man all clothed in white

They were quite amazed and filled with fright

He who sat there said be not afraid

He whom you seek is risen, His not here, see for yourselves then be on your way

They looked and they trembled and were quite amazed

“He is risen! He is alive!” they cried

He appeared to many after He died

This is the story of how hope was born

That long ago day that we now call Easter morn

Praise God He is risen just as He said

Our Savior, He lives, alive and not dead!

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you, renew you, and refresh you. May you be reminded of His love as you observe the beauty of our world in bloom. Blessings to you all!

Happy Easter,
Miss Sandy