Timeless Treasures

Is it any wonder I have relieved, many years ago, my husband of buying me birthday, anniversary, Christmas, or Mother's Day gifts? He knows that around these holidays, he simply needs to ask "have I gotten your present yet?"

How in the world would the poor man know that something like these knobs from Anthropologie would make me go weak in the knees?

I mean, I couldn't have even told him what or where to buy because I've been looking for two knobs for months (oh, yes, my mental list of wants is odd) knowing that when I found "the ones" I would just know.

Happy (early) Mother's Day to me.

Sweet relief for my husband.

Flying Away

Flickr, Sandy Hook

My friend is moving. Yep, the same friend I could wave to from my back porch if she was on her deck. My wonderful, decorating-diva, warm, loving friend. Nichole.

I'm happy for her, really I am. And I'm so thankful that God introduced us last year via a tennis ball (used as a hockey puck) whacking a hole in their garage siding. And I'm thrilled she's only moving 5 minutes away. I mean, come now, why should I be sad? Lots of great things are happening in her life! I can help decorate a big new house!

But I am sad. Because back-door-neighbors-who-become-friends are the best. There's a comfortable, "we're family" type of feeling every time there's a knock on the back door. And there's security in simply knowing your friend is close by when you see the glow of her kitchen light break through night's darkness. We watch each others' backs...literally.

I hate goodbyes. Even when they're not really goodbyes at all. I'm a silly bird, I know. My friend and her family have outgrown their nest and she's beginning to feather a new one. I'm sure I'll be singing again soon. But for now, this bird is singing the blues.

Risen Indeed!

Easter Blessings

xoxo

Cathy

With a loud cry,

Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And then the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw

how he died, he said,

"Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:37-40

Passover

I have been to one Bar Mitzvah in my life. Our two oldest children have been to ten. I have tried Matza while standing on the sidelines of a soccer game. Jewish high holidays mean days off from school. One of my dearest friends now lives in Israel.

Last night, our Jewish friends and neighbors could be seen walking to and from the synagogue, dressed in black with heads covered.

We live in a neighborhood with a large Jewish population.

It is Passover.

I am inspired by their walks to and from the synagogue -- not just on holidays like Passover, but every Saturday. Little girls in dresses and hats and little boys wearing yamikas and prayer beads following their parents as they walk to services. Week after week...sun, rain, snow.

But today, I find myself thinking about Passover 2000 years ago when the Messiah, that our Jewish friends are still waiting for, was preparing to eat a last meal with his closest friends. While His people were walking briskly to and from the temple, He was trying to prepare His friends, as best he could, for what was to come.

This year, He would be the lamb that was slain. But so caught up in their holy plans...shopping, cooking, cleaning clothes, going through the religious motions?...they did not notice.

May it not be so with me this Passover.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Luke 22:7. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said "Look, the Lamb of God!" John 1:36

In the story of the Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of firstborn sons. The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover".When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is also called חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (Ḥag haMaẓot), "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread". Matza (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called Matzo. (Wikipedia)

Clothe Yourselves

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

But on the outside? These t-shirts ROCK.

I read about the women who started Wild Olive on someone's blog and after one look at their shirts, I knew I'd be ordering a few (my "Transform Your Mind" is on back-order).

I've mentally designed hundreds of hip, Christian t-shirts and if my designs ever made it to production? They would look like Wild Olive's!

(Oh, how my brain thanks them.)

Wild Olive, I love you!

Do you make hip Easter dresses and uber-cool bonnets?

*Our daughter took these photos for me last week when I intended to write this post. When I went over to their site this morning I discovered that by writing this post (and telling them) I'm now entered into a drawing for some free shirts. That was a nice surprise since I planned on writing about my new t-shirts just because I love them! You can visit these great ladies by clicking the cute "God is Good" button on my sidebar.

Random 22

22 Random Things About Me...

I was born on the same day (22) as my sister, and same day and year as my husband.

Every spring, when I was a child I picked the neighbor's daffodils (!) and hillside violets for my mom.

I love Apple Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

I play the piano.

I am horribly impatient when helping my children with homework.

I have loved spending time with my parents my whole life.

People think I look like this picture of my grandmother.

I have never been unloved.

I wish my Mom were still alive.

I like silence in the morning.

I love to laugh.

I like to make others laugh more.

Marrying my husband was the best decision I have ever made.

I love the smell of a campfire.

Jesus is my Lord.

I can be an awful Disciple.

I am blessed with beautiful and positive friends.

My closest friends love Jesus.

I am a germophobe.

I experienced a touch of post-partum depression after our first child was born.

I lived in Alexandria, Va for 2 years.

I love the sky.