Easter Memories

Being away from family this Easter, I just kept thinking about highlights of Easter's passed. Yesterday here was a cloudy cool day and what brightened it up a little were the cute children at our church coming in with their new outfits they had gotten for Easter. The color's that seemed to be the most popular was pink and green....for sure. I know that is not what Easter is about, but guess it is okay to wear your best as we rejoice! He is risen, He is risen, Indeed! We had a few adventures yesterday with traveling in parts unknown to us in Denver. After church Jane & Homer Brown invited us, along with many others, to their home for a great lunch. (Family reunion style....all kinds of good food). Afterwards, we visited with a friend from church who was in the hospital. She was in a hospital near downtown and it was a bit of a challenge to find it, but we did and got to see parts of Denver that we had not seen before. After coming home, I just wanted to be lazy for a while and turned on the TV to the Dove Awards on the Gospel Music Channel. Sandi Patty was being honored during the awards, and that brought back memories of the days at Mulberry when we did "Living Pictures". Some of my most favorite songs are from those days. "More Than Wonderful", Behold the Lamb, We Shall Behold Him, I've Just Seen Jesus, Via Dolorosa"....just a few of the ones that I remember and still can sing along when I hear them. So much work and time went into those Living Pictures Ministries and feel happy that we could be a part of that. In watching the Dove Awards, a song was sung at the end of the program by Kirk Franklin, I Smile.. I can't get it off my mind. I hope to be able to add it to this blog, but we will see. If not, just look it up and see what you think. When I was hearing it, I defintely received a blessing from it and realized how important it is to smile, even if you don't feel like it.

Sounds like the weather in North Carolina was much better than here, and hope that everyone got a chance to spend some good time outside hiding easter eggs and relaxing!

Happy Birthday to Benjamin

I was thinking about Benjamin and how wonderful he is and remembering last year when he was born. I couldn't wait to see him! Byrum and I drove from Kings Mountain to Boone to the hospital to see Benjamin. He was just adorable, as all of our grandbabies. Byrum didn't know what to think about the whole thing but didn't seem too excited. (Just think about how much has changed in Ben's first year of life.) Ben has a new cousin, Eli, and Byrum has a new brother. I think Byrum is warming up to the babies now.

Ben, you are such a handsome little guy and so sweet!!!! I know Meme taught you a few bad habits while I was visiting, but doesn't table food taste much better than baby food?

Meme and PawPaw were happy to get to see you eat your birthday cake and we love you very much.

Nothing Could be Finer Than to Be In Carolina in the Springtime

Our visits to North Carolina are always so special! Everyday was busy and wonderful. (I have to say some of the days helping Mama move was not wonderful, but defintely busy. Some of the highlights were enjoying the beautiful blooming trees and flowers. I can't believe it, but I didn't take any pictures of Jason and Ashley's yard with the beautiful blooms everywhere. The trees in Lola's yard and John and Denise's were very pretty too. I captured some of the springlike weather in Boone, (snow, freezing rain, wind) but had a great time inside playing with Mia and Ben. So many things happened while I was there. Some of the highlights were: Mia discovering Granny Helen's lipstick stash. Going to the goat farm and Mia naming a baby goat, Dusty and feeding the chickens and collecting eggs. Going to visit Grandmommie and getting a little lost on the way there. Taking Mia to gymnastics, watching Ben play pat a cake and teaching him to say "Bye Bye" and to wave. Watching Mia changing from baby Mia, Lucy, Princess Mia, Cinderella, (I was "Her Majesty"), Ballarina. (Also taught Ben to eat little bits of bread....think he is going to like "big people" food)

Visiting with John and Denise and spending a special day with Will and a special day with Ellie, going to two rock concerts, going to church with Lola. ( I think Will is a bargain shopper like his Meme. ) Getting to go to "Build a Bear" with Ellie and seeing all the fun stuff you can do there. Enjoying the movie "Gnomeo and Juliet".

Getting to see Byrum and Jason at soccer practice. Byrum can't wait to hear about the games! Got some special time with sweet Eli. Enjoying all that time getting to hold him, and just love on him. Having special lunches with Byrum and strolling Eli to pick up Byrum from school.

As I am writing this, so many more things are coming to my mind. Guess I will continue on other blogs some of the other interesting things that happened.

Guess one of the things that was very special to me while visiting was the conversations I had with my children and their spouses. Being able to share your thoughts and hear them talk about their walk with the Lord is so special to me. Just counting my blessings today............

An Interesting Walk

The weather this week has been great for taking long walks outside. Yesterday, Elsie and I enjoyed the weather and took a walk to Daniel's Park. (Elsie's backyard, as she tells it). Elsie noticed a barefoot print alongside the road on both sides. Interesting that someone would be walking barefoot this time of year. Elsie has a prayer rock which she is standing on. (A great place to see Gods beauty as you talk to him. As we were admiring God's handiwork, I noticed something at a distance which looked sort of like a person. Got a closer look and was sad to see that Santa didn't make it back to the North Pole.

Happy Valentines Day!

On Saturday Sam and I went to a Valentines Dinner at our church. There were three couples sitting at our table, including us. Each table had to tell our group about someone we loved. We were each with our husbands and wives so we shared why we loved our spouses. It's hard to think of the right thing to say on the spot sometimes, but Sam is my true love. We have been together so long that we can read each others mind. We start to say something sometimes and we both are thinking the same thing and start to say the same thing. He is always my Mr. Dependable and most of the time, my problem solver. He knows what I like and he tries really hard to take care of me always. I love you, Sam.

I know for many, Valentines Day is just another day and maybe a day dreaded by some. I read the lyrics to a song before I knew it was a song and then I found it. It's beautiful; and hope you receive a reminder when you listen to it about God's great love for us. Okay, I can't figure out how to load this song on here, so the lyrics that I love are as follows: "God's response to what Love Really Means: I'll tell you that I, will love you for you and not for what you have done or what you will become. I will love you for you. I will give you the love that you never knew."

If you get a chance to look up the song, it is "What Love Really Means by J J Heller.

Guess this is like a Mother's love for her children, but even greater!

On our way to church yesterday

Castle Pines winter has been slowly getting here, but after looking at these pictures, guess you can say "Winter has arrived". I think it may have snowed almost every day last week and Sunday Morning, I decided to take a few pictures going to church. The scenery was beautiful as you can see. (Notice the picture of the snow covered roof tops) A few of the pictures are of our return trip home. I always want to take a picture of that little house with the little outhouse behind it, so I got my chance today. Can't you just imagine a pioneer family living in that house. I don't know the history of this property, but it is interesting to me to imagine life long ago.

They call this a "cold snap"

Just a few thoughts about the weather. IT'S COLD!!!!! Took a few pictures of our thermometer on the window. It shows 20 below 0. The high today is supposed to be around 0. This is the kind of day that even the native's stay in and drink hot chocolate. (Or at least a few of them do) Schools are closed which is rare. Can you imagine a child having to stand outside and wait for the school bus this morning.

On another note, Elizabeth Bailey (maybe you remember me asking for prayer for her and her family before. She has a brain tumor but has been doing pretty good. Several weeks ago, she fell and hit her head and has not been able to walk since that time. She is in Denver Children's hospital at this time and is in critical condition.) Elizabeth and her entire family (Mom, Dad, Sister and her two brothers along with all her family) would appreciate your prayers.