March Has Arrived!!

Yes! March has arrived, and has brought some rain showers to our land, which are greatly appreciated.

Yes, I know yesterday was the first day of March, but I had other things going on and never got around to announcing the changing of the calendars! So here we go:

Spring is coming, my dear friends! Here in the south where we live it has already pretty much begun, but I know for those of you in the northern part of our country you are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of the crocuses and daffodils and Robins and other signs of spring.  I did see some Robins yesterday and I believe they said they were on their way to see you, so just try to be patient! Spring is definitely on its way!

Oh, wouldn't you just love to take a ride in a horse and buggy through the beautiful spring countryside?  This John Sloane Country Seasons calendar always makes me long for "the good old days". 

The Teapot Calendar has a lovely tea party scene for us to enjoy...those little cakes certainly look scrumptious!  So people are just so clever and talented.  What a beautiful tea set too! I really think it's about time for a nice spring tea party!  

And this lovely view is on the calendar in my bathroom. Can't you just hear those waters making their noisy and rushing escape over the rocks and into that refreshing pool?  I love how the sun is shining and welcoming a new day...

But this calendar, which is in my hubby's bathroom, has to be my favorite for this month.  This is the Thomas Kincade calendar, and the paintings are always so gorgeous. I love that each one also has a Scripture reference.  As I looked at this picture, entitled "Walk of Faith", it appears that this is a picture of Jesus walking with a man, perhaps the "Rich Young Ruler" found in Mark 10:17-22.  Although I am sure the surroundings didn't look quite like that back in Israel at that time, but it is still a wonderful picture...and to be walking with Jesus in the garden would be something I know I would truly love to do...

But sadly, the rich young ruler was not able to give up his worldly possessions and do as Jesus said in this verse...

This is a good reminder for each of us during this period of Lent leading up to Easter. Am I able to deny myself and take up His cross daily, and follow Jesus?  It's not an easy thing for any of us to do even for this short period of the 40 days of Lent...but Jesus is asking us to do this every day.  Thankfully, like in the picture above, He walks along with us and guides us and helps us if we will just heed His words and follow Him.

Speaking of walking in the garden, my new rose bush has been blooming nicely and I am enjoying it so much.

The view of the "butterfly garden", while sitting on the swing in the Secret Garden.

And this is the view this morning...if you look really closely you can see Mrs. Crane sitting out there on her nest!

I am also excited to see that this bottlebrush bush is starting to develop blossoms! We planted this last year and it didn't bloom for long then, but now it looks like it is going to have a  lot of blooms! This will attract hummingbirds and butterflies, so I am happy to see it is thriving!  Just wait a few weeks and those buds will all be red!!

Over in the "Secret/Memorial Garden" the Easter lilies are starting to sprout up. I don't think they will be blooming by Easter, however. Probably more like Mother's Day, which is fine with me.

Also I am happy to see that the "Memorial Rose Bush" that we've had for almost 10 years is finally trying to make a comeback. I pray it will survive. This was a gift from my sister and sister in law for our Memorial Garden back when Matthew passed away, and it has bloomed on special occasions ever since, until this past year.  I cut it way back and fertilized it, and hopefully it is going to survive.

The azaleas have been blooming nicely in the Secret Garden:

The are a bright and colorful spot amidst the green of the trees and woody area surrounding the garden :

These bushes are still small, but they are still growing and they are producing so nicely.  That makes me smile!

This morning we just took a walk and I discovered these flowers blooming:

These are the Lady Lupine flowers that I've written about HERE before.

I also shared some pictures of them HERE a few years ago when I had a little tea party with Buster Brown and friends.

Of course I had to bring a few back home with me.  They are sitting next to a little vase of  "fairy flowers" from our yard. I just cannot resist picking little bouquets of these sweet flowers while they last.

Something else that makes me smile is this old vintage dinner plate that I found at our church Thrift store a couple of years ago. I only have two of them, but I enjoy bringing them out occasionally to brighten our meal...

Which yesterday happened to be this:

A delicious spring supper...tiny red boiled potatoes, fresh asparagus and sweet red beets, with a baked boneless/skinless chicken thigh.  I bake them in the oven for about 30 minutes with parchment paper over top to help seal in the juices and keep them very moist and tender.  It was a delicious 'spring' supper!

 Yesterday I finally got a haircut after three months!  Yes, I definitely needed it BAD!  Why did I wait so long you ask? Well, my hairdresser had the audacity to retire the end of December, leaving us with no other options. How dare she? LOL. Yes, she was actually older than I am and certainly deserved to be able to retire, but still, some of us just don't take to change very easily!  The one other hairdresser in town is swamped and can't accept any new customers for at least a month she said when I called her in desperation.  So finally yesterday I called Walmart (in the next city over) and booked an appointment with a gal that I last saw about 5 years ago, before we moved to this town. I was actually glad she was still there, but still, I don't like the system at the Walmart salon and not to mention the price was literally double what I'd gotten used to paying our sweet gal here who retired. She had not raised her prices in YEARS, and so we were spoiled.  Anyway, it did feel good to finally get my hair cut and I think she did a good job, even if it did break the bank (and that did not include shampoo or blow dry/styling! I had to go out with a wet head!)  I decided to take a few pictures this morning so I can remember how she cut it for next time, whether I go back to her or find someone else, at least I'll know how I want it cut!

Please don't look at the wrinkles or the sprinkles of gray.  Just the style. I like the way she did the back and hope I can remember that for next time.

Now we just have to find someone to cut hubby's hair. He did not like the Walmart system after sitting for over a half hour with his name on the list and the next girl available took someone who just walked in the door and overlooked him...so he walked out, and I ended up cutting his hair, which I have done zillions of times over the past 54 years, but I just don't like all the mess and fuss and cleanup and yesterday I cut a little too close with the clippers in one spot.  Thankfully it's not terrible, but I know it's there and I'd prefer him to find a professional to do it, as when my hairdresser retired, so also did the lady barber who was in the same place, which is who was cutting hubby's hair. We found out yesterday that there is a new person renting that space now and taking customers, so we shall see how that works out.  We kind of don't want to be the first customers...want someone else to be first so they can let us know how she does...

Well, folks, I guess this is enough for the first Saturday of March.   Here's a happy thought for today:

Isaiah 35:10 NKJV

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,

And come to Zion with singing,

With everlasting joy on their heads.

They shall obtain joy and gladness,

And sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Amen!

Have a lovely March weekend!

The Greatest Gift of All - Updated again!

I just re-read this post that I had updated last year from the original post of 2014. Today is 12/21/2016...and I'm not much better off as far as the gift wrapping and shopping goes...been wrapping all day,

Yes, that is an ironing board, disguised as a gift-wrapping table
in my bedroom.  Once a year I pull it out of storage and put it
to a good use! The adjustable height makes it a good table to
do my wrapping!  I can iron out the wrinkles of the wrapping
paper and recycle the gift bags as I go...Ho! ho! ho!

and trying to be sure I don't need anything else while I still have a few days left before Christmas...I wish I could say that being retired for a whole year changed my habits regarding shopping, etc., but alas! Some habits are very hard to break. Next year is a new opportunity to try again...we'll see what happens.  Meanwhile, this message written originally in 2014 is still very poignant and meaningful today.  I hope you will take the time to read it and be blessed as I was in writing it.  Yes, I am blessed when I write, because the Holy Spirit seems to take over and minister to me as He directs my thoughts to write what He wants to share with you and me.  

This was my update LAST year, 12/23/2015:

So, this is where I was around this time last year...Last year (2014) WAS a difficult year, and Christmas was something that I wanted to avoid.  Be sure to read the links included in this post from last year.  Now today, one year later, I am doing much better.  Although here it is December 23rd (Christmas EVE EVE), and I just finished wrapping our gifts. Finished the shopping yesterday...and can you believe that I actually retired a month ago, so I really shouldn't be so far behind...but some habits are hard to break...procrastination..especially regarding Christmas...I am hoping to be much better by this time next year, since I am retired I have no good excuse!

Anyway, please read on to get the full impact of this message written one year ago.  The purpose and plan of Christmas has never changed.  Jesus is the Greatest Gift of All!

Original post from 12/21/2014:

This post is not what it appears on the surface...Please keep reading...

By now most of my friends and family know that we did not send out our annual Christmas letter...and only a very few cards to some who don't have email or do Facebook.  And many of you also know that I had a hard time getting myself into the proper spirit for Christmas shopping, etc.  (click on the blue words for a link to these posts).
But if you have been following along the past week or so, you also will know that God came through, and He met me in my deepest place of sorrow, and gave me the strength and courage to choose JOY!

I am happy to report that after two long, grueling days of shopping and gift wrapping...I am feeling much better prepared to face this week and truly enjoy Christmas!  Thank you all for your prayers and words of support and comfort. You have blessed me with your love and wisdom, and I thank God for you.

Today has been a wonderful day of Sabbath Rest.  We had our

morning worship service here in our home, and the lesson today was taken from Matthew 13:45-46, which says:

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,

who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Not exactly an Advent or Christmas message for this fourth Sunday of Advent, the Sunday before Christmas.  At least not at first glance.  But as the message unfolded, we were asked to imagine ourselves as a person who had been captured and held prisoner, chained to others and forced to walk many days in the hot desert, back in the days of the Roman Government, which was in power at the time of Jesus' birth. Instead of food we were given very little water and a detestable watered down broth of some kind, just barely enough to keep us alive. As our horrendous journey continued, we were not permitted to speak or cry, and if one did, he would be severely punished by many lashes of the whip.  

After many days we finally arrived in a city, where the slave auction was held. One by one we watched our traveling companions be auctioned off to the highest bidder, to be purchased as a slave to cruel taskmasters who would make the previous journey seem like a vacation.

Suddenly it was my turn on the auction block. I was forced to stand before the bidders, my clothes were tattered and torn and filthy. I had not eaten or bathed in many days. My hair was matted and dirty, my body was bleeding from the many lashes I had endured. Weak, weary, and fearful, I tried to stay conscious as the bargaining and bidding began for my life. As I struggled to stand, listening to the jeers and jests of those around me shouting all manner of ugly and disgusting insults regarding my appearance, there was One bidder who stepped forward, and with a commanding voice He spoke His bid loud and clear above all the others.  The amount that He shouted out caused all the other slave traders to stop and turn around and look.  They began to question among themselves, "Who can this be? Why would He want this worthless prisoner...the one who looks completely beaten and defeated...the one who probably couldn't do a day's work no matter how hard she's whipped?  And what is that He said? He's giving all that He has to purchase this piece of human refuse! Who IS He?

And who can this person be who has such value in His eyes?"

Finally I heard the auctioneer shout, "Sold to the Highest Bidder! Take her away!"  I was expecting to be yanked up and rudely jerked off of the block and dragged along by my chains.  But instead, my Purchaser was kneeling before me, tenderly washing my wounds, removing the chains from my ankles and wrists, holding a cup of water to my lips, lifting me up and carrying me away in His arms. As He lifted me high above my previous tormentors, He gently whispered my name and called me His beloved child. I thought I must have died and gone to heaven, but He said, "You are my precious child...my chosen one...my "Pearl of Great Price!" 

I did not quite understand then what He meant by that...but when the day came that I saw this One hanging on a cross, crucified and dying, I understood.  You see, He did give all that He had for me...He gave His life, so that I might live.  And before He died He told me all that I would need to know so that I could one day join Him.  He said,

"Let not your heart be troubled; 

you believe in God,

believe also in Me.

In My Father's house are many mansions,

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and receive you to Myself,

that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know,

and the way you know...

I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14: 1-6 

You may be asking yourself, "What does this story have to do with Christmas?"  Well, my friend, it has EVERYTHING to do with Christmas!

Why did Jesus come to earth in the first place?

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, 

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45

And again:

This sign hangs in my living room...a very old heirloom from my husband's grandparents' home.  A powerful message there to remind us every single day that we were bought at a great price...the very life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He gave His life a ransom for us all...(see I Timothy 2:5-6)

This Christmas song tells it clearly: (click below for the song)

"Redeeming Love"

Bill & Gloria Gaither,  copyright 1963

Sung by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound

"From God's heaven to a manger,

From great riches to the poor,

Came the Son of God, a little Child;

From the azure halls of heaven

To a lowly manger stall,

Jesus came, and here He gave His life for all.

From a loving heavenly Father

To a world that knew Him not,

Came a man of sorrows, 

Jesus Christ, the Lord;

In my wandering Jesus found me,

Touched my life with His great love,

And this Babe has grown to be my sovereign Lord.

Chorus:

Redeeming Love,

a love that knows no limit;

Redeeming love,

a love that never dies;

My soul shall sing 

throughout the endless ages

The adoration of this great love on high!"

My friend, I am that precious pearl...and so are YOU.  This same Jesus left the "azure halls of heaven...to a lowly manger stall...Jesus came, and here He gave His life for ALL!" ...and that includes YOU! YOU ARE ALSO THAT PRECIOUS PEARL!  JESUS CHRIST HAS PAID YOUR RANSOM WITH HIS LIFE.  Won't you accept this greatest gift of all this Christmas?  The gift of your redemption from sin and sorrow...from the slavery of this old world...freely given for you, so that you might live! Yes, that IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

Update:  These pictures are from our front porch this year, 2015

Merry Christmas from our house to yours, 2015

This is the Greatest Gift of All!