Easter Fun

This post is just some fun stuff I have made for Easter this year.  One good thing (and the list is not long) about always running behind is that this banner I started last year was easy to complete this year!  Here is the idea I saw and followed. Their banner was designed to hang down on a wide ribbon.  I think that is where I went astray last year…I never bought the ribbon.  This year I didn’t take time to run to Joann’s either so I went with punching holes in the corners and hanging it over our fireplace.  I think I am a little disappointed that the letters do no stand out more…especially in a photo.  But I did like using the floral paper and  I love the spring colors.  I was thinking I might do a “He Is Risen” banner also.  Maybe I could start it this year and finish it next!

I tried to scrunch the squares up to get it in a photo.  It just was hard to capture the entire thing and to have no shadow. 

Here’s a close up of just one letter…the banner spells “easter.”

I am filling in for one of the Sunday School teachers at our church for a couple of months.  It has been fun teaching older kids.  I have the 4-6th grade girls.  I made these little treat boxes for them last week.  We won’t be having class this Sunday because of the Easter drama the church is presenting.  You can find the video tutorial for these at my chic’n scratch.  She’s one of my favorite blogs on cards and paper crafts.

I picked up a couple cute stamps at Hobby Lobby recently…thinking of my grandkids.  I love this little girl, she has a Bible in her basket.  All I did was stamp them on paper ( you know I ‘m a big stamper, right?) and punched them into tags.  I tied them to a  for a milk carton full of jelly beans for Elaine and Nolan.

I didn’t make these plants but they have been fun for me to watch this Easter season…Christmas cactus in bloom!  Last year I watered the plants for one of our residents when he leaves for the winter.  This year he is not returning.  He decided to sell and stay in Arizona.  His kids have been clearing out the house and they gave me the Christmas cactus plants…and a pretty nice wrought iron stand they set on.  I had wanted to repot them every time I went to his house and watered, they were in such small pots.  So, now I did.  I don’t know if that motivated them to bloom or just why, but bloom they have.  I find it interesting that my Christmas cactus and his are both blooming now for Easter.  Also interesting is that my cactus used to be a pink flower but it is more red now.  They are really pretty. 

I hope you do some fun things this spring and Easter!

Thankful Thursday

I think I saw this little quote on Facebook… “When you are going through hard times and you are wondering ‘Where is God?’, remember the teacher is always silent during the test.”   It has bugged me every time I think of it, I just don’t think I agree with that.  It does not seem to ring true with all the admonitions God gives in His Word to “Trust Me”.  I do believe God tests us, but I think it is always an open book test!  And I know we go through difficult things but that is not a surprise to God.  He is the one who told us,  “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!”  (John 16:33) 

How thankful I am that God does not leave us floundering about, but His Word is an anchor for our soul because it finds its hope in Jesus Himself.  I do not believe that His promise to us could be very trustworthy without that hope.  Here’s just a few of His promises that have been filling my heart and mind lately….Hebrews 13:5-6, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.  The Lord is my helper;  I will not fear:”  Nahum 1:7, (our Mom’s favorite), “The Lord is good.  A stronghold in the day of trouble;  and He knows those who trust in Him.”  Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  My favorite crisis verse is Psalm 9:10, “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  God’s Word is full of promises to help and to not fear and to trust Him!! 

The past few weeks have been like a whirlwind for my sister Robin.  After feeling sick and going to the doctor, she went from a diagnosis of a bladder infection to gallbladder issues.  But an ultrasound revealed a large mass on one of her ovaries.  After receiving the results of an MRI, she was given an appointment with an oncologist.  Her first appointment landed her right in the hospital facing surgery.  They removed a large tumor, the size of a loaf of bread, from her ovary and did a complete hysterectomy.  She just went home on Wednesday.  So now she waits for all the pathology results. I think that all of this would be a bit overwhelming.  I am sure she and my brother in law and their family have had their moments.  But how thankful it makes me to know that their trust is that firm, soul-anchored-to- God’s Word kind.  That though the circumstances of their life are topsy turvey, their hearts are settled, trusting, and at peace. 

My sister is one that always has a big smile to share with others, regardless of what is going on and how she feels.  I love that about her.  She would do anything to help you out.  And she has done that for so many people.  You reap what you sow, and she is now reaping in these circumstances, a harvest of friends visiting, praying, loving, and doing things to help.

Whatever difficult things you are walking through right now, don’t think that God does not care or that He is just watching to see how you do on the test.  If you know Him as your Savior, He is walking right beside you.   Take the Open Book test, spend some time in the Psalms and find your own favorite scriptures you can trust and cling too.  I bet you’ll get an A+!!!

Thankful Thursday

I know the calendar says that the first day of Spring isn’t until next week, but we have had some gorgeous days yesterday and today.  I am giving into spring fever…the tulips and daffodils are pushing up through the cold hard ground and that is just how I feel.  Although we have not had a lot of snow this year, it has been a dreary winter.  I don’t remember seeing Colorado’s blue skies as much as normal.  I think I’ve had what my Mother calls the Winter Blues.  So I am very thankful for the coming of Spring this year.  The signs are everywhere, in the flower beds, on the budding trees.  I planted primrose last year.  I have planted it before at our house but for the first time, it has come back!  The robins have returned and the birds are chirping in the mornings.  You wouldn’t believe the duck action on the ponds!  The bees are waking and buzzing in the hive.  Even Gypsy seems to have a spring in her old step…she’s not so content to stay inside.  Nature seems to be getting energized and I am ready to do the same. 

Looking forward to Spring causes me to be thankful that when God created the world, seasons were a part of His plan.  I’m so thankful for the variety that each one brings.  And because I’m fickle just about the time I’m longing for a change, the season will do just that!   But for now, I am going to be thankful for the season of Spring!

Gypsy’s favorite way of spending winter days!

For lo the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone,
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of singing has come
And the voice of the turtledove
Is heard in our land.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Not a Typical Sunday

Sunday morning we received a phone call that our church was cancelling services.  I was kind of glad because we were not going to make it anyway.  At least now I wasn’t going to miss anything!  I was not going because I had been sick for the past two days and still not feeling that great.  Wally was not going to make it because he was looking at hours of snow plowing and shoveling.  Yes, finally we were going to get some snow!!.  I had even received a message on my cell phone of a blizzard warning for Sunday.  That’s a first!  

Wally was already in snow removal mode on Saturday.  He called to reserve day laborers to help shovel…we are responsible to hand shovel snow from the driveways and sidewalks of 125 residents.  Wally also checked the Kubota to be sure it was gassed up and that there was plenty of diesel on hand for refueling.  He plows the visitor parking spaces and the parking lot at the clubhouse.  Our main streets are contracted out. Then the continual checking of the forecast began.  I think Wally got up every couple hours in the night to see if the snow had begun yet…honestly, our forecasters have not been very accurate this year at all.  But this round they got it…

This is Wally’s assistant, Nathanael.  He fills in for Wally if he is ever gone but he is also on call to assist in the snow removal.  His main job is to oversee the hand shovelers.  Nate has done this since we took over but this was his last week with us.  He has been going to school and seeking a career in law enforcement and it is time for him to move on.  Wally has said numerous times how much he is going to miss Nate.  I will too.  He always has a nice smile and laugh going on.  He is a hard worker and very dependable!  Tough qualities to replace these days. 

We usually feed our day laborers.  They come form all walks of life and we never know when they may have eaten last.  Twelve men arrived about noon and started in shoveling.  They worked around the circle until about 4:00 and then I had a crock pot of chili and a pan of hotdogs ready for them.  I also made these lazy day cookies, which I found on Pinterest.  (I found them when I was surfing around on my sick bed.)  So easy and so good!

The snow and wind were still falling and blowing.  So the guys went back out and re-shoveled the neighborhood.  They finally quit about 8:00 and we had some Papa Murphy’s pizzas for them.  Five of them came back on Monday to shovel yet a third time!  That’s a lot of shoveling!  Wally said we got about 12”. The news said 9”, but they were inside!  And the moisture will be so good! 

I have to say I’m glad this isn’t a typical Sunday.  I missed going to church.  I missed the great music and I missed our Pastor’s teaching.  We are just getting acquainted with people at this church and I missed the fellowship we have been finding there.  I also missed the rest of the day.  And it makes for a long week! 

A Tea-Riffic Idea

Awhile back I came across an idea for a gift card wallet.  One creative person made it into a tea-wallet.  I thought it would be a cute idea for Birthday gifts to my sisters.  Then I got a little overwhelmed with Christmas card making…did I ever share that I made cards for all the residents here at Polo Club? Wally even helped me do a lot of the cutting.  So I put Robin’s gift on hold and told her it was coming.  In January when it was Jo’s birthday, I was still a little overwhelmed, this time with thank you cards.  I think I made 63 thank-you’s  for the residents who also gave us gifts over Christmas…I’m thinking I did not share that either.  Probably I was overwhelmed! 

Well I finally got my tea wallets made and delivered.  Yes, Robin’s Birthday was in October but she just got hers last week.  Jo’s was not quite that lat.  I’m a big believer in “better late than never!”   They really turned out cute!

You could put just about anything in the little pockets. Since Jo’s wallet was her entire gift, I put a Starbuck’s gift card and some cash in the little pockets. She is having a little get away with her roommate and I thought she might get to do some shopping.

Oh and here’s my Christmas cards.  I did not use my belief in “better late than never” here, they were all made and delivered by mid-December.

Thankful Thursday

Happy Valentine’s Day!  It has been a nice day with my Valentine!  We have never been big Valentine’s Day celebrators…a little candy and  a card maybe.   It is one holiday that does not stress out my husband too much.  In fact Valentine’s  Day and our Anniversary are two events that Wally never seems to mind taking part in or spending money on.  He even gets into it whole-heartedly!  Tonight he is fixing me dinner.  He asked me to get him a table cloth, candles, the china, and my iPod with some nice music!  Pretty nice, huh?  Now it’s not like that every year.  There’s been some years  he was at the store the day after to get a card and a time or two my Valentine was a make-up card!  Still, all in all, I am blessed to have Wally as my husband.   I am thankful for him…and that he wants me for his Valentine! 

Here’s what Wally brought home for dinner…a fresh lobster from the Cherry Crest Restaurant.  We did this once years ago, bought a bucket and went home and boiled dinner!  This year Wally planned “surf and turf!”

He gathered all his favorites from favorite restaurants…from the Outback he brought home our salads.  From the Buckhorn Exchange he brought their homemade Ranch dressing.  I don’t know what they put in it , but it is really good!   And for dessert, Buttermilk Pie from No-No’s .   

Here is what I provided…the tablecloth, the candles, the china and the iPod.  Wally put it all to good use, in front of the fireplace in the clubhouse.

Pretty big lobster…glad Wally knows what to do with it.  I just had to eat the meat he pulled out of the inside!  And it was delish!

Happy Valentine's Day
and
Thank You Wally!!!

Thankful Thursday

Editor’s Note:  I know it is no longer Thursday and that my Dad’s Birthday was yesterday.  But if you won’t stress about that, neither will I!

Today is my Dad’s Birthday.  He is now 87 years old and how thankful I am for my Dad!  Eighty-seven years, that is a l-o-n-g time! I look back at the changes that I have had in my life and I am amazed.  I mean my high school years are now referred to as “retro” and  I guess retro is really in!  I find that interesting since I was never “in” in high school but now I am!  So I try to imagine what it is like to look back on the changes that  87 years bring, and all of the experiences and events that have been part of my Dad’s life.  What a lot of living!  Here at the Polo Club I am living among people who are in the same stage of life as my parents.  They have wonderful stories to tell.  They live in circles of affluence that I did not know existed.  They travel and have multiple homes.  They have lived successful and prosperous lives…as the world counts success and prosperity.  But the Bible describes success and prosperity much differently~

Joshua 1:8, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from you mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

I am beyond blessed to have a Dad who has a life of success and prosperity from God’s point of view.  I know that is rare even among Christian families.  I know too that my Dad is not perfect or without mistakes in his life.  His life is just rooted in God’s Word.  It changed him when he trusted the words in it to save him from his sin and to give him a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  It has changed him each day of his new life, making him to be more and more like Christ.

My Dad has spent many hours of his life reading and studying God’s Word.  Since I was a little girl I have had the example of an open Bible somewhere in our home.  I can remember my Dad reading the “Our Daily Bread” devotional around the breakfast table every morning before he left out the back door for work.  It is still the same today~he reads the Bible, he listens to Bible teaching on the radio, he has his favorite Bible teachers on the t.v., he attends Bible Study Fellowship, he is faithful to God’s House each Sunday taking in the Word. Even after all these years, he always has something new to share that he has discovered!  Once he and my Mom took a Bible class in prophecy.  I don’t know if that got him started or not, but he loves prophecy.  He is always focused on the imminent return of the Lord. 

Just in case you think sitting around reading the Bible is kind of boring, let me remind you my Dad had six kids. He did attend the sporting events and school programs.  There were lots of activities to get to.  He kept a huge garden for a lot of years.  There were picnics and outings to the mountains. He worked hard in road construction and for a number of years he worked a second job.  He taught Sunday School for a lot of years and was active in his church.  The point is, he had a full and busy life, but he chose to make God’s Word a priority in it.  Oh how I need to follow his example!

Success and prosperity have little to do with riches and life accomplishments here on earth.  But it is all about the riches and accomplishments done here on earth for God’s glory.  It is knowing God and seeing things from His point of view, then bringing yourself into alignment with that.  My Dad understood that!  And he has a very successful and prosperous life! 

Here’s Mom and Dad.  They had this photo taken last year for their 60th Wedding Anniversary~

Here is our family from Christmas 2012 when Nathan was home.  Add to this spouses, twelve grandchildren, many of which also have spouses and twelve great-grandchildren, plus at least two more are on the way!  Way to be prosperous Dad!

I love it when I get to observe Grandpa with his grandkids. I snapped this picture as we were breaking up for Christmas Eve this year…a little one on one time with Andrea. My Dad loves his grandkids.  He faithfully prays for them, takes an interest in them and does all he can to support them. I’m pretty sure they all love him just as much!

Here’s a picture of the “Singing Paulino’s” with a little bit of the '”retro” that I mentioned earlier!

So, maybe I should clarify the above picture…Paul is our last name and none of those guys sing…very well.  Marty had long hair because he was growing it out for a fundraiser for his camp, not because he has a little “hippie” left.  Scott does not play the piano…he plays the accordion! And Nate was home from Malaysia and brought all these cool shirts as gifts, so they were trying them on! 

We are all getting together for dinner on Saturday night to celebrate Dad.  But yesterday Mom and Dad came by to pick something up and we went to lunch together.  So here’s a fresh off the press Birthday photo of Dad and I. 

I am so very blessed!