A Walk

My sister and I took a walk this week

down our lane...

it was simply lovely.

The sun was just setting over the hills,

the air was clean and fresh,

with hints of warmer times

ahead.

The beauty of it all was priceless...

nothing can compare to the

feeling that comes with spring.

That smell...

of newness,

and hope and life all

mixed up in one.

It's the joy after a long winter,

when you wonder if spring will

ever come...

when you see that, yes, He is faithful

to bring about His newness to the earth,

and shower it again with His goodness

and life.

To know, that He not forgotten...

He will send the rain,

the sun,

the flowers and fruit to fill the

earth again.

Every season has its purpose,

and even when all looks bleak,

and cold,

and lifeless,

don't despair!

He has filled us with every good thing,

given us life eternal,

and promised us

Hope.

He hears our prayers,

He will bring

the

Spring.

~~~

But the path of the just

is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto

the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:18

Truth and Grace Ballet

Spring Recital

2009

Ballet Recital Preparations 

These are the cards that Bethany and I made

for the girls. What a fun time!

This is the third year of Truth and Grace Ballet;

a small ballet class taught by my sister and I at our

church. From a small start of only four students,

we have now grown to include ten girls, with promises

for even more growth next fall! The Lord has

surely blessed this venture, and we are so

very grateful!

Graduation

On May 15, 2009

my older brother graduated with

a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

We are so proud of him!

   

      

Card Making

My sister Bethany and I have always

loved designing and making cards for any

occasion conceivable, but when it comes to 

Mother's Day

we are in our glory!

Bethany's choice was sweet and cheery, so she went with

the yummy cherry look.

I have been practicing my cutwork, so I decided to

practice some more, and made this one!

Springtime Colors

 

Springtime Beauties

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose 

under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Lord spoke to my heart a while back

concerning the bare trees and my time of

waiting. I had quietly noted within myself 

how drab and unlovely the trees were looking

during the winter months and was contemplating 

it all and feeling quite sorry for them and myself

when all of a sudden the LORD reminded me how this

is the season that He has chosen for them and how

 during this time they wait patiently for the coming

and promised spring. 

This made me think... and in all truth I have never, in

all my life, heard a tree complaining about its lack of 

leaves, or its apparent bareness of fruit at the moment,

or  even seen a tree trying to uproot itself and run to 'better'

lands or 'nicer' climates. No. But I have seen the trees stand

faithful in the place where God has put them, and continue to

grow and stay rooted until the season when He grants them

their covering and fruit. They do not fret in the gray and hard

seasons, nor do they give up and just uproot. They stand tall

and faithful, and quietly wait for His timing, for His beauty

and for His great grace.

There is great beauty in not only blooming where we are

planted, but also in being content and waiting faithfully

and standing tall in Him when our blooms have yet to appear.

Now I look at the bare trees all 

around and think to myself

how really beautiful they are!

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines;

though the labor of the olive may fail,

and the fields yield no food;

though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

and there be no herd in the stalls-

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

and He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Off to fetch some eggs.

Last Monday we went to my grandparents' house

to visit them and our Aunt Pam, cousin Debbie,

cousin Niki and her two little guys, Travis and

CJ, who were all visiting from southern PA.

Travis, Jeremiah, Bethany and I all went out that evening to gather

the eggs for Grandpa, what fun memories!

Strawberry Shortcake 

This evening after dinner, we

had a delicious and springlike 

dessert of strawberry shortcake.

I have always bemoaned the fact that strawberry 

shortcake season is much too short, and have

longed for the days to arrive when it is eaten 

morning, noon and night.

Thankfully though, I was made aware to the idea

that one could indeed have strawberry shortcake

in March!

The strawberries were on sale this week, and the spring

weather was tantalizing, so we broke tradition and made

strawberry shortcake in March,

with plenty of whipped cream!