And Spring Came in a'Springing

Has Spring Come to Your House Yet?

Along with tons of pollen, Spring has come a'springing at our house.

How better to share it with you than from my camera?

Double Camellia laden with pollen dust

Snapdragons are happy, happy, happy right now.

 We Southerners love our Azaleas and they are just about to explode in Northwest Louisiana.

We love hearing the early morning chirping and cooing of birds, and one family decided to make their new home up close and personal.  They were quite ambitious by the size of some of the twigs they thought they could use for building materials.

With all the evidence of spring outside, I thought I also needed to bring some inside.

 

 The wooden bird was carved by a street vendor in Jamaica several years ago.

Through the years we have acquired a number of Andrea porcelain birds that I treasure.  So I decided to display a couple of the smaller ones on the coffee table.

 This one is musical and was given to me many years ago by a very special friend.

 I found this adorable tray at Tuesday Morning several weeks ago and thought it was perfect for my spring coffee table.

 I love the whimsy of the feather and twine balls in this arrangement.

 Some of my other Andrea birds are kept in my secretary along with a 1978 Limited Edition Lenox Plate of Boehm Birds titled "Mockingbirds."

 And, this is my cozy early evening living room bedecked for spring.

You will notice I even added a couple bird pillows on the sofa.

One of mine and my husbands favorite feature of our home is the effect of the morning sun as it plays in our living room.

  As you celebrate Spring and Easter in your home, my prayer is that you will know and celebrate the Peace of the Risen Lord and the Light He brings into your life.

Granddaughters, Eggs and Pecans - Wow!

Thank you Joyce for taking time to give us some discussion questions this week.

1. April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. When did you last 'shower' attention on someone or have attention 'showered' on you? Did you love it, or did all that attention make you squirm?

Well, since today is our oldest granddaughter's 21st birthday, I featured her on my blog yesterday.  I guess that could be called showering attention on someone.  She loved it and was so appreciative.  She is a delight so it was a fun blog to do.  If you missed it, you can just scroll down and meet our special Chandler.

2. Share a favorite 'spring break' memory. Not talking about just the 'college spring break' thing, but any favorite spring break memory you'd like to share. Keep it family friendly please!

I think I will take this forward.  We leave this Sunday after morning worship to head to Indiana to spend Easter and a couple more weeks with our family up there.  We can hardly wait, and right now, those are the memories I look forward to making.
 
3. It's National Pecan Month...are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite dish that calls for pecans?

Oh yes, definitely a Pecan fan!  It is hard to beat a good old southern Pecan Pie and my sis, Gin makes the best.  Also, a favorite is Pecan Pie Muffins.  But, I like pecans on everything from cereal to Sweet Potato Casserole.

4.  'Put all your eggs in one basket', 'egg on your face', 'rotten egg', 'walk on eggshells', or 'a good egg'...which egg-spression could most recently be applied to your own life?

I am having a hard time applying any of these to me right now.  But while we're on the subject of eggs, someone sent me the neatest video on how to separate egg yokes with a water bottle.  If this whets your curiosity, then click HERE.

5.  In my experience I believe God's word to be Truth; God is always faithful and good; It is wise to let your Hubby know you couldn't make it without him.

6. What's a  favorite song with the word rain in its title or lyrics?

3.  "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" by B.J. Thomas
2.  "The Rhythm of the Falling Rain" sung by the Cascades in the early 60's
1.  "Just Singing in the Rain" Gene Kelly
 
7. What does the word hope mean to you?

"Faith, Hope, and Love"
My hope is in Jesus Christ, knowing that my future inheritance is with Him for eternity.  Because of this hope, I can live in faith and love each and every day.

8.  Insert your own random thought here

My northern family has been encased in snow and ice for months.  They are so tired of heavy coats and sweaters.

 So, when Mom and Dad gave them their choice of where to spend Spring Break,

they chose Orlanda, Florida.

 Now that was quiet a wardrobe change for these pretty snow birds.

All reports indicate even Mom and Dad had a great time with the Disney Characters and all are looking forward to spending a week at Universal Studios.

 

 We can't wait to hear all about it when we get there next week.

Where Has the Time Gone!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

21 years ago tomorrow, we were blessed with our first

GRANDCHILD!

Chandler Elizabeth Wilkerson

Oh what a joy and dimension of love you brought into our lives!

 "We thank our God at every remembrance of you!"

You are a 4th generation "Elizabeth."

You were such a happy, delightful baby and the "Apple" of your mother's eye!

 Always a little lady!

With a heart of pure gold!

You have been the best "big" sister Cassidy could ask for.

And, such a beauty!  Inside and Out!

Talented and blessed with intelligence and a heart for the things of God!

Blessed with a loving family.

And the Love of Your Life! 

 We thank God for giving you Brad who will love you forever.

Thank you for being our special girl for these

21 Years!

 May God continue to be first in your life as He continues to bless you abundantly!

Love you, Chan!
Daddea & Bibby 

Are You Blind?

I am joining a new group today.

Still Saturday

Come join others who are sharing on this Saturday.

Last weekend, I was in Dallas for a conference and stayed over to attend church with friends on Sunday.  As we drove through a crowded stretch of nice inner-city streets toward the church, we noticed a woman walking on the sidewalk with a cane - obviously blind.  And we said something like,

"Oh my goodness, look how fast that blind woman is walking on these busy streets."

My friend even said,

"I admire someone like that so much,"

and we all agreed.

And that was that.  We went on our way never giving this "blind person" another thought.

UNTIL .......

The passage for the morning message was John 9:1-41.  The story of the man blind from birth whom Jesus healed with mud made from His spittle.

The pastor explained that we see a blind person, but we only see that she is blind.

We don't see the person!

We see a homeless person and only see that he is dirty and suppose he has a mental or drug problem.

We don't see the person!

We see a young woman selling herself on the street, and see that she is living a life of sin.

We don't see the person!

In reality, we are worse than the blind person.  We see, yet we are blind.  We have vision, yet our heart is not sensitive.  Our heart is hardened and blinded.

We are not seeing what God would have us see!

God is "The Light of the World" and sees the person, not the problem.

He says,

"You Matter!"

Jesus sees the blind and loves but He doesn't concentrate on the blindness as we do.  He sees how He can fix that blindness - how He can minister and use the blindness to show Himself.

Not all blind persons are healed and given back their sight, but God desires to show His light into their life and circumstances.

Not all homeless people are given a job and a lovely home in which to live, but God desires to show them Himself and bring light and security into their situation.

Not all call girls are given an immediate healthy lifestyle and a stable family, but God desires to show His light with forgiveness and wholeness.

We are called to be the "Light of God" to the multitudes, to the hurting, to the homeless, the forgotten.  But how can we when we are more blind than they are?

The only way to see the "Light" is to acknowledge that we live in the dark.

God chooses to use our blindness, our destitution, our brokenness in order for us to see who we really are -

when we confess we are blind!

My friend told me that they had never seen this woman before on the Sundays they travel that route to church.

Is it a coincidence that God allowed us to see this blind lady in order to demonstrate in a personal way that we are also blind?

I think not!

All About April!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 169

1. Since these questions are posting on the first day of April it seems only right to ask-when was the last time you did something foolish? If you can't answer that one, try this one-when was the last time someone fooled you?


I am going to have to plead the 5th on this one.
 
2. What's the last biography or non-fiction book you've read? Was it any good?

"To Marry an English Lord" by MacColl & Wallace.  Yes, I really enjoyed reading this book as it was a tale of "Wealth and Marriage, Sex and Snobbery" in the early 1800's to the early 1900's in America and England.  The dynamics played out in Downton Abby certainly make more sense now.  I did learn that Princess Diana was a 3rd generation heiress of such an arrangement.  All in all it was a very interesting history lesson.

I am currently reading "Hearts West:  True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier."  It's interesting enough, but not compelling.  Stories of Heiresses and Lords are much more captivating, I'm afraid.
 
3. Garlic-friend or foe? What's your favorite dish made with garlic?

Friend!  I love Garlic Bread, but also like a bit of garlic in most dishes.

4. Several Spring flower festivals happen in the US during the month of April. Of those listed, which would you most like to see in person...The Skagit Tulip Festival in Skagit Washington, The Dogwood Arts Festival in Knoxville Tennessee, The North Carolina Azalea Festival in Wilmington North Carolina or the Daffodil Festival Weekend on Nantucket Island, Massachussets?

Any and all of these would be wonderful to experience, but if we have to do just one, I think it would be The North Carolina Azalea Festival.  North Carolina is such a beautiful state and we just love our azaleas down in the south.  I am also thinking that either before or after enjoying the festival, I could do some sight-seeing through-out the state.

5. How do you choose which blogs to read?  What is something that will make you stop and read every time? Something that makes you say, 'eh, think I'll skip this one and move on to the next'?

I enjoy reading blogs that pertain to interests that we might have in common, such as decorating, fashion, art and of course favorite memes such as this one.  I also will read those who write devotional thoughts.  I usually pass on the ones that require more time to read than I have time to spend, or if it involves doing some crafty project.  I enjoy browsing all the blogs I have marked as favorites as time allows.

 

6. April is National Mathematics Education Month so tell us, when did you last use math?

A few minutes ago when a Mary Kay customer called for some products.  Yes Ma'am, I like doing that kind of math.  Ching, ching!

 

7. In honor of the A-Z challenge kicking off on April 1...choose one word beginning with the letter A to describe your yesterday.

Alertness!  Tuesdays are our Handbell Choir practice days.  As we will be playing for the church services the next two weeks, I needed all the alertness I could muster this morning.  I do enjoy playing handbells not only for the musical aspect, but it keeps my mind and eye/hand coordination  actively involved.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This past weekend I attended the Mary Kay Career Conference in Dallas.  We had a great time hearing inspirational speakers and seeing new products soon to be introduced.  It is always fun to re-unite with these beautiful Houston ladies.  Thanks Cele for being such a great hostess.

 On Sunday after attending church at Wilshire Baptist Church, we ate at a Mexican restaurant and because the day was so gorgeous, we ate outside in the courtyard.

I decided to try something new and ordered Sopas from the Brunch Menu.

Let's just say "Delicious!"

 

 Sunday afternoon, I got to spend a little while visiting with our daughter, Christy and granddaughter Ava Grace.  AG was practicing for an up-coming Children's Musical at Prestonwood Baptist Church.

It was so good to visit with them for a few minutes.

 

 And let me leave you with this thought:

Amen!