Blessings and Resurrection

This was an Easter unlike any other. As a mom, you try your very best to make each holiday extra special and magical. You want things to go perfectly so you plan and plan down to every little detail, but life has a way of throwing a curve ball or two that you just can't plan for unfortunately.

In the weeks leading up to Easter, we were extra busy with holiday things...my son's Easter program at preschool in which he had an important, solo line to recite. He'd practiced and rehearsed for weeks. We were so tremendously proud of him!

The program was followed by days of holiday crafts, parties, egg hunts and visits with the Easter Bunny (and lots of shopping, planning, and work for this mom!) The anticipation mounting as Easter Sunday approached.

Coloring dozens of Easter eggs at home together...

And this mom had BIG plans to surprise my little guy with giant Easter eggs (purchased from Michaels) for him to find along our annual backyard hunt...

Ginormous Fillable Easter Eggs!

With special messages from the Easter Bunny!

And carefully lining the Easter egg hunt route with adorable signage just for added fun (too bad it POURED Easter morning)!

and then a treasure hunt to find his Easter basket!

Grass green Easter Bunny Tracks lead to the first clue!

After five clues, he found his basket!

My husband and I were up every night stuffing plastic eggs with assorted candies, money, tiny (and not-so-tiny) toys. Our plans were right on track!

He had a blast opening all of the little and giant eggs filled with Hot Wheels cars, toys and candies - not to mention his basket...

Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars in the eggs!

E.B. from the movie, "Hop"

But then that curve ball came...

Saturday night we went out for a lovely dinner in honor of our 10th Anniversary and Easter, and just as the food was served, my little guy became violently sick (projectile vomiting all over his plate). We didn't think much of it at the time - maybe he'd eaten something earlier in the day that didn't agree with him, poor guy.

He seemed to feel instantly better, and didn't throw up again until late that night...but then it didn't stop.

All of Easter Sunday, he was sick (along with my husband), until it became extremely worrisome that he couldn't even hold water down so we took him to the E.R.

There's nothing scarier for a parent than seeing your little one so unlike himself/herself that they need to go to the hospital. Needless to say, it was a long, scary night for us. His blood sugar was dangerously low when he arrived. It took some time for him to return to feeling "great as new", as he would put it.

There's nothing like a scary incident like that to put everything into perspective. Decorations don't matter...having the perfect holiday table doesn't matter...having the perfect Easter basket filler didn't matter...even the rainy morning didn't matter...all that mattered is that my little 4-year old boy was well again!

And that to me is the true meaning of Easter ~ the love of one another that was so extraordinary that Jesus died and was resurrected for our sins. The eternal love that God has for each of us to have life everlasting by His Grace.

I hope your Easter was truly blessed ~ beyond the baskets, beyond the ham dinner and desserts with loved ones. 

I made another Easter Bunny carrot cake with cream cheese frosting that no one ate.

For what truly matters is this life is love...and those precious moments that we have with one another.

Happy Easter

Window Boxes

It's chancy, but I went ahead a little early and started planting annuals.  I usually wait until Memorial Day here in PA, but I plant quite a bit between flower beds and our vegetable garden so I wanted to divide it up over the next few weeks to make it more manageable. 

I started this weekend with some window boxes.  It was my son's decision to choose which flowers he wanted ~ and quite honestly, I think he did a fantastic job!  He chose gorgeous, tri-colored begonias that look lit from within.  They complement the cascading petunias, lobelia and the torenia perfectly.  

Didn't they turn out so pretty? 

Redolent Lilacs

They say that the sense most closely linked to memory is scent.  Then for me, lilacs above all other flowers most closely remind me of my mom :)  I'm fortunate to have the beautiful lilacs that she planted many years ago still blooming in my spring garden.  

Every year without fail, their beauty and uniquely graceful fragrance surround my home, reminding me of my mom ~ working in her garden.  She passed away when I was a teenager after a long battle with cancer.  The return each spring of her lilacs is like a sweet reminder of her.  I proudly explain to my son that they're his grandma's lilacs, as he buries his nose in the blossoms.  And he smiles and says, "I can almost smell her, Mommy...so beautiful."  :)

Happy May Day

: Happy May Day :

How to celebrate:

Step 1.

Make a pretty flower basket

Step 2.

Leave it on the doorstep of a friend

(particularly nice for one that hasn't been feeling well)

to wish them a

Happy May Day!

Because every day should be Earth Day

: Happy Earth Day :

Things to do in the spring...

Now that we're well into April, and winter is {I hope} a thing of memory, there are so many joyous things to do in the spring. I hope you find my list inspirational and discover some ways that perhaps you hadn't thought of for your own family to enjoy the season!

1. Take time to appreciate the beauty around you...

With beautiful spring flowers and trees, 

there's so much beauty to behold in the spring, 

but be careful - it's all too fleeting 

if you aren't paying attention!

2.  Appreciate all of God's creatures

Nature is so busy in the spring time.  

Birds building nests, animals awakening from hibernation. 

Spring is a marvelous time to take a nature walk 

and discover all of the activity around you.

3.  Ride a bike

With summer on the horizon, who doesn't want 

to shed a few extra winter pounds?  

Biking is not only great exercise, it's cathartic to the mind! 

4. Hang clothes out on the line

Let the spring air dry your clothes and infuse them 

with the fresh smell of blossoming trees 

and warm spring breezes! 

5.  Feed the birds

Hang a feeder, set out a birdbath, put out a birdhouse.
They'll reward you by sticking around through the warmer months 

with their beautiful songs and eating those pesky bugs!

6. Fly a kite

Acting like a kid once in a while does wonders for your spirit :)  

7. Take a trip to the garden center

And see the many varieties of summer annuals

and perennials that they have. 

You might just find something new for your garden!

8. Go on a picnic

You can make it a romantic picnic for two...

a family picnic for all...

or just a quiet lunch al fresco for one with a good book :)

9. Visit a farm or farmers market

There's nothing like farm-fresh produce

and seeing all of the adorable farm animals!

10. Take a hike!

 You don't have to be an avid outdoor enthusiast

to enjoy a pleasant hike in the woods.

Pack comfortable shoes, a picnic lunch, binoculars

and a camera and discover all of the wonders of springtime!

 I hope your spring is filled with joy and beauty!   

Take a moment out of your busy everyday life 

to savor the splendor of this gorgeous season with those you love!