A Year Ago…

For InSPIREd Sunday and Spiritual Sundays I’m going back to a road trip our daughter and I took to get her back to North Carolina to welcome her husband home from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan with the Marine Corps. One of the places we took time to visit was Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

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The Legend of the Dogwood

There is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber of the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: “Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross. ..two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember.”

I recognize that this is just a legend but I wanted to post this entry because I’ve always loved the Dogwood blooms. If I look at them and think about what my Savior did for me that’s a good thing. He created the tree, the beautiful bloom, and you and me to enjoy it!

We will be taking a short road trip to Canada on Saturday. I’ll share about our time next week. It takes us under two hours to get to the U.S./Canadian border from where we live in Washington State. Hope you have a wonderful first weekend in May!

Hello May!

Early this morning on this first day of May I wandered around our yard and clicked away…

So full, so lush, so many shades of green to enjoy.

Our state flower is the Rhododendron and some of our bushes are blooming.

The soft pink Rose Bud Azaleas bloom later than the bright ones in the next photo.

I’ll give my lilac blooms till Sunday to completely open up and then I’ll bring them inside to enjoy their fragrance.

Thankful today and joining Susanne’s Fave Five to say…

Thank you Lord for Spring flowers and the month of May.

Thank you Lord for a yard that I can enjoy your creation in.

Thank you Lord for a home I can relax in.

Thank you Lord for friends and family and the peace we share.

Thank you Lord that you are the same yesterday, today and forever and we don’t have to fear the ups and downs of our culture.

What are you looking forward to in the Merry Month of May?!

Signs and Fences…

We are in wedding mode counting down the days to our son’s wedding in June. This sign is hanging in our son’s home. Linking up with Lesley for Signs, signs!

While Dear and I were on Bainbridge Island we saw these fences. Of course I thought of Good Fences and Tex Wis Girl!

We are looking forward to a special event coming up on Saturday. We had to chuckle when Dear’s fortune cookie said “Traveling to the north will bring you unexpected happiness.”

What are your plans for the first weekend in May?

Peonies and Purple Blooms

Time for ABC Wednesday and the letter P! Thank you Mrs. Nesbitt, Roger and the whole ABC Team!

I love all the shades of purple that are growing in my yard right now. My lilac blooms are almost full.

Pansies and the ground cover have purple blooms.

I have the promise of more peonies this year than last.

More perennials that are purple.

And here’s my Bible Verse Card for the Letter P!

And on the subject of peace here are some words from the Prince of Peace, Jesus;

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

I’m continuing to enjoy a peaceful week at this old house. We had some very warm weather here on Monday. It reached 76 degrees in our town. Tuesday is another story. Hopefully I’ll be able to mow the lawn before the rain comes in.

Do you have promises of more blooms in your yard?

The Barn Collective

Before April slips away I wanted to share a couple of barns from the Skagit Valley, The Tulip Capital of Washington State!

This barn has been converted into a Deli/store.

It’s right off the interstate at the exit I take to go to La Conner and to the tulip festival.

Another barn on my usual route. The yellow you see in the background are rows of daffodils.

Can’t remember if I showed this Mt. Vernon beauty before.

Since I mentioned the fact that this area is our tulip capital I’ll leave you with one more photo of the tulip fields from this area last year…

I’m linking up at Rose Street Reflections for Amy’s Barn Collective #29.

I’m happy to report while visiting our son in Eastern Washington a few weekends back we saw many barns that I’ll be able to share in the future.

April is winding down and we are on the 2 month countdown to our son’s wedding. Fun times ahead. How is spring shaping up in your corner of the woods? I heard some of you got another snow fall!!

Opening Hymn

Alton to Cotswolds 146

Opening Hymn

Another Sabbath day has come,
Another week is o’er;
And we, a grateful, happy throng,
Are gathered here once more:
We meet to sing of Jesus’ love,
And bow to Him in prayer,
We meet to read His holy Word,
And learn our duty there.

Our Sunday school, our Sunday school;
No place on earth so dear!
How many precious souls have found
The way to glory here;
And now around the shining throne
They wait for us to come
And share with them the fadeless love
Of their eternal home.

Oh, may the seed thus early sown
Spring up on goodly ground,
And in our hearts, our souls and lives
May fruit of grace abound—
Immortal fruit, that yet shall bloom
In paradise above,
Where we, with those now gone before,
Shall sing redeeming love.

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1881.

Reflecting…

Reflecting on my many blessings this past week and thanking God.

This was taken out one of the windows at the Bellevue Art Museum in Bellevue, Washington.

1. A super filled Saturday where I re-connected with dear friends from my church growing up, my high school, and with my family and dear old Pop. It was good to see so many people I love in only 12 hours!

2. Beautiful Spring blooms are everywhere here in the Pacific Northwest and it makes me smile to look out my own kitchen window and see these Dogwood blooms.

3. A successful shopping trip where our daughter found her dress for a wedding she is in and I found a comfortable pair of shoes for our son’s wedding. Little blessings that will make for a more comfortable day of celebrating!

4. A Low Key weekend ahead. The last three weekends have been filled to the brim and it’s nice to know this weekend we’ll be able to catch our breath.

At the Art Museum…

5. Besides shopping on Tuesday Katie and I hopped across the street from the mall to the Bellevue Art Museum and enjoyed Madeleine Albright’s collection of pins together. No photos allowed of the pins but we found some other things to photograph!

Katie took this one looking up. Always remember to look up!

Do you have some blessings to reflect on this week? Here’s something more to consider…

I’m linking up with the lovely Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Friday’s Fave Five and with Weekend Reflections.

Have a wonderful last weekend of April everyone!

Signs and Fences Main Street Chewelah!

The next time I’m in Chewelah I’m going to stop at this bakery on Main Street. I would have noticed it sooner but it’s on the opposite side of the highway from the stretch we generally travel.

It’s my understanding that this is run by Mennonites. Double my curiosity and desire to stop in the next time I’m in town.

Driving down to the end of Main street we saw this great old house with a nice picket fence around it.

I’m linking up to Signs, signs by Lesley and Good Fences at Run Around Ranch Report with Tex Wis Girl.

I have recuperated from my weekend trip and am happy to have more low key days and weekends for a while. Spring is amazing here in the Pacific Northwest with so many blooms and so much green!mohai8

Are you enjoying some green and Spring yet in your corner of the world?