Celebration of Life

I know it sounds a bit corny, but every spring I get so excited about the beginning of new life, the smell of dirt, the lettuce popping up.  This morning we had another much-needed spring rain.  I carelessly opened the window and sucked in the freshness.

In the last two weeks the red-winged black birds have returned to our beyond-the-yard tall grasses.  The robins have blessed our newly planted oak tree with their presence.  They’ve also begun their yearly battle with Rusty, building unwanted nests under the deck.  I am thrilled to hear morning songs from the birds, despite the early hour.

The redbud we planted 3 years ago eked out only 3 tiny blossoms, but with last summer's heat, drought and bug attacks, we are happy it is alive and growing.

The 3 forsythia bushes I bought at the end of the season clearance sale last August at Home Depot are also alive and growing.  Only one bush had a few yellow blossoms; I’m hoping for better results next year.

New hostas have popped up under the deck and the peony bushes look like they might finally take hold. 

A friend of mine started the Widow’s Group that was so incredibly helpful to me after Frank’s death.  I feel sad and conflicted that this week she succumbed to death by suicide.

This gorgeous display was at her Celebration of Life.    

We witnessed the baptism of another new baby in church this morning; it is affirmation that life does go on.

Life is not simple.  It knows both joy and sorrow.  As I look through the kitchen window at my newly-opened daffodils, I celebrate life!

Mom's visit and Easter

We have been anxiously awaiting Mom's eight-day visit over Easter. Our days were filled with the usual house-cleaning, toilet-scrubbing (Rusty's job), grocery-buying, etc.  In addition, Rusty was putting the final touches on our new table.

After each of the five layers of varnish, Rusty used a sharp edge to scrape and smooth the entire table.

After the scraping, the entire table was sanded.  In this picture, the table is receiving its final sanding, which is done with wet sandpaper.

The edges of the table are a little harder to sand.

Finally, Rusty applied two coats of wax and buffed the surface to its new beauty!

The weather was windy and cool, but Easter preparations were in motion.

Ramona the Rabbit endures the snow.

Mom and I enjoyed our time at the nail salon, getting a pedicure and manicure.

Happy Nails R Us.

My TeamMate, Maria, and I made props for Easter photos.

Celeste and I went shopping for her Easter dress.

Mom joined my Friday morning breakfast group.  She thought 6 a.m. was pretty early.

Sissy and Becky were ready for the Easter Bunny.  (maybe 6 is too early)

It is tradition to plant potatoes on Good Friday, so Mom cut up the potatoes and we had plenty of helpers in the St. Francis Garden.

Those who weren't planting put newspaper and straw on the walking paths.

Good Friday evening we attended the performance of Saint John Passion by J.S. Bach at First Plymouth.  It was quite a somber, yet touching experience.  At the end of the performance, the lights went down and everyone silently walked out.

On Saturday morning the Fishers arrived and the tempo of our normally quiet abode changed abruptly.

Of course we had to color the Easter eggs!

Pierce demonstrates "looking like you have your finger up your nose."

Pierce and Papaw at the park.

Reece takes a ride.

Pierce enjoys the tree stumps.

The Easter Bunny found Pierce and Reece at our house on Easter morning.

Reece found lots of eggs at the First Plymouth Easter egg hunt.

So did Celeste!

Chad, Olivia, Pierce and Reece.

Anna, Jake and the wiener dogs.

Mom, Rusty, me.

Beautiful Easter morning with family!

Dinner happened at our house on the lovely new table.  There was plenty of room for everyone!  I was so busy with the meal that I forgot to take pictures!

Cuties!

We had some Skype time with the Caviezel family.

Anna, Jake, Lindsay and Celeste joined us for dessert.

Easter silliness.

The Fishers and Grandma Pearl.

Happy Easter!