Spring Wreath

Therapy today, 

a trip to Hobby Lobby.

This is what I did.

This is what it was. 

Of course, someone else had done the hard part. 

I just hot glued and voila!

The flowers were on sale for $10.

Retailed for $39.

Remember the most recent vignette?

I just added the nest and egg to the wreath.

$0.

Cost of egg and nest- $0

Cost of flowers- $10

Retail Therapy and Activity- PRICELESS

Bonnie:)

If you know of anyone who has been given the diagnosis of depression, 

bipolar disorder, manic depression, anxiety or panic attacks, 

please have them visit my new blog at

Living Life Upside Down.

http://livinglifeupside.blogspot.com/

I warn you that it is REAL, 

but I promise to offer hope in the midst of pain. 

A Creative God

There is within us all 

 a desire to create.

Although not God, 

we were made in His image

and He is a creative God.

So when I begin to put 

things in order, 

either in my home 

or in my relationship with Him, 

I am prone to become creative.

After spending time listening to God speak to me through His word, 

I knew that somethings needed to be moved around, 

somethings needed to be put in front

and others moved behind.

Alone, these pieces may be pretty to me,

and I may find pleasure in their simplicity,

and beauty in their uniqueness,

it is only when put all together 

does it feel complete.

Right now, 

I feel somewhat disconnected,

a single egg, in a single basket,

a life that may spring forth

though isolated and alone.

I long to be outside of the cage 

that I may have built around myself 

or that others have locked me in.

I long to be connected 

and creative and used for His purpose. 

I will pray this prayer today...

God, if I have any hope of leaving behind hurtful things

in my past it will be because you deliver me.  

Thank you that you are a God who delivers us 

out of slavery and leads us to freedom. 

Give me the strength to walk this journey

toward the Promised Land that you have for me.

When I get weary, uphold me,

when I lose focus, give me clarity, 

when I want to give up, give me hope.

In Jesus' name.

Amen

I am thankful for a creative God, 

WHO makes something out of nothing.

That gives me HOPE.

What are you creating today?

Better yet, how do you see God being creative in your life?

Bonnie:)

Spring Goodies

When I came home from Nashville, 

to my surprise there was a package awaiting me. 

It was filled with so many goodies.  

I, too, am filled to overflowing 

with gratitude.  

(I added the book because the colors were consistent 

with the package, making a pretty basket.)

The package included the lime green mug, 

(which I adore) two hand-made pot holders(which

are so pretty and needed) 

cupcake tins (for baking with my babies), 

and scrapbook stickers (which are girly for my Cora's scrapbook). 

I failed to mention that I love to scrapbook.

I prefer the old fashioned way with glue and paper.

Even the tea was packaged in Springtime. 

I can't wait to fill the mug with a good steaming cup of hot coffee.

Thanks, Sandra for the perfect gift. 

http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/

Thanks Stephanie at The Enchaning Rose for hosting. 

Bonnie:)

I downloaded new photos of my babies.

Isn't she growing?

My son is such a good daddy.

My DIL is such a good mommy,
always making sure that this little fellow knows he is loved
too.

He's almost too busy to notice the difference.
He kisses her and he's on his way.

"BonBon, feed the birds."

These are my favorite Springtime Goodies:)

Happy Lord's Day: He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed

Happy Easter!

With my GRAND kiddos 6 hours away, 

there will be no egg hunt for me.

I dyed eggs anyway.

We're attending the 9:00 am service.

I'm spending the day with my sister and her family.

The menu includes:

Baked Ham

Potato Salad

Green Beans

Macaroni and Cheese

(My MIL's recipe, my favorite)

Deviled Eggs

No, I'm not preparing it all!

PLEASE!

My kitchen is only for show

except when I have too.

I guess I HAD to.

I made the Macaroni and Cheese and the eggs

and my back was killing me!

I'm sitting on an ice pack now.

Mr. H asks, 

"You need a little cheese with that WHINE?"

Celebrating Our Precious Lord's Day!

HE IS THE PROMISE OF NEW LIFE.

Bonnie:)

Jesus, the God of Second Chances

Last night I spoke to the College and Career Youth.

The title of my talk was 

Jesus: The God of Second Chances.

Aren't you glad?

One of my favorite Bible characters

(and I do say that he was quite a "character.")

is Peter.

Peter truly loved the Lord.

Although just a little bipolar,

Willing to follow Jesus to death

or denying that he even knew His Lord...

Walking or the water, 

or sinking in despair.

Back to the boat, 

or feeding His sheep.

He truly loved the Lord

even though 3 times he denied Him.

There are several messages here, 

but bottom line is this, 

Jesus loved Peter.

I think that when Jesus looked at Peter 

after the third expression of 

"I have no idea who you are talking about?"

he looked at him with hurt, sorrow, but compassion.

There was no condemnation.

It was that look of love that drew Peter to repentance.

Peter is not mentioned again until after the resurrection.

While the other disciples may have continued to follow

at a distance, I believe Peter was out somewhere

pouring his heart out to God, repenting.

Peter has gone back to the only thing he knows-

fishing and mending nets.

But Jesus has greater plans for Peter, 

redemption and restoration.

That's really what the message of Easter is all about,

the story of Redemption, Restoration, Reconciliation

and Love,

a love that will never let us go,

continues to seek us and draw us to Himself, 

the love of a God of second and third and fourth chances. 

Easter

eggs, the promise of New Life.

Baby Bunnies,

New Birth.

Jesus-

our cover, our protection 

from the enemy.

Jesus-

Spiritual food for a hungry heart.

Life that sustains us.

He desires for us to eat at His table, 

until was are satisfied.

Today I am in awe of Jesus,

the God of second chances, 

Bonnie:)

The photos are from last year's Easter photos. 

Flowers Amid the Cracks

I'm such a emotional person.

I love feelings.

I love it when I'm flying high with joy

and hate it when I'm in the depths of despair.

There is usually no in-between, 

the words are strong or soft, 

love or hate, 

life or death.

This is a process with me. 

I'm trying-really trying-to accept the in-between.

The moments of no emotion.

Because there is still emotion in the quiet-

there is peace,

there is calm,

there is trust-yes, quiet trust.

Somewhere in His Word, 

I remember a verse, 

"In quiet trust is our salvation."

It's most unusual for me to choose a pitcher with a print. 

I usually prefer white.

I walked around the shop three times

and kept going back to the same place, 

the same piece, the same pitcher.

I was drawn to it.

Almost like it was saying, 

"Choose me, oh please choose me."

And I did.

I'm most often drawn to the one with cracks

and chips and flaws.

That's what Easter is all about anyway, right?

Redemption, buying back (not without price)

what is broken.

And Resurrection, 

NEW LIFE!

Maybe that's why so many of us like to restore and reclaim-

because like these pieces we too are broken, marred, scarred 

and in need of a Savior!

Thank you, Jesus, that it is because of 

your brokenness that I am healed.

This has been a week of brokenness for me.
Pain in the midst of joy.
Joy in the midst of pain.

On second glimpse, 

I noticed flowers, amid the cracks.

Ever noticed how a flower will burst 

forth from a crack in the sidewalk?

That's

Resurrection Life!

Happy Holy Week!

Bonnie:)

What Fills Your Basket?

I enjoyed playing around with the basket today.

I'm not sure what kind of basket this is.

Does anyone know?

It looks like it may have been made to gather flowers.

It doesn't look deep enough for veggies, 

but I'm just guessing since I don't grow much of anything.

It's not a picnic basket.

Although, I think I could fill it with paper products

or use as a centerpiece for the serving table.

Mama always made pineapple sandwiches 

and fried chicken when we had a picnic

or a church Easter egg hunt.

Sandwiches or a basket of bread sounds yummy

with fried chicken.

Pretty linen always look nice in a basket.

Last Spring I found these pastel plates at the local flea market

for $1 each.  They are marked, Taylor-Smith-Taylor

Pebbleford by Gilkes

Made in the USA

and numbered  by color 7-56 PINK.

They make me think of Easter eggs,

pretty Easter dresses, 

and soft baby blankets.

My niece said to add the dried pink roses.

(She likes to move things around too.)

I prefer the white hydrangeas.

We had the same Easter basket every year.

It came from the local 5 and 10 store.

Mama  The Easter Bunny would pick out the goodies that she  He

wanted in the basket and the clerk would put it together 

with cellophane wrap and deliver to our house on Easter Eve.

What fills your baskets?

Bonnie:)

High Cotton Treasures

The purchases I made from 

High Cotton 

made me smile today.

Nothing is as soothing as the smell of lavender.

When I was an activity director for 

a nursing home, I purchased some essential oils.

When one of the residents couldn't sleep or was agitated, 

I would wet a warm cloth, add a few drops of lavender, 

and gently wash their face and arms.

It works!  

The trunk of my car no longer smells like a wet dog.

No, I haven't been hauling a wet dog around, 

just a bunch of junk.

I'm sure you understand.

The ceramic eggs are probably as close to the Easter Bunny as you'll see here. 

I bought the three pieces of pretty ironstone

from Amy- the small pitcher/creamer, the bowl and the saucer.  

Just added a little something for display.

I love the backdrop of lavender. 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the Easter basket.  

Look forward to seeing what I can do with this.

http://kinserhome.blogspot.com/

Visit Amy at the above blog.

Have a Blessed Day,

Bonnie:)

Thank You, God for Spring

I'm looking for some sign of Spring. 

It's been a long cold Winter 

and I look with hope toward Spring.

I have been awaiting a call from 

my husband and sister-in-law 

about my mother-in-love.  

She is precious to me.

She had to see an oncologist

today about a lesion on her ovary.

Oncologist and you think the "C" word.

She's 83.

She's loved me like a daughter.

I'll be honest, I'm scared. 

It hasn't been too long ago that 

I was on that side with my parents.

My mother and breast cancer and Alzheimers.

So, I wait and pray for Spring

and I think on these things...

things that are of good report.

Spring is the hope of new beginnings.

Spring represents new life after a cold, dark season

of sometimes pain and sadness.

I was praying a few minutes ago and got the peace

that God is so good to give in our time of need.

I just go boldly to the THRONE and ask!

He's a faithful God.

I took a stroll around the block

and up from the dark soil of Winter, 

I saw Spring.

Just got word that the doctor feels 

that the lesion has been there awhile 

and is benign.

We do blood work 

and see him again in 3 months.

I think I'll sit here a few minutes 

and praise God for a good report

and thank Him for Spring.

Thank You, Jesus, 

Bonnie:)

A Spring Porch

Thank you, Jesus for the SUNSHINE!

It finally feels like Spring.

I painted the frame this morning 

simply with acrylic paint.

A few brush strokes and a bit of sanding

and Voila!

Please don't look at the pot without flowers.
Not many flowers for sale yet.

I found the wrought iron patio chair

by the side of the road.

Backed right up there 

and grabbed a seat!

I bought a basket of geraniums

for my galvanized bucket.

There was very little to choose from yet

at The Flower Garden.

We're afraid that Spring is teasing us.

I found the pillow covers at 

Hobby Lobby for $7 each.

Sure beats $20 a pillow even at T.J.Maxx.

Some of the green is peaking through.

Will add a pot to the patio chair.

Add a new flag and some flowers to the pot.

Then we'll look like Spring.  

Welcome Spring, 

Bonnie:)

(This post was written yesterday.  Today it is raining and cool.
I did make it to church, even with vertigo.
Today will be a nap kind of day.)

Spring Came Home With Me

Today I decorated for Spring.

I brought it all home with me.

Today it was 72 and raining.
Tonight there's a winter freeze warning.

So, I'll just look at my little bird
and dream of Spring.

Bonnie:)