On the Brink of Easter

Life.
Renewal.
Remebering.

Spring exploded in the Texas Hill Country this year. After several years of deathly droughts, rain has come. We bombarded heaven with our thanksgiving for the clean air (even if it is filled with pollens that clog our noses, throats, heads, and chests) and we praised God, loudly, for all the days of cloudy skies and for every drop of every sprinkle, drizzle, and mist, we received. We stood on our porches and applauded the rains, and downpours. God blessed and watered our land.


Here comes one storm that brought us over two inches of delicious rain.

When the sun came out, for the first time in about three years lo and behold our city lots, country roads, and busy highways were dotted with patches of brilliant bluebonnets and other Texas wild flowers. I got so excited about Spring that I baked my first-ever lamb cake.

Made from my Grandmother Alice's cast iron mold. Thanks, Jan, for loaning it to me for awhile.

But, regardless of all the budding life around us, the week before Easter does come and must be reckoned with. It saddens me that when Lent begins, I can no longer climb up on a ladder and hang a purple drape on the 15-foot cross that stands at the road by our fence. So, in recent years, our dining room buffet holds the reminder of the meaning of Easter.

This favorite "Nativity" of mine celebrates our Christmas every year and then
comes back out at Easter to remind us that from birth, Jesus headed to the cross


There was plenty to do as spring got underway. The skies cleared, the sun came out, and the temperatures hit 90 the first week of April.  !!!


My Laura Bush petunias pushed up through the rocks to show their reminder of Easter.

The next thing we knew, kids were wearing shorts and trying out for baseball and many of us old ladies quickly exchanged jeans and sweats for cool, comfy, and colorful capri pants. Dear Heart even took me to lunch today... downtown.... on Main Street... and we chose an outdoor table.

But, tonight, as is my custom on the eve of Maundy Thursday, I covered the cross in our dining room with black. My mood darkens. I think. I read again the promises.

                                                                       



Tomorrow as I run errands and clean house, I will ponder on many things. I will slow my steps and dwell on the dark days that went before the first Easter Sunday. Tomorrow night I will gather with others at church and we will be reminded to find ways to wash the feet of other saints and fellow servants. Then, following the command of Jesus, we will drink from the cup and eat the bread and remember His lessons. We will leave church, hopeful but confused.

Friday night, we will return, worried, afraid, sad, and more confused to a darkened, stark, cross-less, church. The death bell will sound... long... and deep.... and dark. The rumors are true. Jesus is dead. The promises are empty.

Saturday, I will wander aimlessly and mourn and grieve and wonder..........

Please join me on Sunday..... for the beginning of our journey.

Liz

Signs of Spring

Signs of Spring have showed up in our part of the Texas Hill Country. Seems a good way to let you know I'm still moving and breathing.


My schedule has taken a drastic change and of course there are many long--as well as a few short--stories about me and my old Buick darting around town at strange hours these days. But that is for another blog.


I had to dig deeply into my Joy Reservoir to handle being dressed AND out and about town at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.


The sights were amazing!

To begin, on a chilly February evening, our Texas sky warned: GET READY!!

 


Sleet arrived the next morning. Well.... yes, thin and scattered BUT it was wet, it was cold, it was frozen WATER.
We gave thanks.



Then as I moved about town, I discovered the pansieshad arrived. Their cute faces lined sidewalks, decorated forlorn gardens, and hung from porches.

In December this neighborhood Christmas Tree shimmered with lights.
In March, the Christmas Tree stands regal in front of the Pear tree that held tight to its blooms.
Spring WILL come.



On a dreary morning, white blossoms shimmer on a tree standing on a street corner

in downtown Fredericksburg and screams:

SPRING !!


 

Lavender flowers on the wild Mountain Laurrel growing out of rock wave to me as I head home on dreary, March mornings remind me that the Ressurrection is real.

I have been amazed and delighted and thankful for the beauty God planted along my path.

I'm so glad I chose to look up.



Check back to enjoy more sights around Fredericksburg!

Love and Blessings,

                          Liz
P.S. Seems I need a lesson on inserting photographs. *sigh* hope you enjoy anyway,


 

Sweet Husband Spring Story

Spring has teased us about its arrival this year. A lot.

This is my prized Lemon Verbena coming to life on March 3!! This herb is the absolute ingredient for Liz's Luscious Lemonade and I thought it had died dead in our days-on-end of teen-degree freezes. Then, ZAP, another quick but heavy freeze took it out again two days later.

B U T........

Ah Ha! Here are BOTH of my brave, tenacious plants on March 23 after their second re-birth. There WILL be lemonade this summer!

But on to the Sweet Husband Story I promised you when we were buried under INTENT.

On March 23 (last Wednesday), the sun sparkled outside our kitchen window. Spring had already peered around the corner several times—just to see if we were paying attention. Sadly, I was too involved with daily life to notice. Such as:

• half a dozen medical appointments in as many days
• back to M-W-F workouts at the pool for daughter and me
• COMPLETED our annual tax information for our beloved Number Cruncher
• completed (in one week) the Memory Book for Little Brother’s FIFTIETH wedding anniversary
• Ash Wednesday services
• a trip out to Cowboy’s for Jesus Christian Fellowship at Fischer, Texas for the anniversary celebration

     So, yawning on the morning of the 23^rd, I looked up to find – oops! Spring HAD arrived. Dear Heart came home from errands and said, “Why the sad face? Can I help?”

    I know that he knows that he always bites off more than he wants to take time for when he asks that, but he continues to ask it--much to my delight!

“Well, look at the back yard, Honey. It’s warm out. I saw a hummingbird this morning. And I’m positive we finally have our very own family of Cardinals nesting in our yard.”

“Yes, I’ve seen them. Haven’t you been luring them to nest here for about three years?”

“Well. Yes. But…”

Somehow, he didn’t see this one coming.

“Our bird feeders aren’t out yet.” **deep, deep SIGH **

Am I a blessed woman or what? NO,

that is NOT spelled:

                         S – P – O – I – L – E - D.

Dear Heart said, “Where do you want the feeders?” We talked about options and I went about cleaning the kitchen, thinking we would attend the feeders at some later *sigh* time.

When I turned around from the kitchen sink, this is what I saw in our back yard. I barely had time to grab the camera.

Where there is a DETERMINED man, there IS a way….

My darlin on his Trusty Wheel Machine dragging the hose to the Oak tree to soften the hard-dry ground so he can “plant”  the feeder hanger by the swing.

Note my hero's faithful companion, Ava, watching every move. 

Almost..... hold steady....  

                                                Yes !!!!ATTACHED   !!!!!

Now around to the front yard to go through the rolling steps all over again !!!

Number Two Feeder ATTACHED!!!!

So, since Dear Heart was such a dear heart, I got busy and mixed up a batch of humming bird food, cleaned out a couple of feeders.

View from our kitchen table - through the window and screen. In a couple of days, there'll be three feeders along the back porch.  

Sure enough, Mr. Scout showed up. I don't yet know which does what for whom but there is a time when one hummer guards with his life and refuses any other hummingbird access to his "find." Later, three, four, and five will feed at the same time.

SUGAR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT END OF STORY......

     I just wanted my readers to know the heart of my husband.

Turns out, as well I know my husband, his heart is bigger heart than I realized.

      Just as I finished writing this entry and downloading pictures, my sweetheart came in to the office and after some lengthy discussion, he said, “YOU are going to Kentucky!!” He’ll stay home and care for the animals and daughter and I will take five days—1 day out, 3 days there, 1 day back.

     You see, my eleven-year-old granddaughter is writing a book and wants her Memaw’s interest. She was also diagnosed with Type 1 Jr. Diabetes last month. She is doing fine and has met this head on refusing to let it get the best of her. But her grandmother NEEDS to see in person and hold in arms and whisper in ears.

Maybe it is spoiled. I know for sure I am deeply blessed. And, I have time to rest, plan, finish the laundry, worship with community, and pack.

Actually, these are numbers 120 through 130 on my Giving Thanks by NAMING God's Blessings and Graces List. From Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts book and blog and life. If you haven't read it, do it SOON. By Easter, you'll have a brand new concept of your Abba Father God's deep, deep love that comes in ways you would never imagine.

And, yes, this is LONG.... but ONE MORE THING.......

     Speaking of all things SPRING and God’s promises, please take time for a blessing and check out The Chrysalis of Faith about all things Butterflies at Mother Inferior's site: http://www.denadyer.com/ My sweet friend Dena writes of faith, family, work, and trusting God. 

     I will leave you with words of my Master that have gotten me through these last few deeply troubling days: Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest."  Read His other words at Matthew 11: 28-30.

Just a sinner standing on His Promises,

   Love,  Liz