a pictorial journal
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
APRIL 3RD, 2010
It's SUPER SATURDAY!
It will be a super Saturday here. It’s the day of our family get together for Easter. Usually we try to do the holiday the week before but to make it easier for some with little babies we decided that this way it would only make for 1 weekend trip instead of two different weekends.
I’ll be missing 3 of my sons and their wonderful families this holiday but will rejoice that everyone is healthy and reasonably happy. That in itself is worth celebrating.
DD and her hubby will be hosting our family gathering today. They graciously volunteered their home since it is larger and they also have a bigger yard for the Easter Egg hunt too.
THINKING
On Holy Saturday, this seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest.
It is traditionally a day of quiet meditation as Christians contemplate the darkness of a world without a future and without hope apart from God and his grace.
Many use this time to Decorate and/or dye eggs reflecting on the beauty of new life. Draw on undyed eggs with dark crayons, and then dye them. Or lay pieces of colored tissue paper on the eggs, tap them with a water-wet paint brush, let them dry, and remove the papers. Or dye with natural dyes: while boiling the eggs with a dash of vinegar, add red onion skins... or beet pieces... or yellow onion skins.
Like seeds, eggs are very much a symbol of new life. Traditionally they were also a symbol of Easter joy because they were a forbidden item during Lent. Nowadays, dyed to take to grandmother’s for an annual Easter egg hunt they can bear all manner of joyful messages.
Decorate a new white pillar candle with flowers, jewel-look decorations, or symbols cut from colored beeswax, for your Easter at home.
Perhaps set the table for tomorrow's Easter dinner
NEW IN THE KITCHEN
One thing I usually have for Easter dinner is ham so I thought I’d investigate and see just where that tradition came from. There are many that have lamb too, but that has never been on the menu at my house.
Easter foods are primarily those of Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus rose from the dead, a day of special rejoicing for Christians, who rejoice too at reaching the end of the long Lenten fast. The concept of renewal/rebirth is responsible for the important role played by the egg in Easter celebrations, a role which no doubt antedates Christianity. There are also special foods associated with the other days in the Easter calendar...In Europe, there is a general tradition, not confined to Christians, that Easter is the time to start eating the season's new lamb, which is just coming onto the market then.
Historians tell us religions sometimes use food (taboos/traditional holiday meals) to forge identity and create community. Early Christians embraced ham, in part, to proclaim their religious beliefs. Popular among European and Americans on Easter is ham, because the pig was considered a symbol of luck in pre-Christian Europe.
I know that many of my ancestors came from many different parts of Europe so that is why we no doubt have always had ham.
PRAYERS
Loving God, help me to be humble in the ways I love others. Fill the ordinary tasks of my days with inspired hospitality. Help me to be mindful of your example of simple acts of love when I am frustrated or worn down by the dreariness of the day’s work. Inspire me to do all things well and with great love.
Amen
Please pray for God's protection of
our troops and HIS wisdom for their
commanders.
Lord, hold our troops in
your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the
selfless acts they perform for us
in our time of need. I ask this in the
name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters
and Paramedics and EMT's
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
AROUND HOME
The flowers are popping out everywhere here in my hometown. The 80 degree temps of Thursday and Friday brought out all kinds of things. The star magnolia is blooming once more in my front yard. I saw all kinds of forsythia bushes in bloom everywhere and the hyacinths in the back yard are blooming too!
I would say they are all putting on a beautiful display for Easter Day!
FAMILY
In our church we celebrate Easter for 40 days, and those days are beginning tomorrow! Here are some ideas to help your family keep the true meaning of Easter
Celebrate this season of renewal, abundance and love
Create a special collage or drawing that depicts what Easter means to each of you. The artwork can become a permanent part of your family's Easter decorations. Before they go into storage at the end of the season, scan them or take a photograph so you can record the artwork in your family journal or scrapbook album.
At the family gathering present each guest with a 6x6 or 8x8 sheet of cardstock and ask them to handwrite a message especially for the Easter holiday - perhaps ways that they are feeling joy, gratitude, or hopefulness. Snap a photo of each guest and create a simple (and quick) mini scrapbook album as a keepsake, featuring one page for each guest - with their photo and Easter message
Make a Garden Journal. Cover an ordinary dime-store composition book or journal with spring patterned papers or magazine clippings of your favorite flowers. Now record the process of creating your family garden this year. Make sure to include pictures of each of you working in the soil. Don't forget the journaling - and lots of flower pressings.
COUNTING THE DAYS
You can't draw from sweet memories unless you make regular deposits
79 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !
13 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS
5 WORK DAYS UNTIL MA RETIRES
Keep looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE of things.
A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near…
Love,
ma
Except for the picture of our Sweetheart at the top, today’s pictures are of opening day at the campground 2008
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