Ending April With Sunshine And Lilacs

The purple flowers from our lilac bush has bloomed bringing a refreshing scent in the corner of our backyard.  The daffodils wilted away but I'm happy to see these guys have awoke.  They caught my eye and nose on Sunday as I was mowing the yard.  The weather has now been beautiful and that's something I've been desperately looking forward to for a long time; however, I'm now experiencing allergies and that's no fun.  I guess you have to take a little bad along with the good, right?  

My favorite part of this time of year is getting to open the windows allowing the fresh air in and the nasty lingering germs of winter out.  My house could use a good spring cleaning and that's something I'm slowly getting to.  

Tomorrow is the last day of April and then it will be May.  May is probably my most favorite month of the year and I'll explain why in the next post.  Today I want to enjoy the beauty of the sunshine, the warm air, the sounds of birds chirping and ... refilling the holes my Siberian Husky has dug over and over again the back yard.  Again, a little bad with the good.  

Have a blessed day, friends!  Thanks for visiting and being part of my blogging journey.  

Five For Friday

 I had been thinking of what I could focus on today for Five For Friday but after some time in prayer I decided to share some things I am feeling thankful for from this week.  It's been a struggle for me.  I'm in a midst of struggling through marriage, raising kids and fighting depression.  But even in those struggles I can redirect my mind into finding the blessings through it.  So let's see if I can come up with five!

FIVE FOR FRIDAY

1.  My son passed his written test on Monday and is now permitted to be behind the wheel.  It's a scary time for a parent but as someone who doesn't do well on tests this is one thing he can put behind him.  Watching him grow has been a bittersweet experience and I often wish to go back to the time when he was little but it's been an adventure in seeing what kind of man he's growing to be.  

2.  My daughter has been facing some challenges lately with some of the "popular" girls that she had danced with in the previous dance studio, who are also in school with her.  She's also been facing an issue with a current friend.  I'm grateful she does not care about fitting in and acting fake just to gain popularity.  She's happy being who she is and has a ton of great friends who enjoy being with her because of who she is.  As hard as it is to see her struggling and hurt I know these are the things that will develop her character.  I love her heart.  

3.  My job has been a blessing and something I enjoy doing.  Being a school van driver means I'm on the road in the morning for drop off and then back on the road again in the later afternoon for pick up.  It allows me time in between to be home in a quiet house where I can focus on getting things done and taking some time just for me.  It also allows me the time to be home in the evening with my family.  

4.  My husband and I have been stuck in a rut in our marriage.  As I've been emotionally feeling myself push away he insists on pulling me closer.  He prays for us and refuses to give up.  

5.  The weather has been amazing and beautiful this week.  I'm certain I can now say goodbye to those winter blues and find joy under the warm sunshine.  The birds are chirping in the trees as the squirrels and rabbits run through the grass.  The grass needs mowed and the pollen has set off my allergies but I am still so very thankful in it.  

During Spring Break

 Here's a shot from Monday, the last day of spring break before life became chaotic again.  They only had a four day weekend and it was mostly spent relaxing.  When my kids have nothing to do they go right to cell phones and laptops.  

And in other news, over the break my boy FINALLY got his learner's permit.  Here in Pennsylvania you can get it at sixteen but he had been slacking on the studying and we were in no rush to get him behind the wheel.  Well, with seven months until his eighteenth birthday now seemed like the time.  I took him to the empty high school parking lot to take a little drive to show him some basics.  I've decided it would be better for the both of us to find a professional driving instructor.  

This is the scariest part of parenting.  

Resurrection Sunday

 He Is Risen!  He is risen, indeed!

As I think back on my childhood there are only a few sweet moments I can remember, the Easter holiday is one of them.  I would wake up to a basket filled with treats from the Easter Bunny and my dad made sure we were ready to go to church.  We ate a traditional ham dinner, usually with my grandparents and I would continuously sneak pieces of candy I had received that morning.  The yucky black jellybeans always went to my dad.  

Even though I leave baskets of goodies for my kids, I make sure they understand the true reason for Easter.  The chocolate bunnies, marshmallow peeps and jellybeans are delicious but our main focus is on the Resurrection and the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.  I think about that every day.  Every.  Single.  Day.  

For Easter this year it was our plan to attend our church's first ever sunrise service at 6am.  Then we would go back for breakfast and the regular church service where both kids were to perform in the orchestra.  Then my parents were expected to come over for an untraditional barbecue.  Well, my husband woke me up on Sunday realizing that he had the alarm set for the wrong time so we all jumped out of bed and dressed as quickly as we could.  Luckily, it did not seem to matter how we were dressed since the service was held outside in the dark.  My daughter threw a fit because, well, she's thirteen, so the ride to church was not pleasant.  Hey, you need to know the good and bad of what I go through.  We made it to the church just as it was starting and it was a beautiful time of fellowship as we sang songs and listened to the message of Easter as the sun was rising.  We went home and the kids had time to look in their baskets.  This year I failed at taking a picture of their baskets.  I also wished I would have snapped a picture during the sunrise service but I was in the moment.  Then after a little bit of time to rest and change into more appropriate church attire, we went back for a breakfast and service.  The kids and the orchestra did a fantastic job of performing The Power of the Cross.  Matthew on trumpet, Brianna on violin.  

We went home and waited for my parents.  I tried calling a few times and there was no answer.  My daughter gave it a try and Dad picked up.  He said he had sent me a text this morning that they cancelled because my mother wasn't doing well.  There was no text so I'm not sure what happened there.  He apologized but I was okay with it.  We enjoyed the rest of the day together as a family, still enjoying the barbecue and took a stroll around the neighborhood - Rob and I by foot and the kids by bike.  

The evening ended with us watching The Passiom of the Christ.  Thank you, Jesus!

Let's Talk About The Weekend

 On Saturday my son had a track invitational that was called "Arctic Blast" and it was the perfect weather for such a title.  We were all freezing and the morning rain did not help.  My son ran in the 4 x 800 and the individual 800.  Watching as he pushes himself gives me so much joy.  Running in both cross country and track has been the thing that has helped him come out of his shell.  He's always had social anxiety and it's nice to see he's learning how to work through it.  

After struggling through that miserably cold day we spent the rest of the evening resting.  I'm thankful for my husband who offered to make dinner.  

Sunday was spent at church.  The kids wanted to run our school's cross country course so Brianna could see what it's like.  She has a desire to join the cross country team and as much as I believe in her I know it will be tough for her.  She barely gets through one mile so if this is something she wants she's going to have to work hard for it.  I know she can.  Then I had to drop them off back at the church for orchestra practice.  Then we came home to another dinner prepared by my wonderful husband.  We spent the last few hours of our weekend by the fire eating s'mores.  The dog may or may not have enjoyed a few marshmallows.  

Now we are back to Monday and it is Holy Week.  I plan to spend the next few days cleaning the house and hopefully the weather will cooperate so I can get the lawn mowed for the first time this season.  It needs it.  

I pray you all have a blessed week!  Thanks for visiting.  I appreciate my blogging friends so much.  

April Showers Brings ...

 Muddy paws!  

This dog is a typical husky when it comes to digging holes and she's made some nice ones in the back yard recently.  Today it's rainy, which means I really shouldn't be leaving her outside alone because she comes inside as a total mess.  Before I could wipe of those paws she ran through the house creating muddy tracks all over.  That just adds to my housework, thanks a lot Brooke.  

I still love her.  Huskies are known to be cold-natured, athletic dogs but in this case we have a big fluffy low-energy whiner.  I especially love her in the evening when she's ready to snuggle up on the couch and take a little snooze before bedtime.  

This picture was taken yesterday during an afternoon nap while we watched church service from home.  

We don't typically enjoy watching church from home and like to be in person but since our son wasn't feeling well we stayed home.  He began to feel sick on Saturday and on Sunday morning told me he kept waking up sweaty and feeling dizzy.  His throat was also hurting and he thought it was closing up.  I rushed him to Urgent Care and it was a quick appointment.  He was tested for strep, covid, flu and rsv and all came back negative.  Apparently, it's just a bad cold.  He's home from school today.  I feel bad.  Matthew has been working so hard this year and is currently doing two spring sports - baseball and track.  I guess his body is telling him it's time for a break.  

We did get to enjoy watching him in two relay races at a track invitational last Friday evening.  The team placed fourth both times but I'm still so proud of him.  How could I not be?  

This week is starting off rainy and will remain cold for awhile.  I'm sure this back and forth weather isn't helping to keep any of us healthy but I know we need the rain.  Last fall they called for a burn ban because of the lack of precipitation.  We are still a few inches shorter than what it should be.  So, the rain is welcomed but I'd rather not deal with muddy paws anymore.  

"Whatcha talkin' about, Mom?" 

Five For Friday: Favorite Bible Verses

 To add a little change around here I decided to come up with a post called Five For Friday, where I'll pick a category and add five things pertaining to that topic.  I thought a great subject to start things off is five of my favorite Bible verses.  Although the Bible has many amazing verses and stories these five have had special meaning to me at some point in my life.  

In no particular order:

FIVE FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES

"The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?" -- Psalm 27:1

This verse in this context is found in the New International Version, the version I received at a church at twenty years old after giving my life to Christ.  I have since switched to the King James version but I remember the first time reading this verse.  I was still living at my parents' house, sitting on my bed reading through the Bible and praying for God to forgive me for my past mistakes.  I don't speak about my past much but I was once suicidal and depressed, having no hope I'd ever have a future.  In my teenage years I tried several things I thought would bring me relief through the pain but when I saw these words it was the first time I realized that the only way I could get relief from the pain and strength to go on was only through the Lord.  Psalm 27:1 has since been my life verse and it reminds me who carries my strength.  

"In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world" -- John 16:33

Whenever I read this verse it brings me chills.  Life is difficult but the thing that helps me get through is knowing Who is in control and Who has already won the battle.  

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres, LOVE NEVER FAILS" -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

These verses were spoken at our wedding and is written on the wall above our bed.  Before marriage, Rob and I decided to use 1 Corinthians 13 as a reminder of the most important gift God has ever given us:  Love!

"Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" -- 1 Peter 5:7

Much like how Psalm 27:1 has helped me through my depression 1 Peter 5:7 definitely helps me in those moments when my anxiety wreaks havoc.  

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" -- John 3:16

Oh my!  This verse not only tells us the only way into heaven but it is a reminder of what God did to save us through His son, Jesus.  I'm so, so thankful.  

I hope you enjoyed this post today.  Please let me know what is your go to verse when life feels tough.  

(pictures from DuckDuckGo)

Things I Love About Spring

 We have two of these trees on each side of our driveway.  I don't know what kind of tree it is but they blossom these beautiful white flowers in early spring that only last a few weeks.  

Birds love it for nesting.

Saying hello to a squirrel in a tree during an evening walk.

Nothing says springtime like seeing the daffodils in full bloom.

Bright skies as our flags move around in the breeze.  

Easter decorations are on display getting ready to celebrate the most important holiday of all.  

What are your favorite things about spring?