He is Risen!

But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him." (Mark 16:6)

May all of you feel God's peace and love on this glorious Easter morning!

Please read this beautiful blog post written by a mom who lost her 17 year old daughter to cancer just a few short months ago. Her post will bring you to tears, but you make you smile at the same time.

(click Kayla's name)

KAYLA

Easter Tablescape

I FINALLY got my Easter tablescape put together. I ended up just using what I had instead of buying "new". I had wanted to find some cute little easter plates to go with my setting, but just never got out there to shop for any... plus... I really haven't had the money this month. I also wanted to find a pretty new table cloth, but didn't get that either.

Anyway..... Here's what I came up with! (Forgive my not-so-good photography!)

This is my bunny display on my hutch.

The "juggling bunny" opens so that you can put secret candy in it!

This is that beautiful bowl that I found back in February for a cheap $5.00. I had wanted to get a pretty ribbon to go thru the holes of this bowl, but never did. It's still very pretty, tho.

The egg in the back with the chick inside was made by Miranda, when she was little. I love it!

Ok... here's my tablescape!

I used the same placemats that I used for my St. Patrick's Day tablescape. I thought they would work well for Easter, too! The white plates are the ones that I use all of the time. They were a $1.00 store find back in the fall. I love them! The pastel colored plates are some that I bought years ago for the summer. They are from Target and were on clearance. The white bowls are the ones that I bought back in February, as well. We use these for ice cream! **Smile** The napkins are paper, but pretty! The eggs in the bowls are wooden and I have had them for years.

These little bunnies are very special. They are from David's grandmother's collection of salt & pepper shakers that he inherited. When he was little... he always told his "Mom Mom" that he wanted her collection --- which were scattered ALL OVER her house in Philadelphia! So, after she passed away in the early 1990's, he we recieved ALL of them! Boxes and boxes of them! Haha! They are housed up in my attic. The other week, I dug them out and went through them to find some that I really liked and could use for my tablescapes. I was so excited to find these cuties!

My poor Easter Tree is looking a little sad! I probably need to search for a new one after Easter.

These tulips are another set of salt & pepper shakers from Mom Mom's collection.

This table cloth is very special to me because my mother made it. It doesn't really fit my table, but I use it anyway, for special occasions.

Neither one of my girls are claiming to have made this little guy -- haha!-- but, isn't he cute!

Happy Easter to you all!!

A to Z Blog Challenge - E

Letter E

Easter

Well, of course with Easter right around the corner... Easter is on my mind! If you saw in my previous post, I pulled my little bunnies down from the attic and I am working on finding them a temporary home until they go back up in the attic for another year! Of course, bunnies are not the real reason for Easter. The real meaning of Easter is to celebrate the fact that 2,000 years ago Christ, our Lord & Savior, was crucified (put to death by being nailed to a cross). He was then laid to rest in a tomb, but after three days he rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. He died to save all people of the world, from their sins. I think that it's wonderful that Easter arrives in the Spring, because both are about "new life".

England

I love Geneology and tracing my family heritage. I recently traced my Father's surname to England. I traced it all the way back to the year 1225! I used what little information that I knew about my family and by way of http://www.ancestry.com/, found out even more! Through blogging, I have a new and dear friend (and fellow blogger!) that lives near the same area of England that my ancestors were from! I would love for you to check out her blog at Southhamsdarling. She would love it if you stopped by! My dream is to someday (hopefully soon!) be able to visit this part of England and walk where my ancestors walked, and maybe even meet up with my "blogging buddy" over there, as well!

Egypt

Do you have a favorite word?? Would you believe that one of my favorites is.. Egypt?? Hahaa. I'm sure you are curious to know why in the world would I pick this as my favorite word! No. It is not a word that I "say" often. It is just such a fun word to write in cursive!!! -- Go ahead! Try it out!! -- I love the way that the letters flow as you write the word! I know. Not many of us even write in cursive anymore. My cursive is kind of a blend between cursive and print! Are teachers still teaching cursive in school?? I don't even know. Makes me wonder!

Ears

Yes. You are probably wondering why I would pick this word of all words that start with E. I am not sure why either, but "pierced ears" came to my mind. When I was a young teenage girl, I wanted so badly to get my ears pierced like all of my friends. But, my daddy would always say... "No. If God wanted you to have holes in your ears, then he would have put them there in the first place!" I'm pretty sure that he used a stern voice when he said this because I think I asked him begged quite frequently! He wouldn't budge on it, tho! I hope you don't think badly of me when I tell you this... but, after he died (I was 18)... I went and got them pierced!

Exercise

Ahhhh..... the thing that most of us dread in this world! Why can't we all just have perfect bodies and be able to eat whatever it is that we wanted and not gain a single pound or inch??? It sure seems like there ARE people in this world that are lucky enough to be able to do this, but I am (unfortunately) not one of them! Exercise and I have a long history. When I was a teenager, I guess I had a high metabolism because I ate JUNK and was a STICK! But... adulthood came along and... BAM! Goodbye high metabolism! Hello unwanted, overweight, pounds! UGH! For the past 26 years, my weight and I have battled! Unfortunately, I rarely win any of the battles! Right now... I am doing "ok" with exercise. I am trying, but the pounds are not going anywhere! They seem to like where they are and they aren't moving out!

The Bunnies

Easter is approaching and I am beginning to think about my Easter Tablescape.

One of my objectives during my Spring Break Week... which is this week.... was to get up in my attic and do some organizing and to also find my Easter decorations! I did find my Easter box, and I did do some organizing... but, there is still a LOT left to do! But... that is going to have to wait until another day. I'm pooped!

I thought I would give you a "sneak peak" at my collection of Easter goodies! Of course... these are of the "Bunny" kind. **Smile**

Here are "some" of the pieces in my collection as they made their way out of the box.

Still more in the box, waiting to come out!

My poor Easter Tree is looking a little sad.

I put the tiny ornaments on my tree and it looks a lot better! The rest of my little bunny & egg friends are just waiting to be placed! (I just put everything on my table, for now.) I need to look for some fun pastel colored plates and maybe a pretty table cloth! Hmm.... sounds like a trip to Hobby Lobby & Target might be in my future!