Spring in the Northwest

He Is Risen!!! Happy Easter!!!

Good Friday

Tuesday night Stephany and I watched The Passion of the Christ. It was the first time for both of us. All these years we've heard how Jesus died on the cross. As a young child we certainly don't need to hear all the details or could we comprehend them at such a young age. But even as we get older I think that the crucifixation has been glossed over.

We hear how Jesus died and why he died. We know that he suffered. We know he hung on the cross. But do we really know the true extent of his suffering?

Twice this week I came face to face with the truth of Christ's suffering. On Monday I was listening to Chuck Swindoll explain each step of Christ's physical suffering in great detail. At one point in the program I thought I couldn't bear to hear any more. But then I said to myself that I HAD to listen. I HAD to know the great suffering the my Lord experienced. By the time I got to work I was in tears and had such a grateful heart. Jesus would have done that for me alone!!

Then on Tuesday when I watched the movie it became visually real to me. People have talked about how gory The Passion is. Yes it is. But that's the reality that we don't want to know about.

Tonight was Good Friday service at church. I heard the story once again and at the end the church was in complete darkness with not a sound. That is a little of what it must have been like the moment Jesus died. It was very eery and so sad.

But the story's not over - Hallelujah!!! On Sunday we get to party and celebrate His resurrection!! Praise God for that!! The story isn't over for any of us either if we know Jesus personally! Hallelujah!!

Thank you Jesus!

Giveaway at Fraker Farm

You just have to go visit Farm Chick (aka Paula) at the Fraker Farm! She's having a giveaway - just the cutest tote bags you've ever seen! They're for sale in her Etsy shop but she'll be giving a preview in three different posts this week. All you have to do is leave a comment on one, or all, of the posts and you could be a winner. Her blog is a winner too!! Be sure to tell her you're traveling over from The Rustic Cottage!

How Do You Like The New Look?

Simple and Spring - that's what I wanted. The picture was one I took of my front porch last summer. I have the rocker and the table but it's now on the patio at my apartment. That picture makes me long for summer porch sittin' days!

Can You Say Slow Day At Work!

This has been horrible. I've had to make 1 hours worth of work last all day! I don't mean to be complaining because I do love my job. But every once in a while it gets SLOW! I don't do SLOW! I like to be busy. Let me just clarify that my bosses are ok with this - they want me to be here to answer the phones so if I have no work I have permission to fill my time doing other things. I know it's a rough job but someone has to do it!

So to pass the other remaining 7 hours of the day I've been reading blogs. Boy have I found some great ones. My favorites list is growing and growing. I think I'm going to have to organize it by theme - I love to organize things. Just ask my friend Claudia over at MrsMorris. She still teases me about labeling all the toy bins in my daughter's bedroom when she was little. In fact, I just recently organized all the office supplies in my office -- got those see through plastic shoe boxes and labeled all of them with the label maker. It looks so cool!

And speaking of changing things - yes, I'm off on another thought tangent - that's how my mind works. I'm getting tired of the whole brown blog theme. It's Spring and I need to jazz things up a bit. So, while I'm organizing my favorite blogs list, I think I'll change the blog colors too. Just have to decide what I want to do.

Anyway - back to the subject - new favorite blogs. One in particular just had me in stitches, Fraker Farm . I've got a soft spot for anything country or farm related so this was right up my alley. You have to go over and visit the farm - I know you'll get a good laugh. Especially the posting for Valentine's Day and her rooster's love life!

Having A Tire Fixed Can Be A Good Thing

I took one of Stephany's friends home last night and when I got out of my car I could hear air coming from the left rear tire. I went back into the house to get a flashlight to take a look. Sure enough, there was a screw stuck in the tire.

Car problems tend to be one of the biggest things for me to deal with as a single person. I've always had a husband to depend on to take care of those things. I started to go into a little bit of a panic because I have no idea how to change a tire!

This morning at 8 I went to Les Schwab to get the tire fixed. I sat down at the table in the waiting room with a cup of coffee and noticed the paper on the table. Since I don't subscribe it was treat to read the morning paper. At that moment I though about how peaceful it was to just sit with my coffee and the paper. I throughly enjoyed the 30 minutes it took to get my tire fixed! And the fact that they didn't charge me anything because my tires came from there was an extra blessing!

Having a tire fixed can be a good thing!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

I was visiting a new blog tonight, Hidden Riches From Secret Places, and got such a blessing. Cora was so kind to leave a comment on my blog today so I went to pay her a visit back. The music she had playing was very nice and as I was reading I recognized one of my favorite hymns. The Lord just blessed me so much in that moment that it brought tears to my eyes.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."

Oh how I need to keep my eyes on the wonderful face of Jesus. In the past few weeks I have gotten caught up in the world a bit. There has been bitterness in my heart over my broken marriage. There has been a bit of worry as I sort out my finances and try to support myself and my daughter. There has been a bit of worry over the few short years I have left until retirement and no money put away.

You see, these are all things of the world. But when my eyes are on Jesus these things are of no concern to me anymore. He will take care of them. All He wants is for me to look in his wonderful face!!!

Spring Nest Cleaning Gift-away

I just found out about this wonderful Spring Nest Cleaning Gift-away at The Simple Woman blog. I was reading my friend Lea's blog, Farmhouse Blessings and saw her post about the giveaway. Then I realized that The Simple Woman is one of my favorite online people, Miss Peggy. She is such a treasure with her encouragement to women of maintaining a Godly life and home. Her blog is a place of sanctuary and encouragement to me - go visit and I hope it will be for you too!

I Love Michael Buble

Or should I say I love his voice and his music. He sings the type of songs that I grew up listening to - standards from the 40's and 50's. My daddy loved music so there was always a radio playing or a record on the record player.

Whenever I hear Michael Buble sing it just makes me want to dance. Especially his song "Sway". Just makes me happy!

Almost 7000 Visitors!

I looked at the counter today and I can't believe that 6,945 people have visited my blog! If you're the next one to visit be sure to check the counter. If you're number 7,000 I'll send you one a cute bunny soap! But you have to leave a comment! I love comments and love to know who is visiting.

Priscilla and Charles Came To Visit!

Priscilla and Charles hopped on over to my online shoppe for a visit! They're just the cutest little bunnies made from goat's milk soap. Priscilla is scented with pomegranate and pretty in pink as every girl bunny should be. Her brother Charles is scented with chocolate truffle fragrance and his brown color is from cocoa powder.

Both of these little sweeties are only 2 1/2 inches tall and will arrive sitting in a vintage aluminum jello mold.

Wouldn't you like to adopt them for Easter? Visit my shoppe to find out more about Priscilla and Charles.