Ramblings From My Veranda

On this blessed Easter weekend, I'm feeling especially close to God. My grandsons are in the living room watching a ball game and Gary has gone to help our oldest son, Greg, "un-winterize" his camper. So here I sit thinking about this weekend and all that it means.

I found the video below on "You Tube" and decided that, even though it's quite graphic in places, I needed to share it. Sometimes we need to be reminded, graphically, about all the pain and suffering that Jesus went through. In our mind we know it...but do we really realize how bad it was? Probably much worse than the video shows.

Anyway, we heard the weather forecast for Sunday morning and it's suppose to be 30 degrees with maybe a few snow flakes. Ours is one of the few churches in our area that still observe Sunrise Service. Now what this entails is getting up extra early, showering, getting dressed and driving to church. Standing or sitting outside in the pre dawn morning, singing, worshiping and praying as we watch the sunrise. Afterwards, we go into the fellowship hall, have a huge breakfast, go home, undress, re-dress in our Easter outfits and go back to church at 10 am. This is all a very awesome experience. I've done it since childhood, though I admit that for years in my adult life, I seemed to have lost my way. But, because of His love for me, the Shepard left the fold, found His little lost sheep, and brought me back.
So, I was thinking, because I am human, I will probably (along with others) grumble about how much earlier we have to get up, how cold it is, how it's snowing (maybe), how we are sitting on cold, metal folding chairs instead of on our padded pews in the sanctuary, where it's warm, how we have to drive all the way back home and return in a couple of hours...and I would have the nerve to think of this PRIVILEGE as being a little uncomfortable for us. Then I think...my being uncomfortable for a little while versus Christ's suffering the crucifixion for hours on end....

Forgive me, Lord, for my selfishness. May I forever be reminded of Your wondrous love for a sinner like me. And though I know, You have saved me and promised me a glorious home in heaven, may I never forget that it is through Your grace alone that I am so blessed. So I ask you, Lord, to forgive me when I grumble, and may I never forget to thank You for Your awesome sacrifice. AMEN

In Honor Of My Savior

PLEASE GO TO THE BOTTOM AND TRUN OFF THE MUSIC PLAYER THEN RETURN AND WATCH, LISTEN AND RECEIVE A BLESSING. HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

In Our Easter Bonnets

My baby sister and me, all dressed up for Easter, circa 1953. As you can probably tell from her chubby little cheeks, I thought she needed a bottle every time she made the slightest sound. I truly cherished my baby sister...still do!! I Love you, Sissy.

This kit is "Celebrating CJS", from cjsscrapbookingwithattitude. What a beautiful kit to celebrate your first year.

Looking or Hiding??

Story has it that I was looking for Easter eggs behind the smokehouse. I think I was really trying to hide so no one would see me in this Easter Hat! At this age, the only hat that I was interested in wearing was my cowboy hat.
This kit is "Looking For A New Day" by CJS. You can find it at cjsscrapbookingwithattitude or click on the blinkie at right. Thanks Carol, it's a beautiful kit.

My Guys

I was looking through my pictures and came across this one of Gary and our three sons, taken about 3 years ago and when I thought about scrapping it, I remembered Carol's kit "Things That Glitter In My Life". These are MY GUYS and they definetly are the glitter in my life!

Thank you Carol for this beautiful kit.

Gee, I've missed y'all

seems like I've been gone forever! Today is my first full day out of bed, well not exactly a full day...had to take a nap earlier. I was up long enough to check e-mail yesterday (184) but I only read the important ones, like all the get well wishes and e-cards from you all. I can't tell you how much they meant to me. You all are the GREATEST bunch of friends anyone could have and I love each one of you so very much. And, OMG... I got page of the week and didn't even know it until I logged on tonight! Thank you all so much and I'm sorry I didn't get to vote on your pages. I will try to go back and play catch up with all your pages and make comments.

I think I told you all in e-mail that the doctor said I had pneumonia (again). His final complete diagnosis, after tests, is COPD with Chronic Bronchitis, which means get used to breathing treatments and inhalers.

Gerri, I'm sorry you drank all those Mint Juleps alone but ya know......you could have shared them with the other girls. LOL From reading all the comments y'all left, maybe I should change my name to "Miss Scarlett". (love it).

Well, this is short but wanted to let you know that I'm on the mend, finally. I think I'll check out your blogs for a while and then turn in. Hopefully, I can get to work on some new pages with that beautiful new CJS Celebrating kit. Goodness, has it been a year already?
Love to you all,
Jude

Now you tell me...

if you are a grandmother, is there any sweeter kiss than one from your grand- baby? I think not. Oh I remember those sweet kisses from my own children..they were heavenly and I thought I would never get a sweeter kiss. That is until I had grandchildren! I think their kisses are straight from the angels. This is Jacob who is now 10 years old and thank goodness he hasn't reached the "too big to be kissing my mamaw" stage. lol In fact, even my grown children haven't reached that stage. If we happen to run into each other while running errands, WalMart, grocery store....where ever. We stop and talk and they will always kiss me before we say bye and go our separate ways. I thank God everyday that He has blessed me with such loving children.
Kit is Country Bouquet by Fishinmom Designs.