The promise of Easter

This past Sunday was Palm Sunday. The children in the church blessed us adults, by walking up the center aisle waving palm branches and singing Hosanna in the highest. Now, if that doesn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I don't know what will. It brought tears to my eyes seeing my children being taught the true meaning of Easter. It's not about cute bunnies or marshmallow peeps. Why do even we Christians forget this sometimes?

I have had an even stronger desire this year to teach my children how important these days are. The days of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. I ordered a week long unit study just about these special days, and we will be doing it all week.

Yesterday was our first day, and this study brought up a lot of awesome conversations. Princess #3 asked if getting to heaven was really as simple as just believing in Jesus. When I answered "Yes" she was blown away that someone would decide to not do that. I had to agree! Kids just get it you know...

Working away on learning all about how special Easter really is.

I have also been thinking about how much work I put into teaching my girls to eat healthy food, and then give them special rewards for holidays that consist of more sugar than anyone should consume in a week, let alone a day. For this reason alone we opted out of buying our usual peanut butter eggs this year, that we make with our scouting troop. I just couldn't justify giving them that much sugar. I came up with another plan. I took our staple cookie recipe and covered it in melted  chocolate. Ok, sure the chocolate has SOME sugar...but not near as much as the usual peanut butter egg. I left out the chocolate chips in the recipe since it would be getting covered in plenty later. :-) I think the girls will love them!

And since bunnies are so dag on cute...I surprised the girls with one of those as well. Yes it was given to them early, but I have a thing for furry little critter babies. :-) Hey, Jesus made these as well. I just keep telling myself I am teaching them to love His creation. ;-)

 It's our new classroom pet. Every class room needs a pet ya know!

And who wouldn't want a cute little critter to stuff in a box and carry around the house? I know these three kiddos enjoyed it. :-) I will admit that I had forgotten just how much poo one little guy could make. Oh well, it's working great for the garden!

This Easter let's remember how special this time is. Let's not get caught up in the worldly ways of teaching our kids about a make believe bunny that brings you hollow chocolate candy. Jesus gave us the ultimate gift...that's enough. We don't need to add to that....and those hollow chocolate bunnies are so deceiving anyways! :-)

Six years of Hope

This past week has been a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities. So many neat things to blog about, but so little time to do it. One very important event though that can't go without being mentioned, a birthday. A sixth birthday to be exact. My sweet baby turned six on Wednesday April 13th.

I can not believe how much time has gone by. It seems like it was just yesterday that I had a brand new baby that weighed in at 8 pounds 8 oz.  A head full of dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. Sweet Man got to name this precious new addition to our family and he chose the name, Hope Alyssa. I thought it was perfect, for one cannot live without hope ya know. ;-)

When asked what this princess wanted to do to celebrate this wonderful occasion, she said "stay home." :-) I was thrilled. There's no place I would rather be!

Cupcakes were made and decorated.

Flowers were picked to decorate the house.

Tractor rides were a definite must,

 and the sisters were able to join in on this as well! (thank you Sweet Man)

Happy birthday Sweet Heart! You mean the world to us and we love you so much!!! You bring so much joy and laughter to our little family, and we just wouldn't be complete without YOU! You have taught me to enjoy the little things, eat dessert first, to play in the mud every chance you get, to just try harder when someone tells you that you can't do something, and to love on our animals more. You remind me so much of myself when I was your age, which can be a little frightening at times.... :-o...but oh so neat all the other times. We are both the babies of our families, and with that comes a sense of humor for sure. You crack me up all the time and bring sunshine to a gloomy day. Always be yourself, sweet heart, for that is the way God wanted you to be!

13 years of wedded bliss!

Happy 13th anniversary Sweet Man!

 You make this married stuff so fun and easy ;-)

Displaying keepsakes

The family went over to clean out my Grandmother's apartment yesterday. It was a weird feeling going through her closets and drawers. She had so many neat treasures and was very tidy. Makes me want to keep up my closets for when my family has to come over and clean out my stuff. :-o I came home with so many neat and special things, and I was left with wondering how to display these keepsakes. While going through a bag of scrap material, I came across some pieces of a quilt that she had started, and never got around to finishing. I thought about it for a bit, and came up with a great idea! At least I think it turned out pretty nice.

I found these big frames in the school room...

And this huge roll of fabric,

 that I bought to make a shower curtain and matching valances for my bathroom.

 Remember, I don't know how to sew. I am not sure how I thought I was going to accomplish those tasks...so I decided to use it elsewhere to take the pressure off of having to learn how to sew right now.

I also came home with an old picture frame, and a box of her recipes. I put the two together for a neat way to remember some of her favorite dishes. (I found her recipe card for her cranberry salad too!!!)

There was a bedroom suit that no one else in the family wanted, so I was able to bring it home and give it a new owner. Grandmom had given Princess #1 a bed a few years back, so princess #2 was going to get to be the proud new owner.

So many memories are brought back to my mind through looking at all of her stuff that she collected through the years. I am so happy to be able to share some stories with my girls about my Grandmother, and I am very thankful that our house gets to hold some of her treasures. :-)

A letter to you, Grandmom....

Dear Grandmom,

We laid you to rest yesterday, April 7, 2011. It was a beautiful sunny day, and I couldn't help but think how much you would have enjoyed the weather. The service was as beautiful as you were, in your mint green dress. It was a bittersweet day for us all. I hated to see that chapter end in our lives where you were here with us, but I knew it was your time to go. To be with Jesus and Granddad. I wonder what it is like for you right now. Are you and Granddad catching up on old times? Or was he able to look down from up above and see? Is he just as smiley as he always was? Do you remember us now? I have to say that has been one of the hardest parts for me, you not knowing who I was. I so wanted to really be able to say goodbye to you, and you to know who it was that was saying it. It was hard watching your body fail you, along with your mind. Yes. You are way better off now. We will remember you for how you used to be....

 I will remember how excited we were when you and Granddad moved home to WV, after being in Florida for so many years. I will remember the time Kevin and I were able to stay the night with you guys in your new apartment. Granddad was sitting at the table drinking coffee out of a clear coffee mug, which I thought was so cool, and you were frying eggs at the stove. I showed disgust when Granddad plopped a big spoonful of jelly on top of his fried egg, but secretly knew I was going to try that as soon as I got home. :-) I did, and it was pretty yummy! I remember how excited you were for me when we moved out to our property and got chickens. You found a basket and sewed a little pillow in the bottom that we could use for collecting eggs. We loved the basket. So did the the new puppy, for she chewed it completely up. :-( I remember how you would always make cranberry salad for the fall and winter celebrations. You knew how much I loved it and would always insist I take enough home for "later." It never lasted too long though, for I would eat it all the same day. Deviled eggs were a specialty of yours as well, and reunions were not complete without your dish of those. You loved to show me what was blooming in your little garden. I still have some of the plants that you gave me starts for out of that little garden. The phlox is just about ready to bloom now, and the hostas are poking their heads up through the wet soppy ground. Did I ever thank you for all of those plants? I can't remember.....Did I ever tell you how much I loved you....I can't remember. I hope I showed you though, but I fear I let my busy schedule get in the way of that. I'm sorry I wasn't there more for you, I really am.

There was a beautiful display of flowers on your casket Grandmom, and after the service we all took some home  for drying, and to keep to remember this day. I don't think I will need a dried flower to remember, but I am thankful to have it. We decided to dry some of the roses and then put the rest on my writing desk. They look and smell so wonderful.

I have been trying to remind myself that your story has not ended. It is just beginning....Love you now and always!

My Grandmother

Obituary: Rosalee Ruth Underwood

Rosalee Ruth Underwood, 86, went to be with her heavenly family on Monday April 4, 2011.

Born Dec. 8, 1924, in Beckley, she lived most of her life in Charleston. She was a member of Mountain Mission, Charleston. After retirement they also resided in Titusville, Fla., where they attended Temple Baptist Church. She recently attended Bible studies at Covenant PCA Church in Nitro and was loved by the members.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Wilbur “Smiley” Underwood; her parents, Georgia and Frazier Flint; her brothers Kenneth, Francis, Fred and Bernard “BB” Flint; and her sister, Joyce Fisher.

She is survived by one sister, Mary Nan Scragg of South Charleston; son, Robert Underwood and his wife, Sandra, of Charleston; and daughter, Sandra Burns and her husband, Alan, of Blountville, Tenn. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Kari Gleason, Kevin Underwood and Kristen Fry of the Charleston area. She has eight great-grandchildren.

Rosalee enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening. She and Wilbur enjoyed many activities while living in Florida including fishing and volunteer work with the disabled veterans. She loved dogs, especially her three Scottie granddogs and Grady and Ruby. She was a Scottie rescue supporter.

Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at Good Shepherd Mortuary, 335 Fifth Ave., South Charleston. Burial will be in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.

The family wishes to express their special gratitude to her sister, Mary Nan Scragg, her granddaughter, Kari Gleason and her family, for their devotion in caring for Mom in the final years of her life.

Our mother kept a garden,

a garden of the heart,

She planted all good things

that gave our life a start.

And when the winds and rains came,

she protected us just enough-

Because she knew some day we'd need

to stand up strong and tough.

We are our mother's garden,

We are her legacy-

And we hope in heaven she feels our love

through all eternity

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HospiceCare, Charleston, or Scottie Rescue 420 Ash Drive, Baxter, TN 38544

We loved you Grandmom......

Going cuckoo over here!

Our family was recently blessed with a cuckoo clock. It was given to me by my uncle, and I feel very honored to be the recipient of it. Choosing the perfect spot to hang it took a little while to decide. I was in the middle of painting several rooms in the house, and I couldn't decide just where to place such an ornate clock. All three girls wanted it for their room, which was an easy answer. "No." ;-)

We decided to hang it in the downstairs hallway, and we have had many giggles since. It never fails, I will be walking through the hallway with my arms loaded with the princesses forgotten treasures, that they have strung throughout the house, and as soon as I am smack dab in front of it, will be the moment the bird decides to make an appearance. Jumping out of my skin would be a good way to describe the first couple of days. It also chooses to chime right when I sit down to read aloud to the girls. Which they love, for they know they have at least ten more seconds to play. :-)

The girls love this clock so much, and have set up a little schedule for who gets to wind it up everyday. Who knew a clock could teach responsibility and sharing? :-) Of course there had to be lessons on how to wind it up and make sure it doesn't fall off the wall....this is where Sweet Man stepped in. I home school ya know, it was may day off. ;-)

There are so many neat things about this clock, one being that wherever you are in the house, every thirty minutes, you are reminded that you are running behind schedule. ;-)

Thanks to my Aunt and Uncle for this clock. My uncle has been battling pancreatic cancer and is scheduled to have surgery on April 21 to see if they can remove the tumor. If you could please remember him in prayer I would appreciate it very much!