{Birthday Tribute}

I miss my grandmother.  My Nan.  

 

She passed away eight years ago this fall, but today would have been her 97th birthday.

 

Time has not closed the hole in my heart, left from the place she held. 

 

 I catch myself making silent tributes as I go about daily life. 

 

My little sister wears an outfit of purple, and I think about how much Nan would have loved it.   She wore purple whenever she had the opportunity.

 

I shop for flowers at the greenhouse and find myself gravitating to all the ones she used to plant on her back patio.  My garden is now filled with all her favorites.  

 

Lunchtime outside on the picnic table and I smile when I realize how much I love watching the squirrels playing in the yard or running across the top of the fence.  Nan always told stories about the squirrels on her patio and how she tried to tame them, or she would sit in a chair by our back window while I was growing up, watching for them to scurry by.

 

My love for musicals and all things Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and Gene Kelly are because of her.  My love for black & white TV shows, Barney Fife, great dance scenes, and music from the roaring 20's can all be blamed on her. 

 

She continues to infiltrate my life.  My childhood memories are all filled with her, family vacations, holidays, play time, birthdays, and I find myself wishing often that she was still here, continuing to create memories with me.  

 

There are physical characteristics that I also have of hers.... although I usually complain about them... big knees, short waistedness.... but deep down I'm glad there is a part of me that is like her, other than my love for french fries and cute shoes.

 

I was blessed to have her in my life for as long as I did, but I don't think I'll ever stop missing her. 

 

 

{Wordless Wednesday}

Social Media edition

{Always Winter, Never Spring}

Spring is arriving.   

Early; quickly; brilliantly.  

Just in time for Easter which is right around the corner.

We were blessed with an extremely mild winter here in Michigan, but it doesn’t stop the longing in my heart for spring and the warmth it brings.

Temperatures have been in the upper 70’s and low 80’s for the past week, and we are already spoiled by the warmth.  Averages this time of year are 30’s and low 40’s.   But I’m not delusional, having lived in Michigan long enough to know that we very well could have some massive snow storms between now and the middle of May.  So we’re soaking it up while we can, knowing it might only be a tease before the warmth is here to stay.  

Tulips and crocus are blooming, trees are budding, and every morning I wake up to birds singing their beautiful melodies through our open windows.  

 But with all the robins singing in the trees, and the squirrels eating the heads off my daffodils, the arrival of new life draws my mind to Christ, and the new life He brings us.   I think of Narnia, where it was “always winter, but never Christmas”, and how they longed for something more.  They longed for the hope that came with the arrival of Aslan.  

And when Aslan was on the move, spring came.  Snow melted, rivers flowed, and the trees began to bud.  Aslan brought hope to Narnia, and the world came alive with the anticipation of his arrival.

 

Good Friday was our winter, and God knew it would be.  But He also knew that Sunday was coming, and with that brought the melting away of the darkness and the hope of new life found in the risen Jesus. 

Resurrection (Easter) Sunday should be overflowing with the greatest joy we can find within us.   It is because of that day that we don’t live where it is always winter, never spring.  

 Hallelujah!

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; 
the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASV)

Are you doing anything special during the next couple of weeks to prepare your hearts for this season of new life and the celebration of our Risen Savior?

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