Sheep and Lambs

I took the children to the petting farm yesterday and we fell in love with the lambs frolicking in the farmyard.

Our one-year old squealed with delight! We were all squealing with delight!

They were so adorable~frolicking without a care in the world!

We were just so happy to be there at the farm on a sunny Spring day watching these darling little animals play!

A mama sheep was in labor! We will be heading back to the farm today to see if her babies were born!

I came across this poem as I was looking for something appropriate for Easter. It is from an old book I picked up from a used book sale years ago~"Poems for Red Letter Days"

Sheep and Lambs by Katharine Tynan Hinkson

All in the April morning,

April airs were abroad;

The sheep with their little lambs

Pass'd me by on the road.

The sheep with their little lambs

Pass'd me by on the road;

All in an April evening

I thought on the Lamb of God.

The lambs were weary, and crying

With a weak human cry,

I thought on the Lamb of God

Going meekly to die.

Up in the blue, blue mountains

Dewy pastures are sweet:

Rest for the little bodies,

Rest for the little feet.

All in the April evening,

April airs were abroad;

I saw the sheep with their lambs

And thought on the Lamb of God.

Have a beautiful Easter!

Springtime poem

My Mom loves poetry and she will send me a poem that she thinks I will like. This is one of my favorites! In the heart of a bulb Is a promise of Spring. In a little blue egg There's a bird that will sing. In the soul of a seed Is a hope of the sod. In the heart of a child Is the Kingdom of God. ~Anonymous I hope your Spring is filled with sunshine in your hearts!

Rain

It's raining.

I hear thunder and wind and pittering on my windows.

I feel cozy at home.

As if God gave me a vacation day in the middle of the week.

The errands can wait.

I can pitter in my bedroom and organize a forgotten corner.

I can snuggle with the children all day long if I want.

We might venture to the library and pick out new books and jump in a puddle or two when we get there.

I am calmer.

Less stressed.

Oh, the necessary will get done.

Just relax!

The rain is saying~

slow down, slow down, slow down.

Sigh!

My heart is calm.

All is green and beautiful!

Thank you, God, for this gift!

Let the Sun Shine In!

I was reminded of how much the sun affects our lives, body, mind and spirit!

We all know it gets us in a happier mood!

Just sitting next to a sunny window seems to calm me and bring serenity into my day.

Closing my eyes and bringing my face toward the sun somehow makes me feel loved!

And I know it is because that big bright star that we can see during the day is from our One and Only Heavenly Father who created the entire earth, Universe and me!

So, of course, I feel loved!

Seeing the sun shine on my dirty windows isn't exactly soothing, but if I move past the smudges and get outside and really enjoy the brightness of the day it somehow makes me feel less anxious and so happy!

Cleaning up the yard and getting the garden ready for planting is nourishing to the soul!

I am so thankful to have a 'bit of earth' to sow a few seeds.

The sun lifts our spirits, gives our bodies much needed nutrients and vitamins, and even helps ward off sickness and heal wounds~I believe not just the physical but the emotional as well!

It seems a bit easier to get out into the sunshine on a warm day, but just sitting by a window with cooler weather sun is so good for us!

You have all heard by now the importance of vitamin D and how it helps to build our immune system. In fact, there is quite a list of how beneficial it is to our entire bodies.

You can get sufficient vitamin D from sitting in the sun for 15-20 minutes a day.

If you sit indoors by a window, open it a little to let the fresh air come in.

You can also get it from foods such as wild salmon, fish oil, low-fat milk, and eggs.

You can even take a supplement if you feel that you are not getting enough from food or sunshine.

Dr. Mercola always has so much info on vitamin D and all the latest and greatest reports etc.

You can always visit his website at http://www.mercola.com/.

Let us all enjoy the sun and be reminded of all the blessings that God has given!

Putting our feet to earth and enjoying nature and sunshine as we walk in our neighborhood with a special person or even by ourselves is enough to slow down our minds and ponder the blessings in our lives.

It gives us a bit of time to truly be thankful!

Let the sun shine in!

Let the Son shine in!

Be someone's Sunshine today!

PS:

Our 19 year-old son just announced that he wants to be a chiropractor! I think he would be a great chiropractor! My prayer has always been for God to lead each child down the path HE has created for each one and that we, as parents, can give them the encouragement and confidence they need to go down that path.

I can see now that God has been shaping Shane's life for a path of health, fitness and wellness and I pray that wherever that path leads him that God will bless him with success and happiness!

Things To Do This Spring

It's exciting to have a new season, especially one that is getting warmer and brighter after a long, dark winter.

Here are some simple things to do to make Spring fun and special.

1. Read "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. One of the best books I have ever read. It is wonderful to read it a little at a time to children, but just as good reading on your own.

It is a story about hope and friendship and when you are finished reading it, you will want a 'bit of earth' of your own.

2. Plant a garden. If you have never planted a garden, do not be afraid to start one this Spring! "The Square Foot Gardening" book by Mel Bartholomew is absolutely for everyone, whether you are a beginner or an ol' pro! You can visit the website at http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
I was overwhelmed just thinking about a garden, though I always wanted one, and this was the book that set me free.

We have 8-4 feet by 4 feet squares-1 for each of the children and the point was to have each take care of their own square.
You can make as many squares as you need.
You can have a square full of wonderful food even if you have limited space.

3. Go Fishing! We have a young fisherman in the family so we always make a point to get to Kensington Metropark to go fishing!

4. Make or buy a Spring wreath for your door. I've done both, but last year I found a beautiful one from Wal-Mart!

5. Buy a Bird's nest and use it in your decorating. We have a real one that was abandoned last fall, but you can get one from the local craft store.
Buy a little fake bird and some eggs to put in it and then find a green sprig from your own
yard and stick it into the nest, too.
It makes a beautiful centerpiece or decoration for a shelf, mantel or a bedside table.

6. Put some lemons and limes in a clear glass bowl and leave on the counter to use for your water, tea and for cooking.

7. Buy new kites and fly them with a loved one.

8. Find some good Middle-Eastern recipes, like tabouli, falafels, non-leavened bread, etc and have someone special over for Palm Sunday, which is this coming Sunday.

9. Make a terrarium. See www.bhg.com/terrariums.

10. Visit the local public gardens and butterfly house. Usually the Universities have these.

11. Go on a picnic.

12. Visit the farm to see the baby animals.

Have fun!

Spring

We are so excited that Spring is here.

We saw 1 week old baby lambs at the farm the other day and knew Spring HAD to be here!

God's own sign to us that indeed it is SPRING!

A time of renewal!

A time of refreshment!

A time of hope!

Here, again, is another poem that my sweet mother found for me!

Though she is a poet herself, she did not write this one.

We do not even have a title for it.

Here it is:

In the heart of a bulb

Is a promise of Spring.

In a little blue egg

There's a bird that will sing.

In the soul of a seed

Is a hope of the sod.

In the heart of a child

Is the Kingdom of God.

~Anonymous

Enjoy your Spring!

PS. The artwork is from Allposters.com and is called Spring Flowers c. 1851 by George Smith

Spring Fashion Update

I am loving the bright sunshine we have been having!

Spring is right around the corner!

We can start putting away our black clothes!

YAY!

I thought I would have a nice neat list of 2010 Top 10 Spring Fashions for you but, sigh, I can't seem to figure out exactly what is going on.

So I will just give you a list of all the trends I came across and you can just pick your favorites.

Here goes:

1. Bold colors (turqouise is the number one, followed by red, yellow and copper tones)

2. Pretty pastels (pink, coral, purple)

3. Beige and nude colors

4. Little white dresses

5. Tribal print dresses, tops, etc

6. Tie-dye and watercolor dresses, tops, etc

7. Pencil skirts

8. Big, bright floral blouses

9. Denim galore

10. Animal prints

11. Ballet flats (with a heel, perhaps?)

12. Colorful, oversized handbags

13. The Boyfriend jacket (roll up the cuffs?)

14. Ripped jeans (don't tell our teenagers!)

15. Sailor stripes

16. Bold jewelry

17. Sequins, beads, glitter and shine

18. Ruffles

19. Mismatched prints

20. Sleek sporty styles

21. Clogs with a modern heel.

Phew! I am tired just thinking about it!

I guess the sum of it all is to just

WEAR WHAT YOU WANT !

FORGET ABOUT WHAT IS IN STYLE!

JUST BE YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN!