Life - Always Changing - New Traditions

How was your Easter? Did you celebrate? At home with family, or was it just another day to you?

I am a big fan of family traditions...but I also like making new traditions.

We have always had large family dinners on holidays, but this year, my husband was having some health issues, we're updating (I'm painting every room) our home so we can sell it and move home, and allergy season has kicked in big time this year.  So I asked hubby "would you mind if we just went out to eat this year?"  What a great new tradition!!!!  I should have done it years ago.

Amanda and her crew came over so Owen could get his basket from Poppa and Gramma, Chuck's brother and wife surprised us with a visit, and it was so nice to be able to just make coffee and then join the conversations instead of being chained in the kitchen.  We should have done this years ago.

One this I did miss, and have missed since we've moved south, was our annual shopping trip to 

The Broadway Market in downtown Buffalo, NY.

No good respecting Polish cook would get their Easter sausage and butter lambs anywhere else.

That I miss, and family.

So how was your weekend?  Any new traditions started at your house?

Be blessed,

Debbi

The Craft Star Artist feature - Mel's Fun Suds

This week I am thrilled to feature a really amazing shop from the huge collection of shops at The Craft Star, Mel's Fun Suds.  This is one of the cutest shops I have ever come across...

This shop is run by a disabled Air Force vetran and his very proud wife.  They were looking for something creative to do together, and decided to make soap.  When their son enjoyed the fun shaped soaps at bath time, they decided to share them with the rest of us.  Yea us!

Let's see what they have to offer.

When I first saw this bunny, I totally thought is was a real chocolate bunny, but it's not, it's soap.  You get a choice of a wide range of colors when you purchase this Easter bunny gift set.  You get 2 bunnies to a set, one to give away, and one to keep for yourself. :0)

Now, I'm just a simple country girl, so I had to share this Cowboy Up Clean Soaps.  You get a set of 4 bendy toy cowboys with their feet encased in a bar of soap, and you get to chose the soap scent.

Who else remembers Kazoos?  I loved them as a kid, and this set of 8 Kazoo soaps is a winner with me.  The bright colors will get any child's attention at bath time. 

 These remind me of a funny story...when my son Josh was still small (about 4) he had learned a "new" word.  And despite all my discussions and bribes, he used this word...a lot.  One day I got a bar of soap and told him that his dirty mouth needed to be cleaned up.  Guess what he did....he took a bite out of that bar of soap and swallowed it!  I was a young mother, and FREAKED OUT!  I even called poison control.  The man on the other end of the line was chuckling and asked me the brand of soap.  When I told him it was Ivory, he said that since it was 99.9% pure to not worry, and to definitely not take my son too far away from the bathroom.  I think he was trying very hard not to laugh out loud.  

Now it's your turn, click on any link above and check out all 165 items in her shop.  And please share any fun stories you have of raising kids, or being a kid.

Be blessed,

Debbi

Easter with the family - and my Pinterest wannabe's

This has been a very busy week, and I noticed today that I have not posted anything SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY!  opps, sorry.  So for your viewing pleasure, some family pictures from Easter dinner at Amanda and Brandon's house.  Also known as, how I killed some Pinterest ideas.

Amanda and Brandon doing the cooking.  I always had the meal at my house, but with their new home, we had Christmas and Easter at their house.  I have to admit, it was nice to not have to worry about cleaning up before (and after), or cooking.  Of course, I did bring the ham because Amanda wants to try a more vegan lifestyle, and when I told Chuck that she was making a vegetable casserole...well...have you seen the AT&T commercial with the new boyfriend coming over for lunch, but he's a vegetarian?  And at the end of the commercial when they are all sitting around the table?  Well, the expression on the father was a lot like Chucks.  LOL.  So I got him a ham.  And Brandon helped him eat it. hahaha
 

Boo loves to play with his Poppa, but he got tired of me yelling...

"say cheese" so he started to ignore me.  Here's Poppa trying to get him to look at me, yet again.

 

I don't like having my picture taken, but since I was dressed up, I thought I would take advantage of the situation.

Now for your utter enjoyment and out loud laughter, my pinterest wannabes....or... how I totally suck at cake decorating.

Now this is what the cake was suppose to look like...

 ...and this is how I killed it!

Now for the cookies.  This is what they were suppose to look like...

 ....and this is what they looked like!

Go ahead...laugh...we did!  At least they tasted better then they looked. :0)

So how was your Easter?

Be blessed,

Debbi

Celebrate...for He is risen!

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move.
 The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.
 "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."
 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."

Good Friday

Well, today is Good Friday, but really, how many of us take the time to remember what this day is all about? If you have never been touched by God, this blog is not for you. (I didn't say "if you don't believe in God" because God's existence does depend on our belief). But if you do believe, join me in my thoughts of this day.
We have had Easter homecoming at my church the past few nights, sharing communion and all. And it was amazing. And humbling. To think that Jesus, who was with God, and was God, in the beginning, and in the end, and is the Word that brought all things into existence. Jesus CHOOSE to leave heaven to come to this sin filled world, for me. Yes, he was the Son of God, but he was also the Son of Man. If Jesus came just for our salvation, he would have just died, but he did so much more.
Yes, He came for our salvation, but he also came so that we might have life abundantly, here, today, in this life and in this world. He was betrayed by a kiss (how many of us have been hurt by a friend?), but did not respond in kind. He chose to lay down his life according to God's will for fallen man. Then he was beaten, whipped, teased, made fun of, rejected, and THEN crucified. Why???? Because of his love for me. Yes me. If I was the only person in the history of the world that accepted his gift, he would have done all this just for me. But he didn't do it just for me, he did it for you, whether you believe in him or not.
This was a sad and dark day for man. But the best is yet to come. See you all in 3 days!
-Debbi-