Hello, friends! Hope you all had a great day today. Did any of you see the moon on Saturday? My neighbor called me and told me to go outside with my camera and get some pictures of the rainbow around the moon. And there really was a rainbow circling the moon. I took pictures on my phone, but they really didn't turn out. Then I went inside the house and got my camera. These were better but still not as good as what I actually saw.
Can you believe it is Holy Week already? Even though things are closed, Joe and I are celebrating this week. Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Our congregation is still not meeting, but Pastor and Rick sit at the top of the step in front of the church and talk to people walking by. Joe had bought some palms, so I took them over to church and we put them in vases at the bottom of the steps for people to help themselves. When I got there Pastor and Rick were talking to a lady that lives across the street. She was happy to get some palms and was asking what time we had services. After a few minutes Pastor and I went right inside the door and I filmed him giving a 4 minute Palm Sunday message. I had been having people ask if he was going to have a live stream or a filmed Sunday Service. We really don't have the ability to do that, so I asked if he would film a short message. As of today there has been 110 views -- more than any other video I have ever put up on our site. I am going to give you the link here so you can watch it.
Rick wanted to see a video that Paulette had, so I went to her house to give her some palms and to get the video from her. I had called first, so she was waiting for me and met me on the landing outside of her house. We kept our distance from each other, but were saying how nice it was to see another person. She said it was great to know that other people really did exist. Ha, ha! I ran back to church and gave Rick the video. He and Pastor were talking to man standing on the pavement with palms in his hand and a mask on his face. Lots of people have been asking for prayer and asking what time we have Sunday service. It will be interesting to see what happens when we have services again. Perhaps God is using this to grow His church. I had to go to Rite Aid to get a few things, so headed over there. I wanted to get everything done in one day and done quickly. But it was so good to get out of the house and actually see other people. I keep telling myself just a few more weeks. Small enough price to pay to not get sick. Last night we watched the service from Calvary Chapel where Joe and I used to attend. Funny, we both went there for years, but not together. We didn't even know each other then. It is so good to be back at a service there even if it is via the internet. We plan on continuing with the services even after the shut-down is over. Pastor Joe is such a good speaker.
Today was such a nice day weather-wise. I think that Spring is finally here. We have some flowers up in the yard. I am going to have to take some pictures of them for you. My sister's Pastor is doing a series on YouTube all this week on what happened in Jesus' life this last week leading up to the crucifixion. Today it was from Matthew 21 -- Jesus cleansing the temple and cursing the fig tree. As I said, all this week is going to be so special to Joe and me. Perhaps more so than in previous years. There is so much I want to do around the house, and yet I felt so poorly today that all I did was sleep. I see my doctor on Wednesday and I can't wait to talk to her about my medication. I have been trying to dress nicely each day and find that I really feel better when I do that. Today I am wearing a rust colored sweater with a pearl and silver pendant necklace and black pants. Not fancy, but not pjs either. Do you feel this way too? Now I am rambling, so I will get off of here. Have a good night, everyone. Kathy
I hope you all had a wonderful day. I woke up very early today. I wouldn't have except someone wanted me up to feed him.
Oh, Jack! Why can't you let me sleep past 4:30 a.m.? So since I was up I decided to make gluten-free apple cinnamon muffins for Fellowship Time at church. I made them from a mix since I am not at all good making gluten-free dishes. They were OK, but I don't think I would make them again. Joe got up, tried to eat, sat there for awhile then went back to bed. Poor guy still isn't feeling all that great. I just want him to be OK for the rest of this week and for Easter. No kids showed up for Sunday School so I got the opportunity to sit in church and hear the message. It was so good. We are studying Colossians and even though I taught it about a year ago, there is always something new to learn. And my lessons and Pastor's sermons have a different emphasis. There was so much in the message that I took to heart and am pondering and praying about. The church looked very nice and a lot of people commented on it. I'm glad Dorothea and I took the time to make it so pretty. This afternoon I was looking at the palms I had gotten and wondered how hard it was to make a palm cross. I went on youtube because you can find anything on youtube. There were several videos. I tried a couple, but found one that was simple and was able to make a few nice ones. The first two I tried were pretty lame, but I was able to make two decent ones -- one for Joe and one for me. There are a lot of palms left over, so I am going to ask for more on Tuesday and see if I can make a bunch of them to give out on Easter.
For dinner tonight I had lamb chops, baked potatoes and a cauliflower and broccoli blend. When I went to put the lamb chops on, some olive oil that I had in the pan splashed on my right arm and my face. My face is OK, but my arm is burned. Fortunately not badly but it sure hurts as if it is bad. Now that the blisters are coming out I can see just how much of my arm is burned and it's quite a lot. I wanted to get a picture of the sunset tonight. But as I did, I noticed the silhouette of the trees. Look, there are buds! Even though there were snow flurries this morning, there are buds! Surely warm weather can't be far away.
I bought myself a new necklace. I saw this in Rite Aid and couldn't resist. It was a little more than I wanted to spend, but I know it will go with so many of my outfits. It is much prettier in person than it is in the picture. All of the stones sparkle.
This is going to be a busy week. Something going on every day except Monday. I think I'm going to have to rest tomorrow to save my energy for the rest of the week. And so with that I am heading to bed. Until later... Kathy
Such a beautiful day. The skies are clear. The temperature is warm. And the sun is bright. The perfect Palm Sunday.
Unfortunately, Joe was not perfect. Allergy season is here in full blast. I have a headache and a bit of losing my voice and coughing. Joe has a high fever, blowing his nose constantly, not much of a voice, coughing, and generally feeling miserable. He got all ready for church and then couldn't make it. I went but felt miserable the whole time.
The church looked lovely all decorated with the palms.
I was going to work out in the yard this afternoon, but instead took a nice long nap. That was much needed. I'll do the yard a little at a time this week. And work on the living room. And the kitchen. And the bathroom. And cook. Wow!
I have to run and make dinner. We're having lamb loin chops with herbed yogurt sauce. That's the menu of the week from ShopRite. Of the four I have tried I have liked three and hated one. Let's see how this turns out.
I'm going to leave you with the song we sang at the beginning of our service today. Our pastor has a magnificent voice. He sang the verses and we sang the chorus and waved our palms. Hope you enjoy it.
It was a pretty day yesterday. Even though it was cold, the snow held off until the evening.
The church looked very nice. And it was a beautiful service too. Pastor Joshua was our guest speaker and his message was great. I have to upload it to youtube sometime today.
The lady that came last Tuesday came back for church on Sunday. She is so happy to have found a church to attend and says she will be back on Tuesday again for Bible study. Anne who was in a bad car accident and hasn't been out for months was able to come. And just as we were all leaving Natasha came with her friend. We haven't seen her in almost a year. She moved and she hasn't been able to get to church because she had no transportation. But she says she will be at our Good Friday service because her friend that drove her yesterday also wants to attend Good Friday. I can see the Lord working in a great way in the church. If Natasha, her girls, her fiance and her friend come, that will mean we will have gained 8 people just since the new year. Praise God!
After church Joe and I went to visit our friend Paulette. She lives near the church so it was easy to pop around. I don't see her very often but it's always the same as if we had just spoken the day before. We stayed about an hour visiting her and then left to get lunch.
We decided to go to McDonald's on the way home. We won't do that again. We had to wait so long and then they messed up our order. We didn't notice it until we got home, and there was nothing we could do about it then. I got my sandwich, but they didn't give Joe his. It seems to be this particular McD's. It's near where I used to work and I would go there at lunch time and I had to always make sure I had the right thing before I left. We're going to a different one next time.
After we ate Joe said he wanted to take a nap. I thought that was a good idea so I laid down too on the sofa to watch TV. The next thing I knew it was after 8 p.m. Oh no! I hadn't gotten anything out of the freezer so there was nothing for dinner. Joe told me to call the Chinese restaurant down the street from us so that's what I did. It was good and a nice change. Then we went back to bed. I have no idea why I am so tired but I must have needed the sleep.
So now I have to get some lunch and then I want to move some furniture around so I can put up the new bookshelves Joe bought. I'd love to surprise him with that when he gets up. I have to study for tomorrow too. The weeks just seem to fly by.
It was a beautiful Palm Sunday today. The weather was cold, but the sun was shining. Pastor's parents were visiting, so it was nice to get a chance to chat with them.
So many changes are coming about at church. I'll tell you about them as they happen. But it's very exciting.
For the second day this weekend I spent a lot of it asleep. I've been very tired. I'm having a hard time sleeping at night, so I guess I have to make it up somewhere.
I have so much to do this week in order to be ready for Easter Sunday. Lots and lots of cleaning. I hope to show you pictures as I go along.
So that's it for now. I need to get some things done. Until later....
Today is Palm Sunday. Thomas Jefferson's Birthday Lupine, morning glory, and sweet pea seeds benefit from having their coats scratched (scarified) before sowing.
****************************** What a beautiful day it was today. I am so loving this warm weather we have been having. Another day where I didn't need even a jacket or sweater. So nice and sunny!
Joe wasn't feeling well so I went to church by myself. We had a great sermon on trusting God. This is something Joe and I have been discussing lately and I wish he had been there to hear it. At least we can watch it later in the week when it is posted on our website. And, of course, another chance to see little Miss A, our resident cutie. She is now officially 3 months old.
I got a chance to go out in the yard today and get photos of the flowers for you. The hyacinths are up. The pink ones are blooming.
The daffodils are blooming too. Well, at least some of them.
I really have to get out there and weed. The tulips are up and will probably bloom any day now. The forsythia is finally yellow. I love forsythia and wanted one for so long. Two (or three?) years ago Joe bought me one for Easter.
I can't wait to show you more as the garden comes back to life after that never-ending winter we had.
It was a beautiful day today. A bit chilly, but sunny and nice. I went out into the yard and saw that the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are up. The hydrangea and forsythia have buds on them. Spring is really here. Pretty soon I will be able to give you my "Sunday Garden" updates. Just as I thought Joe was not able to get to church this morning. He is getting better, but it's a very slow progress. He is still in a lot of pain. We had an "unusual" message this morning. I went in expecting the usual Triumphant Entry account and it was one on Luke 12:1-8 about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, our hypocrisy by the way we live, and how we do what we want and then question why God isn't blessing us. The end of the message really spoke to me. In three days I will be having the heart catheterization. I had another nightmare about it last night. I am upset. But at the end of the message Pastor Justin said "We have no need to be afraid of anything in this life. God is taking care of us." I am going to hold onto this promise tight during the next few days. Sorry to ramble on like this. It's just something that has been on my mind. I still haven't done anything about the house and time is getting short. I am just so tired. I took another nap today. Didn't mean to, I just doze off. I think when I have a week off this coming week I will get all caught up. At least I hope so. Especially with company coming. Well, got to run. Work tomorrow. Morning comes early and I am NOT a morning person. Until later....
