Easter....a time of reflection and remembering

Happy Easter to everyone!   I hope that you have a very special and blessed Easter weekend with those that you love.   Easter is a time of joy!   It is a time to focus on all the many blessings that we have in our lives and give thanks.  It is also a time of renewal.  For myself, being a Christian, it is also a time to reflect on my faith and renew my baptism vows at the Easter Vigil.  

This year, at the Easter Vigil, I will thinking of my beautiful daughter-in-love, Amy.  She has been faithfully participating in RCIA classes at the Church that she and my son, Brandon, attend in Houston, Texas.  At the Easter Vigil on Saturday night, Amy will be receiving two very special sacraments.   Sadly, I can not be at the service that night but I will be thinking of her and my son that night when I attend the Easter Vigil at my own church with my husband and son, Elliott.   I am so happy for Amy and Brandon.  They seem to have grown even closer since they were married in November.   I am happy for them both as they grow in their faith and feel very blessed to have her as my daughter-in-law.  I had an opportunity to attend Amy's last RCIA class before her special day while I was on a layover visiting Brandon and Amy in Houston recently.  I made this photo of them with the RCIA instructor that they have enjoyed getting to know, Mary, after the adoration service I attended with them.  I was happy that I got to be a part of one of Amy's classes while I was visiting.  The cross that Amy is wearing is a very meaningful one....not only because of what it symbolizes, but also because it is one that contains a tiny lock of my mom's hair.  The cross belonged to my Aunt Ruth that recently passed away.  It was one of a few special crosses that my sister and I had made for loved ones after our dear Mother passed away in 2008.  

I have always loved crosses and angels.  This angel keeps watch over the creek behind my Aunt Ruth's home in Kissimmee, Florida...

Palms are a big part of the Holy Week....   I made this photo of a palm while I was at my Aunt's home in Kissimmee, Florida.  These type of palms are very common in Florida.  This palm is in my Aunt's back yard.  Part of my Easter tradition each year, is to attend the Palm Sunday service at my Church.  A basket of Palms are always at the back of the Church and each person attending receives a section of palm to take home with them.

Going to Church at Easter with family has always been a part of my holiday memories.   When I was a little girl, we always got a new dress, new shoes (usually black patent leather), white gloves and an Easter hat to wear to Church on Easter Sunday.   You don't see as many Easter Bonnets as you used to in Church today.  I kind of miss the old style of dress that we had when I was a child.  While I was in Florida over the past couple of weeks attending services for my dear Aunt Ruth that passed on March 9th, 2012, and assisting my sister in handling her estate, I had the opportunity to visit my sister's boutique/antique booth.  On display and for sale were several beautiful hats that my sister had made.  I think she has a real knack for designing hats and told her that she should have her own hattery some day.  I can picture her shop in my mind with beautiful hats on display and costume jewelry along side it.  I picture one of those old fashioned, English-style, shops.  When you see the photo of the hat, I know you will agree that they make you think of the beautiful Easter Bonnets that women used to wear to Church years ago.   Here are a few of her hats....

Like many, I also remember waking up on Easter morning to an Easter basket filled with candy and maybe a stuffed animal or toy.  Even after my brother, sister, and I got older, my Mother would always buy us a large fruit and nut chocolate egg at Easter.  I cannot see these in the stores without thinking of my dear Mother and my Easter as a child.  

Besides the traditional Easter rituals, the other thing I love about the Easter season is the change it brings to nature.   I love to hear the birds begin to sing.   I love to see them flutter around my birdfeeder and birdbath.   I love waking up to hear the chirping outside my window.

 

I love to see the buds turn into beautiful blooms on the trees around me...

Easter is the season of fresh, new beginnings....everything is renewing itself...through our renewal of our baptism vows and through nature.   Open the door to your heart and look at the world through new eyes.  Each day is a blessing....

and, we are truly blessed to have our family and friends.  Thank you to my own family and friends for walking through life with me! My life is a happy one because of you.    I love you all....  Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Thank you for visiting me today on my blog.  This post is dedicated to my Aunt Ruth that passed away on March 9, 2012, in Kissimmee, Florida.   I love you Aunt Ruth and have so many fond memories of being a school girl and walking the beach in summer with you! xoxo Kim

Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim

Comments

[claudie]

Oh Kim, so glad you are back safe and sound.
What a lovely tribute to you DIL and your mom and your Aunty Ruth.
Aww Easter. It seems most ladies our age have fond memories of those sweet dresses and shoes and hats. You look GORGEOUS in your sister's hat creation. WOW. And you look "HOT" on the beach too ; )
Thanks for coming to see me. I've been looking for you.
I was going to go to Miami with Randy at the end of the month, but Miami for a week?... not sure that's the Anniversary present I want. It's our 24th May 1st. Too bad we weren't in the same neck of the woods. We could have done "lunch".
It's cold and rainy today after sunshine for over 2 weeks. I guess we needed it.
Sending hugs
Love Claudie
xoxoxo

[Red Rose Alley]

Hello Kim,
There are so many things that I loved about this post today. First, the little angel behind Aunt Ruth's home is so sweet. Your sister is very talented with her hats, and my favorite was the the one with the pink roses and feathers. Your bird cage is gorgeous, and the nest made me smile, thinking of my three children. The pictures of all the flowers were so pretty and vibrant with color. I LOVED LOVED the door picture and the sentiment behind it....Open the door to your heart and look at the world through new eyes. I hope that you had a nice Easter, Kim. The beach pictures are so lovely, and so was your Aunt Ruth.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

[Kim @ Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Sheri!
Thank you for your sweet visit to my blog. I am so glad that you love the birdcage. I am so blessed to have it. It was given to me by my husband's sister, Doris, a couple of years ago. It is an antique cage and actually has a little bird in it that sings! You wind it up on the bottom like a music box and the bird moves and tweets and sings. I want to make sure it always plays, so I don't wind it up too often....but, occasionally, I do. I always enjoy hearing the sweet song it chirps. My sister-in-law, Doris, that gave me the birdcage that had belonged to her, passed away last year. The bird now chirps in her honor. I am happy to have it. Have a wonderful day there in beautiful California, Sheri! xoxo Kim

[Bluebirds and Butterflies]

Hi Claudie!
Thank you soooo much for checking on me and for your sweet comments! Happy upcoming anniversary! Miami is very nice this time of year...not too hot. It would be great to have lunch with you! Too bad we are not going to be in the same place at the same time...but, maybe we will sometime! That would be great! I hope that you and your sweet hubby have a wonderful anniversary together and wish you many, many more fabulous years together as you continue to share life's path with one another. Thank you, also, for the compliment on my sister's hat creations. I think she really has a talent for making these! I had fun trying them on! She actually gave me a hat (the base) and I am going to try my own hand at making one myself. We will see how it goes.... I'll post a photo at some point. I couldn't take the hat back with me when I was in Florida due to lack of room in my overly packed suitcase, but I will be taking it back when I return from the visit this time. Claudie, I always enjoy visiting you at your blog. Have a beautiful day! xoxo Kim

[Sandy]

Hey girl! Miss you. Looking forward to hearing about your vacation with Mark. Love this posting. You and your sister are gorgeous and so is your aunt Ruth.

Hugs,

Sandy