Hear the Bells Ringing

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing that you can be born again

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone

Said He has risen, just as He said

Quickly now, go tell his disciples

That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing

They're singing that you can be healed right now

Hear the bells ringing, they're singing

Christ, He will reveal it now

The angels, they all surround us

And they are ministering Jesus' power

Quickly now, reach out and receive it

For this could be your glorious hour

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

The angel up on the tombstone

Said He has risen, just as He said

Quickly now, go tell his disciples

That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

He's risen, hallelujah

Hallelujah

Lyrics by Anne Herring and a verse added by Keith Green

The Good in Good Friday

Art and words

from the heart of a nine year old today . . .

Tehya, 2012

coinciding with words that strike deeply from centuries ago

" Oh, what a melting consideration is this! that out of his agony comes our victory; out of his condemnation, our justification; out of his pain, our ease; out of his stripes, our healing; out of his curse, our blessing; out of his crown of thorns, our crown of glory; out of his death, our life."

John Flavel, 1671

Where's the Good in Goodbye?

It begins with acknowledging special relationships . . .

 

 

On one of the last fine days before the move, we took Lacey to the Vancouver Game Farm.

Since she loves animals, this was the best place to spend some time . . .

She was intrigued with the climbing fences . . . that's what they are for, right?

She loved pointing at the sign with the pictures describing the appropriate animal and then the actual animal. Fun to see her make the connection.

A bit disconcerted about the rust that rubbed off on her hand, though.

The Game Farm is unlike a zoo in that it houses the wildlife in as much a natural environment as possible. It's beautiful just walking the paths.

This peacock showed off his crown by turning his head in every direction, but his train remained tucked in.

Not sure what they are looking at here . . .

But she did not want to leave before we saw monkeys. So glad we found such a cute one!

And it ends with the assurance that we'd go to the moon and back to see each other again.

Early Easter

We woke up to a day that I can only describe as glorious! The sun shining,

just as we imagine the day must have been when the then-known-world heard that Jesus was no longer dead. Imagine the joy of looking and finding angels with good news!

For me, Easter baskets are a grandparent's privilege, since that is how our kids grew up,

looking for baskets at Oma and Opa's house.

And, although baskets have nothing to do with the Easter story, I like to observe the joy of them looking and finding a surprise that brings them running back with huge smiles.

While the littlest one slept outside in her carseat . . . the big and little kids looked in the bushes for their treats.

There was some concern about  how to get at some tightly wrapped up cookies . . .

while others just dug right into what they could.

 

Some may have had a hard time deciding what to enjoy first

while others investigated and saved.

After dinner the Paska baskets got tested.

I think they passed the taste test once again.

This smile is a special one as I'm sure she does not remember a family Easter like this.

 In fact, I know, this is her first Easter with cousins.

These are the special times . . . the times we'll hold in our hearts. To be sure, there will be changes, but that is what makes these moments unique and wonderful.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a fun treat anytime of the year!

All you  need is the right cookie cutter for the occasion.

I had saved a Ferrero Rocher Easter Bunny container from another year,

thinking I may use it as a cookie cutter one day.

 It worked very well.

Two bunnies, rolled out slightly thicker than the small cookies, baked until golden around the edges and left to cool on the cookie sheet.

Other spring shapes I sprinkled with colored sugar . . .

 before putting them in the oven.

I like to outline the small cookies with an icing that hardens when it dries

 . . . but since the large ones were made for someone special . . .

 someone who loves the icing . . . I decided to ice the whole cookie.

The little cookies got wrapped up to be included in the Easter baskets.

And the big bunnies became a table centerpiece. (I froze them

 once the icing was dry, and took them out of the freezer on the day we had dinner.

 As the icing thaws it gets a tad wet again, so I let them air dry and then set them up)

I have so enjoyed Kari's reaction to a simple gift of sugar cookies.

On this day she got to take home the centerpiece and everyone else just smiled . . .

because her expression of joy, in itself, is a gift to everyone else.

How do You make Your Paska?

Many years ago now . . . oh, maybe about 28 years ago . . .

Lovella and her Beloved had our little family over.

There were other times too . . . but this one occasion that I'm thinking

 about must have been sometime between valentines and Mother's Day

 . . . as that is when she would serve  Paska.

 I had my share of her light as a cloud, citrusy Paska that day.

Got the recipe and never looked back on any other . . .

which, I'm sure got my mom's curiosity too.

 It became my recipe . . . that is, until Lovella's paska became famous

and now I need to give credit where credit is due, once more.

My mom used to make paska in all kinds of tin cans and she also made lots of loaves. I've usually made little pull apart rolls, but this year decided to try some tins as well.

I placed a round of parchment paper on the bottom and also wrapped some around the inside. I filled the tins about 3/4 full and let them rise, about 45-60 minutes. Then I baked them until they were brown on top.

They came out easily ... a little light. I returned the biggest one to the oven lying in a loaf pan for a bit. Cooling them on their side seemed to make sense.

For our Easter Dinner (which we already had) I used them as one of the centerpieces.  It made everyone want to finish their plate, but keep room.

Some of the paska was baked in muffin tins and placed in paper baskets.

And the tall mushroom shapped ones. . . we laid them on their side and sliced them. Extra icing was passed around to spread . .  because when it comes to our family . . . chocolates remain mostly untouched . . . but icing gets licked to the last drop.