This year’s Easter season was especially meaningful and memorable in so many ways. Just this past week, Riley and I were out walking when I happened to glance up at the clear blue sky and saw an incredible cloud formed in the shape of a heart!
In that moment, I knew it was a special message from the Lord, a reminder of His love and how deeply He loves me, to create such a beautiful, fluffy cloud in the shape of a heart just to bless mine.
His greatest gift of love was given over 2,000 years ago on the cross, where He died for me. And yet, even today, His love continues to reach me in the most incredible ways. It is in the little gifts, these quiet, beautiful moments, that make my heart sing, because in them, I feel His great love for me.

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| Some early Daffodil blooms! They are just getting started, oh, how I love their cheery faces! |
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Springtime is bringing us the promise of blooms soon, very soon! I planted tulips in black grow pots so the gophers and voles wouldn't eat them during the winter. And they survived! I can't wait until they bloom!
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Danika just loves being outside, and every little pinecone, stick, or rock fascinates her. She is 16 months old now! And on the move!
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This sunset graced my view on my way home from visiting with Danielle and Danika. The colors were magnificent!
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I made Beef Enchiladas for dinner this past week. I created my own Red Enchilada sauce. It was so good! I mixed tomato sauce with some cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and a bit of olive oil. I let it simmer on the stove until thick. I didn't measure ingredients. I will try to do that next time! So much better than using a store-bought, canned version.
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My stamping friends got together again after a long hiatus. The gal who hosts each time went to Arizona for winter - and so we were very glad to get back together to stamp! We also celebrated her birthday as it was in January. We always have so much fun together!
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She made each of us these darling little bunny baskets full of chocolate!
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These are some of the cards that we made.
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These were my cards that I brought to share.
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Another card that we made.
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I made a Sourdough Chocolate cake for dessert. Everyone loved it. It has turned out to be a favorite!
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I got myself in a "peck of trouble"! I went to the feed store intending to just buy chicken feed, and came home with baby chicks! They were too irresistable to pass up! I got 4 different varieties - Sapphire Gem, Golden S*x Link, American Breese, Blue Andalusion. I've had Golden S*x links before, but the other three are new to me.
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Danielle and Danika were playing a duo on the piano together!
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Everyone came over on Sunday for Easter dinner. We cooked chicken and ribs on the grill and had a wonderful day visiting together and celebrating Easter Resurrection Sunday!
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| Little Clara is growing so much! It won't be long, and we will need 2 high chairs for family dinners! |
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Danika and Clara are having fun together. Won't be long and we will have two little ones running around!
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After a busy day, a nap was in order! Gramma rocked Clara to sleep. So precious!
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Here is another view of the heart cloud that the Lord created just for me to see! My heart rejoices when I see the special things He creates for us to enjoy, just like this cloud!
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Keep an eye out for the blessings of the Lord wherever you are! Sometimes, you have to look up, sometimes you have to look down, or maybe around {smiles}, but I can promise you, they are there. He takes delight in bringing us special gifts to brighten our day and to show His love to us. May your heart be blessed in abundant ways in this beautiful Springtime season!
My eyes are always peeled each day to see how God wishes to bless me, Marilyn, and He did so abundantly for you with that heart-shaped cloud. I never tire of seeing His wonders all around me! Those two grand-girls are simply adorable, and I know it won't be long before they'll be playing together and running all over the house and yard. Such joy! God has blessed you richly with them, too, and the rest of your beautiful family. Easter blessings!
ReplyDeleteHis blessings are new every morning indeed, Martha!!!! There's much to be thankful for in spite of the all that's wrong with our world! Easter blessings to you!
DeleteThe heart cloud is beautiful, Marilyn. Oh, how I love to see heart-shaped things in nature. Little Danika looks so cute with her cap on exploring in nature. That sunset is something else! Oh my, came home with some baby chicks! Your enchiladas look delicious. My mom used chili powder in her red sauce too. Nel made a batch of them this Easter. Such a precious picture of you rocking Clara. And thank you for that view of the heart cloud from a distance. You can really see the shape of the heart in that one. Have a lovely spring week, Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wonderful visit and comment, sweet friend! It is always such a delight to find little heart shaped treasures! Wishing you a blessed Easter season!
DeleteOh I'm so glad you got a picture of that heart cloud! Your photos are precious of the little ones.
ReplyDeleteThe little ones are such a delight to our hearts! I love being a Gramma! Easter blessings to you!
DeleteThe heart cloud is beautiful! Your little granddaughters are so sweet and growing fast.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I used to do stamping and card making. It got set aside in the busyness of life, but we sure had fun. I still have some of the equipment and plan to get it out and do it with my granddaughters.
There's something so special with visiting and creating!! I plan to do the same someday with my granddaughters! Have a blessed Easter season!
DeleteI was out for a walk today along the Erie Canal in a local nature preserve and a beautiful cardinal just appeared out of no where so I took that as a sign from God showing me His love. (I love cardinals as did my precious Dad now in heaven). it sounds like a wonderful Easter for you. Ours was nice too although cold and rainy most of the day.
ReplyDeleteThe little ones sure are getting big....I love that Danika loves the outdoors...sounds like my girls.....
Have a good week!
Your walk sounds wonderful! I just love the water and walking along it! There's nothing better than getting outside and enjoying the beauty God’s created for us!! Cardinals are such amazing birds to see, God's gift I so agree!! Have a blessed Easter season!
DeleteOh, what a precious post! I love seeing your beautiful grands! So sweet! I know they bring you so much joy! I love the heart cloud. Can you even imagine how much He really loves us? And to think that He would take the time to do something so meaningful for us! I always love coming here and visiting with you, dear friend. Love and appreciate you so much!
ReplyDeleteI am always so amazed at the gifts the Lord gives us! Thank you for your visit and for your prayers and friendship! Love you dearly!
DeleteThe heart cloud is such a wonderful gift from the Lord. He is so good to us. I love the photo of your granddaughters together. They will be such good friend as they are so close in age. Very special. We also have a new granddaughter born March 31 in London. My hands are itching to get to hold her but it will have to wait awhile due to world events and airfare costs right now. Hopefully those will go down soon. Our DIL will have heart surgery in the next few months so we're hoping to go then and take care of the baby and 4 year old for them during that time. We spent three weeks there in December for Christmas and had such a wonderful time. Those two littles are too far away.
ReplyDeleteYour card group looks like a lot of fun. I'm still searching for a group of Christian ladies to knit/crochet with here. I miss my little group in Spokane that I met with for over 20 years. We still have Bible study with our group of 33 years only now we meet over ZOOM. My Hubby still leads the study as he has for all of these years. When we had to move he told them they needed to find a new leader and they said, no we don't. We had met over ZOOM through the covid time and they said we would just go back to doing that. So for five years now we've met over Zoom and then we all get together again when we're visiting Spokane. Sorry for going on so long. I feel that we are friends and I enjoy talking with you.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
I so enjoyed your comment and hearing that you have a new grandbaby!! That is so exciting!! Congratulations to you all! And I will pray that God makes a way for you to go visit her very soon.London is too far away to have grandbabies, I agree! So wonderful that you can continue your Bible study with your friends in Spokane! Always appreciate your comment and visit! Have a blessed Easter season!!
DeleteWhat a beautiful heart cloud! Definitely a gift from the Lord. You're little grands are so cute!. I hope three godly men will come sweep my daughters off their feet! Mama wants grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteI will pray with you for godly son in laws!!!! Yes, grandchildren are so precious!! Love and blessings to you, Regina, have a blessed Easter season!
DeleteSuch a beautiful post, Marilyn! Your grandbabies are so adorable. I miss my guys being so little! Don't you just love the curiosity of children and the way they find every little thing so interesting? Have a blessed week!
ReplyDeleteI love every minute of it! So true, I know they don't stay little very long!! I am so grateful for the blessings of the Lord. Have a blessed Easter season!!
DeleteLooks like you have been taking advantage of all the beauty of Spring. How wonderful to celebrate our Savior with family and friends. Your grandgirlies are so cute. They grow so fast!! I'll keep looking up and all around with you acknowledging the One we walk with.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful time with the family at Easter. There's much to see around us that the Lord has done! Wishing you a blessed Easter season Ellen!
DeleteWow! Such a sweet heart cloud God made! How special! And beautiful daffodils and sunset!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you could get together with your friends-the cards look lovely. Ya'll are so talented!
Danika and Clara are precious-what a joy for you all! :)
Sadly, in our city there's so much construction and less and less of grass and even a few trees. Not to mention litter amongst the flowers as we drive past. So...it takes more work to find beauty here....which is why I'm so happy anytime I see a sunset! It's safe away up in the sky. I thank God for that. :) There is an area of road where there's not as much litter and it's a joy to see the bluebonnets (which are starting to leave). Such lovely wildflowers!
Thank you for the post, Marilyn! May God continue to bless you and your family,
Valentine
The bluebonnet season of Texas is my favorite! Dan and I hoped to get to Texas this year to see them but weren't able to. I know living in a city must be very challenging to find those gifts outside! But, you're right Texas has amazing sunsets!!! Wishing you and your family beautiful Easter blessings!!
DeleteHappy Easter Week my friend,
ReplyDeleteIt was so fun to catch up with you. I love all the photos of the sweet little ones.
Oh my, chicks, how fun for you. :-)
Keep us updated on how they grow into lovely egg laying hens.
xo
Carla
It is an exciting season isn't it!! I will keep you posted on how the chicks do!! Have a blessed Easter season!
DeleteIt is so wonderful to see all of God's gifts to us all around us, each and every day, all we have to do is look for them :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you enjoyed a wonderful Easter together with family!
You all made some beautiful cards, so nice you have your crafting buddies back again!
It is such a blessing to gather with my friends and craft!! Always such a wonderful time. Wishing you a blessed Easter season!!
DeleteSuch a sweet post! The special cloud, your special family, crafting and little baby chicks as well. Now I really want some.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Baby chicks are the cutest little darlings! Wishing you a blessed Easter season!
DeleteI love the heart-shaped cloud. I think there are little signs all over of His love for us. Sometimes in the most menial way. The other day I had soap water in my sink and looked down and the bubbles had melted away in some places to form a big smiley face. I wish I had taken a picture of it....duh me....
ReplyDeleteThe little ones are growing so fast. I love that 16 month old 'take' on everything. Some of my favorite years were those from 1-1/2 to 4 when they were too little for school but learning something new every single day.
I can remember going to the feed store for mash with my father and coming home with a cardboard box of baby chicks. lol. I think we did that every couple of years.
Happy Blessed weekend, Marilyn. xo Diana
Thanks for sharing all those wonderful memories, Diana, those days pass so quickly, don't they!!! I remember when your grands were still little! How the years fly by so quickly!! And love the delight of new baby chicks! It's always so special! Wishing you a blessed Easter season!
DeleteHey Marilyn! I don't know why Google won't let me sign in and comment under my account. It has been giving me FITS!!! Anyway, tech frustrations aside, I bought three Sapphire Gems last Spring and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!!! They are so incredibly beautiful birds!!! And their eggs are pretty too :-) Yay for grandbabies and all their SUPER sweet snuggles!!! I wish I was closer as I have been cleaning out ALL of my stamping supplies. I'd hand them off to you in a heartbeat.LOL
ReplyDeleteBlessings for a lovely SPRING!!! {{{hugs}}}
PS...I've been meaning to ask you if you know what happened to Stephanie and Debbie, they long since stopped blogging and Stephanie closed all of her online business. You can email me about this if you have time. Love ya!!!
Google has been such a problem lately!! I would reach out to Linda who is an amazing helper with all my blogging related issues (her link is on my sidebar). I can't wait to see my baby chicks grow up.Thank you for letting me know you love them! And I will reach out to you privately about the other question. Blessings to you in this Easter season!!
DeleteI am so glad you had such a blessed Easter. It's hard to believe Danika is 16 months old! The blessings we receive every day of the week are so numerous and we take them for granted. I know I do and I really shouldn't. It's nice to see someone else point out the beauty of the sky or flower to remind me of how special life is.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blessings surround you. Your grands are so adorable. The heart cloud is amazing. How special to spend Easter with family. Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteHello, my lovely friend. Your words are always so peaceful and inspiring. I so enjoyed sharing the Easter holiday with you here, especially seeing you with your sweet grandbabies. I am patiently waiting for one of my own! Have a cozy Sunday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI am so far behind in reading your posts...not sure why they don't scroll up on my feed...I think I have too many "friends that I follow" and it's hard to keep up! So I was happy to see you comment on my last post, and that helped me to get here! And I'm so glad I did. I LOVED the heart in the sky! Isn't it wonderful when we know God does those special little things just for us? I wonder how many other people saw it and felt the same way? And to see your precious grandbabies! I can't believe how little Danika is already so big and walking and playing the piano and helping with her baby cousin Clara! What a fun time you must be having with your sweet grandbabies near! What a blessing!! God knows exactly what we need! Oh, and now you have baby chicks to tend to! I bet your little girls will love them! Your Easter dinner time together looks so wonderful. What a blessing! Yes, two high chairs will be needed...isn't that a wonderful problem to have? You are doubly blessed! I enjoyed every bit of this post. I have a friend in Georgia who does the stamping thing and teaches classes in it. She has ladies gather every month like that too, and she has sent me some very nice little gift boxes of cards to use to send to others from her "stash" of cards that she made. I am amazed at how special they are! Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful times together. It's good to get caught up again!
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, your photos are beautiful and heartwarming! What a blessing! You are indeed blessed. I am so grateful to God for every day that He gives me. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThat heart cloud is a wonderful sight.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see all of your photographs, what a lovely Easter you enjoyed.
Always a pleasure to see sweet photographs of your sweet Grands.
All the best Jan
He is risen indeed! Thanks for sharing all the peeks of your early springtime days, friend. Let's hear it for April!
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