Oh dear! I've been away from blogging for ten days and managed to forget everything I thought I knew. This is dangerous when one has been as preoccupied as I have been. Anyway, starting again this morning by pulling the post that went on overnight and saving it for the correct day.
Let me instead post about Easter, which was a beautiful day. The most lovely in recent memory with temps soaring to 80F. The landscape was almost snow free, but brown. Well, with those temps, we can't complain. No matter the circumstances or the weather, Easter is a day to be honored. Our very futures depend on what Jesus did for us on the cross and what He did in leaving His grave behind and our recognizing it.
The family is still in the stage of going through the holidays one by one without John. So this was the first Easter without him and the last holiday when we will say
"this is our first ____ without John." We muddled through...at least, I did. I was glad that it was "my" year as it gave me more things to think about. John lives Easter every day now.
Recently, my grandson Jake told me as he came through the door that for just a moment as he climbed the stairs he thought he would find John here. Just for a moment. I have felt that way sometimes, especially in the morning on waking or at a certain time in the afternoon when John would have been coming home.
What I have learned through the year is that the same scene can look very different depending on my focus or my filter.
Are the tulips lavender or pink? (It depends.)
And I have learned that just because there is snow on the ground today does not mean that there'll be snow there the next. Things can change quickly when God is invited into a situation.
~very little snow~
It has been a blessing to read about your Easter so I thought I would share mine. And not one photo of the family. Am I slipping or what?!
Beautiful, Vee. Most of know exactly what you mean about the first _____ without someone we love. And I failed to take a picture of my kids on Easter for the first time in 27 years. Wow, I am not sure what happened to me.
ReplyDeleteI think its ok for Jake or anyone else to feel that way, truly it is. My husbands uncle passed suddenly this past January...and we were just sitting here talking about it...and I said on Saturday, "I gotta call your uncle for dinner plans."
ReplyDeleteIts hard, Vee....I know, my sweet friend...unfort. his uncle did not know Jesus, unlike John. Sorry, I didn't mean to open this topic.
Sending you much love. (and I am going to stop inserting my foot now, smiles)
Well, this is my second attempt to comment, so if you get a double disregard which ever!
ReplyDeleteAren't you glad that one day there will be no more "just for a moment", but eternal joy, and that we too will get to celebrate Easter forever and ever just as John and many others are doing now! I think of you so often, and pray for you and the family, I know how much a part John was in the grands life!
Thank you for sharing!
Loved the photos, my photography skills are so outdated, you on the other hand just keep getting better and better!
I am so happy that your temps. are getting warmer, and agree situations can and do change quickly!
I too am trying to get back to regular posting, and remember that ions ago you stated that the longer we stay away from blogging the harder it is to get back, to which I can attest to!
love from me to you,
Sue
Well Vee....I have found that no matter what the holiday or celebration is....our thoughts are with our loved ones in heaven.I know you were surrounded by those you love and the laughter of your grandchildren. Just lovely photos in this post...I loved them. Thank you for sharing your blessed Easter Sunday...warm hugs!
ReplyDeleteGood morning from still rainy Eastern Washington! I always enjoy reading your focus or perspective on life in your neck of the woods. I'm glad your grands are free to speak about John and their growth through losing him on this earth as you are, too. So healthy. Glad your temps soared for Easter. We even got out and walked and the guys chopped down a tree and hauled a couple good sized logs up to the house to cut in rounds and store for next winter. Hope you have a good week. We hit the road soon to drive the 6ish hours back home.
ReplyDeleteHi Vee, Happy that you had loved ones over for Easter dinner. I know the grands loved and enjoyed John so much. It is good that you all can share your memories with one another. What a blessing to enjoy such warm temps! It is really green-ing up around here. Today we have thunderstorms, but we do need the moisture. God bless your day. xo
ReplyDeleteOh, my dear Vee, how I think of you often. You are an incredibly strong woman and I know that strength comes from the good Lord. I love how you said John lives Easter with the Lord ever day now...so true, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a joyous week. Love and hugs!
This post tugs at my heartstrings. It is so full of tenderness and love and carrying on with life and celebration. Oh, those "firsts" and those "special days" can be hard and yet so full of hope because He lives!!
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and thoughts, Vee. So happy that you could have a blessed day with family and that you all could think of John in a precious way, living Easter every day, although of course he was dearly missed.
I was blessed by the thought that the same scene can look very different depending on our focus or our filter. I was reminded of a quote from my journal: "Unbelief sees God through circumstances, as we sometimes see the sun shorn of his rays through smoky air; but faith puts God between itself and circumstances, and looks at them through Him." -- F.B. Meyer. A thought that has blessed and encouraged me for years!
"John lives Easter every day now." That line. The truth of it! One day we will, too. I love that your grands talk about John and how 'just for a moment' he anticipated seeing John.
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful words about perspective are so good, Vee. What a great way to describe our choices. I'm thankful that you are holding fast to truth. One day we'll all get to hear that wonderful Maine accent again, enjoy his smile, and rejoice together because of what Christ has done for us.
What a lovely post Vee. Sending you hugs.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your Easter with us Vee, I know each holiday without John must be hard but you do so well and make it lovely for your family.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful today.
Hugs - Mary
Beautiful post dear Vee. I understand what you mean by "the first" whatever that first may be without someone . I don't understand in the same sense as you with a spouse but I do know all those firsts . Praying for your sweet spirit . Hugs and blessings , Cindy
ReplyDeleteHe has risen indeed!
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you and your family. ((Hugs))
I took a picture of a German pancake on Easter, that was the only one I took :)
I, too, love the truth that when one day when we see Him face to face, it will be Easter every day!
ReplyDelete"When we invite God into a situation"--the wisdom in those words! He yearns to be invited into all our situations, but how often do we (including me) go through our day with little thought to inviting God to join us? Thank you, Vee..
Great post Vee! I especially love what you said about John lives Easter every day. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteOh- so true- that part about thinking someone is 'just there'. Sometimes the phone will ring and just for a second I will flash to my brother being on the other end and saying..."Hello, Sister Dearest" (his takeoff on Mommy Dearest)-except I never hit him with a coat hanger (that I can remember or would confess to)....lol....
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are through the year of 'firsts' but that, too, is bittersweet in a way because you know they have been gone that much longer now.
Love to you, Vee...day by day....until you meet him again. xo Diana
Oh Vee, the last of the 'firsts'. It still doesn't get any easier I'm sure. The tulips and the orchid are beautiful and I'm glad you had such a beautiful Easter day to celebrate. I hope you have more warm sunshine this week and that it will push north to us! It's chilly here!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to see you posting again, I was about to send out a posse to look for you. :) Not that you don't deserve a break, of course.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your photos and the pretty table setting. I love that nice window you have to look out.
Our Easter was good and I didn't have to cook since we met our son at the halfway diner, as I call it.
I'm so glad to hear of your Blessed Easter! I do love the photo of your table where everything is bright and happy looking.Your home, your family, your life, is still your haven. I find it hard to believe that it has been ten years since my husband's death. Certain special days are still difficult, but I know he is not here on earth. After my mother died, I kept thinking for a second, that I could still reach her by phone as I had done every evening after dinner. I think it took my mind a while to grasp reality. Your flowers are lovely and make me smile.
ReplyDeleteAlways look forward to your posts. Especially needed the 'focus and filter' part! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteYou've gotten through this first year of firsts through God's amazing grace and He has been victorious through you. What a great example you have been to us readers. I love your two ways of looking at things so well illustrated today. Simple but profound.
ReplyDeleteThank you Vee for sharing your year of firsts. Many of us will follow in your shoes one day. Thank you for boldly showing us your filtered and unfiltered world. ♥
ReplyDeleteWhat perfect statement that you made, Vee, in that John lives Easter everyday! How sweet of Jake and his comment about thinking that I might find John there. Ahhhh...I know the feeling. I'm glad that you're through the "firsts" and that you were busy preparing for Easter. God bless you, Vee.
ReplyDeleteDear Vee, Thank you for sharing your thoughts so openly. The "firsts" are so difficult, yet John will always be missed until you rejoin him with our Lord one day. It's lovely the way your grandsons can express their feelings of absence, too. I'm glad you have each other. There were few Easter gathering photos here, either, as I'm not enamored with my cell phone camera and my other camera is enroute from Alberta.
ReplyDeleteI continue to hold you in prayer as May 28 approaches. How marvelously the Lord has strengthened you this year, even when you thought you were faltering.
I'm glad it was lovely! So many 'firsts' for you. I can only imagine how hard that is. My thoughts and prayers have been with you often this past year. I love your perspective...that John is living Easter every day. So true! Glad you had lovely warm weather for Easter. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI liked your analogy of focus and filter. I am glad it was a good Easter and that your snow is finally gone. And that John is so loved and remembered. The communion of saints is a wonderful and real thing. Blessings on the family.
ReplyDeleteLoved all of your photos. The Lord brings you to mind often through this first year ...
ReplyDeleteYOu've come so far in such a short amount of time - and that never ending winter wasn't helping. I enjoyed the visual comparison of seeing things both one way then the other - all about The Light (of God) and how it helps us see things so much clearer.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. I'm proud of you, Vee. Hugs and love. ♥
I am so glad that you are still blogging and that you are still talking about John. It has been a tough year, I'm sure, but you have survived all those first without's and now you know that life goes on and you can do it.
ReplyDeleteJust so beautiful, Vee. I loved your line about the snow. poetic... So sorry about, John. The promise of Easter is amazing as you remind us. xoxo Su
ReplyDeleteI didn't personally know John, but I miss him, too. Just knowing that he is in heaven is a blessing, but having him in your life (beside you) was such a wonderful gift to be given here on earth. His love of the Lord was something I admired and recently when you said that you were finding little notes in his Bible shows the kind of person he was. It was much too short, but what an amazing blessing that God brought him into your life. It's wonderful that your family (especially the grandsons) remember all of the fun holidays with John. Your strength to go on has been amazing. I'm sure a lot of things you had to force yourself to do, but you did them.
ReplyDeleteI can't come up with the words that say what I want to say....so I'll just let you know that you made my eyes leak...and I think you are pretty awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat we see depends on the filter...truer words never spoken. Blessings as you travel through this first year of changes. You are very brave. Sending hugs your way (())
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how hard it was to spend yet another holiday without John. I have no words, especially for the part about thinking he's still going to come in the door or be at the top of the stairs. My heart goes out to you, my friend and I wish I could say something to help.
ReplyDelete(((hugs)))
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As a newcomer to your blog, Vee, I am catching up on older posts and can understand about the "firsts" of any holiday or celebration without a loved one there. John lives in your hearts and memories.
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