Friends in Spirit

I think of you all so often.

♥

...the dear people I have met through blogging.

You have all inspired me in so many ways.

If you look in my cupboards or my desk, you would smile

to see some of your inspirations.

{heart-shaped apple tarts, Nordicware, Dutch magazines, goats milk soap, lots of Earl Grey tea}

baking and cooking, photography and homemade cards,

learning how to wrap pretty packages for family and friends,

sharing

♥

♫ Thank you for being a friend ♫

Love,
        ~ Maria

{Do you recognize this postcard Francis?}

Pin It

a heart for you ♥

I will give them a heart to know me,

that I am the LORD.

They will be my people, and I will be their God,

for they will return to me with all their heart.

 Jeremiah 24:7

Giving thanks for all my blessings

...for the love of the One who made me...

and for

my husband

my family

home

work

play

and always,

you, dear friends

{near and far, but always close in heart}

Ring, Ring, Ring . . .

have a wonderful week

with lots of sunshine on your face

a little wind in your hair

 

flowers along your paths

and a reason to smile each day

Wishing you joy,

Love,

   ~Maria

A Mother's Day Wish and A Springtime Giveaway

Happy Mother's Day!

to all the sweet women who

love and nurture and offer tenderness

♥

And to celebrate YOU... I'm having a 

Springtime Giveaway!

A tulip with babies!

Three little babies to remind me of my own.

♥

My first giveaway!

 

I've collected a few goodies for you, my sweet friends.

You make me smile, 

think about life, look for beauty, organize my kitchen,

bake-frost and sprinkle JOY.

You inspire love, kindness and prayer.

I've been planning this giveaway ever since I saw these sweet birdie cards

from Current Catalog.

The Faith and Friendship card collection by Susan Winget really caught my eye.
I love the designs and the quotes inside!

I bought one set for myself and one for you.

This sentiment inside one of the cards is perfect for a friend.

"Thoughts of you always make me smile."

I've also been sewing fun trim on flour sack towels.
{I love flour sack towels}
You definitely have to have one of these; they are the best for drying glasses!

 

♥

Then, I bought two sets of these cute cards and cupcake liners

one for my sister, Doreen ~ and one for YOU! 

They reminded me of Doreen's new blog...

She's a new blogger and has created such a lovely place to visit online.

Oh, do stop by there and say hello!

 ~ She is a sweetheart ~

♥

...Here's another sentiment from the Faith and Friendship card set ...

 "Everything's sweeter when shared with a friend."

When I saw the quote on these treat boxes,

I knew that I had to include a couple of them.
They are great for bringing cookies or a few cupcakes to a friend.

 

To enter this giveaway... simply leave a comment!

That's it!

The giveaway winner will be chosen May 14.

 ~ ~ ~

"A HAPPY HEART MAKES THE FACE CHEERFUL"

PROVERBS 15:13

Wishing you a happy heart and a cheerful face!

Blessings always,

~ Maria

{sharing something pretty for Friday Pretties at Joyce's blog

and something pink for Beverly's How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday post}

Adding Sunshine

and adding hugs

... make lots of smiles ...

A thank you to my family and friends for all the

tender loving care

you add to my life every day

♥

The thoughtful comments you take time to write
and the  lovely cards sent my way
are sweet reminders
of God's beautiful love in the world.

The Fragrance Remains

Valentine's Day is also about Friendship.

On Sunday, I came home from church and found

these in a box on my front porch rocker.

Ruth, a dear friend of mine,
heard about my little tree that stays up through February.

how

I put all my "love" ornaments on it.

hearts ~ doves ~ teacups ~ roses

She heard how

when Timber came to visit last month...

he pulled on an ornament and the whole tree tipped over

it sounded like a shelf at Tiffany's breaking into a million pieces.

Ruth heard how

Rachael and I spent the afternoon gluing and taping what we could

and how

most of it was "saved"

except for the beautiful hand-painted rosebud ornament on the bottom.

I've known Ruth for decades.
She and her husband, Joe, are amazing artists.

She surprised me with an ornament that she painted with roses...

a sweet heart pillow and a clear heart to hold the broken pieces of the original.

On the new heart ornament I will write the name of 

nine year old Christina Taylor Green of Tucson, AZ.

The original rose ornament was broken just before the shooting there.

My husband, Chris, wrote about it {here}

Thank you so much Ruth ~ you are so sweet and thoughtful.

♥

“The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.”

When Baking Imitates Nature

I just love my Nordicware Holiday Trees Pan.

Saskia posted about it before Christmas

and I ordered one right away!

Maybe this cake would turn out beautiful for me too!

{I've made five ever since including this one for Jason's birthday}

 . . . you see . . .

I'm really a cookie and pie baker.

 {I made my "J's" for Jason's birthday pie with a candy cane cutter; it made them backwards ;o)

Sometimes, people ask me why I love blogging.

 I tell them about all the sharing that we do.

friendship, baking, crafts, books, inspirations, prayers

{to say the least!}

The other day, I saw Julie's macaroon cookies.

I just baked a batch with Amanda today!

Thank you, Julie, what an easy recipe!

 Click here for a printable recipe

This afternoon, my daughters, Amanda and Rachael went shopping.

They sent me two cellphone photos.

two Willow Tree angels. 
They wrote, "Mom, these reminded us of your blog and your blog friends

~ tea and birds and joy ~

So true in many ways.

Thank you for all the cups of joy!

Dear family and friends,

I hope your Sunday has calm moments

some sweet tea and beautiful birds.

and all the blessings God pours out of heaven for us to receive.

Oh

...and...

Go Packers :o)

Vous Êtes Lumières

You Are Lights

Lights of the World

Each

like a Star to me

Merci Mes Amis

Thank You My Friends

. . . Vous Êtes . . .

lumières du jour

lumières du soleil

 

lumières des étoiles

éclaircissement

   “You are the light of the world.

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.

Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

You are

lights in the dark

sunshine on a cloudy day
twinkling stars

Thank you, my friends

♥

~ merci ~

Flower Power Napkins

how 

cute

are these?

Thank you
so much
Ruth!

*

is awesome!

*

 

Stop over at I Love Pretty Little Things

~ Joyce hosts Friday's Pretties every week ~
Thank you Joyce!

She Lives in Paris

One of my blog pals lives in
France!

Elle habite à Paris!

Elle prie pour nous.

Elle adore Dieu

Elle aime le point de croix

This is my cross-stitch that I've been working on for a year!

Lori- you inspire me with your finished projects!

Elle aime les petits gâteaux

Elle s'appelle Lori.

Lori est sympatique et gentile.

voilà 

Thank you, Lori  for this sweet and thoughtful award!

Merci, Merci, Merci!

Merci mon amie!