Be a Lily in the Valley

 

We do the most for God's great big world,

when we do our best right

where we are.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world."

 Anne Frank

Now is that moment 

♥

to be a lily in the valley.

"Yet remember...

it is not what the vessel is made of that gives it value...

but what it contains."
                                                               from "Moments of Peace in the Presence of God"

When we are filled with His Spirit,

we become renewed and changed from the inside out.

We hold within us

~ Beauty, Wisdom, Holiness, Hope, Worth ~

You such a beautiful treasure.

♥

a smile and a wink

I stepped out last night to look at a couple

of

heavenly bodies...

...and they winked back at me!

It was Moon and Jupiter.

I said, "just a minute guys, I'll be right back with my camera!"

They waited ever so quietly as the winds kept the clouds away.

I snapped a half a dozen pictures and then thanked them for posing so sweetly.

If it's a clear night where you are, go outside and look UP!

It's a real WOW moment.

What a beautiful universe God made!

~

“The moon, like a flower

In heaven's high bower,

With silent delight

Sits and smiles on the night.”

 William Blake

Early Signs

The northeast has had AMAZING weather.

Today it was in the 60's!

Early signs of spring are everywhere these days.

Doesn't God know know how to decorate for spring!
It's beautiful!

Last year's lil' crabapples dangling like red earrings, new spring buds and aqua skies.

Aqua and Red

And now we know why we love these colors together!

Look at the red new buds on this tree!

The crocuses are opening up... 

After I cropped this photo, I noticed a bee doing some early spring work!

This was fun to see.

And, YES! I did hop on the squares :o) 

That's a must!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:

when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

-Charles Dickens

Spring has returned.

The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

May we find the hope of spring blossoming in our hearts

like poetry!

Have a wonderful week, dear friends 

♥

Enjoy more sky views by visiting
Sky Watch Friday!

Pin It

an oldfashioned wrap for my blueberry scones

I recently made blueberry scones

and thought to use my muffin tins lined with hand cut parchment squares.

I love the way they came out

and how easily they lifted from the pans and from the paper.

blueberry scone recipe

I hope you are having a wonderful week dear friends.

♥

Regardless of life's ups and downs,

a little prayer

and

a cuppa tea {with a special treat} really soothes the soul, doesn't it?

"Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea."

but

Toast and tea can so easily become blueberry scones and a London Fog...

London Fog recipe

on a journey

You will show me the way of life,

granting me the joy of your presence and the

pleasures of living with you

forever.

Psalm 16:11

Dear God, may you help us to end each day
by whispering an amen to You as we go to sleep

and to wake up each morning

with an halleluiah in our hearts.

Amen!

Photo of sky, trees and highway taken in on the road to New Hampshire.

Borrowed {stolen} from my daughter Amanda for Sky Watch Friday.

Quotes from Psalms and from the book

Moments of Peace in the Presence of God

finding some color in Winter

a red and polka-dotted  little visitor on my yellow primrose

a  rainbow cake made by Amanda

some  rainbow M and M's on my brownies

pink flowers on my counter

and some pink sprinkles there too!

getting ready for the colors of February!
{thank you Doreen @ Fancy That!}

I love these quotes about color written by Georgia O'Keeffe.

{American artist}

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for."

"So I said to myself, I'll paint what I see-what the flower is to me but I'll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking the time to look at it-I will make even busy New Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."

*

In the heart of winter, it's lovely to bring home some colors of the rainbow!

a little note of happiness ♥

"Once you fix it in your mind that life itself is a gift, 

you begin to find happiness in just about everything."
~ Robert Brault ~

What a gift and blessing you are!

Believe . . .

in God

in yourself and in your dreams

in the beauty 

of everyday moments

in the joy
 of simple pleasures

in the power

of a smile

in the gifts

of family

and friendship

in your ability

to touch the hearts

of other people

and make a difference

in this world.

Believe it with all your heart!

 ♥

love DOES exist

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19

 

And think not you can Direct the course of love, 

For love, If it finds you worthy, Directs your course.
Kahlil Gibran

 

A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness.
John Keats

Wishing you

love and joy always,

     ~Maria

{Photos taken July, 2011 at the Lady Bird Gardens ~ Austin, Texas}

The Brave

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.”

- Thucydides

"Bravery is testing your limits

daring to go past the fence which holds your self security;

It's standing tall for your beliefs so that no one can knock them down...

...Your motivation runs on perseverance to break your limits of courage.

- Megan 

{one of my former students}

“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” 

~ Thucydides

 ☆

May we live a life of gratitude

treasuring freedom and the blessings that God has given us.

☆  ☆  ☆

Have a beautiful Memorial Day Everyone!
and may God be with our troops
...near, far and passed on...

Someone Special

When something is missing in your life, it usually turns out to be Someone.

-Robert Brault 
 

* I believe * 

This Someone Special

is our Shepherd

who leads us to green pastures,

beside quiet waters,

and restores our soul.

He guides us in paths of righteousness,

is always with us

and comforts us.

.  .  .

Surely goodness and love will follow us

all the days of our lives,

and we will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

- Psalm 23

Wishing you goodness and love

all the days of

your life.

Blessings to you on this lovely Sunday,

~ Maria