Near and Dear

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Lupus is an auto-immune disease that can damage any part of the body, from the skin to the joints to organs.  It is a disease of flares and remissions and can range from mild to life-threatening.  It is not contagious.  It is not cancer.  And it is actually a much more common disease than most people think.

It is also a disease that is very near and dear to me, as my beautiful sister was diagnosed with lupus a few years ago.  Here she is with my sweet nieces and nephews.  Precious, yes?

So, for that reason (among others), lupus awareness is important to me.  Great progress has been made in diagnosis and treatment over the last several years, due to increased awareness.  Knowing what lupus is and how to recognize symptoms leads to earlier diagnosis and better treatment options.  It also helps to fund research to determine a cause and cure for this disease.  Please take a few minutes to read more about Lupus Awareness Month here.

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In other news, Hubby and I are slowly but surely getting some flowers planted.  One of my favorite things about spring time is getting to buy and plant new flowers and see everything come alive with blooms and pretty colors.

I love these pretty pink Dahlia's.

And these pretty pink flowers, too.

I bought this really cool silicone cross cake pan from Avon a few months ago and had never used it.  So, I decided to bake some yummy brownies in it.  They turned out really cute.  And delicious!

   

If you love it, you can buy your very own here.

Anndddd...that's about all we've been up to lately.  Here's one last (and pretty hilarious) photo for you guys.  

It's sweet Jasper kitty in the middle of a yawn, looking a lot like he's about to swallow my face!

Y'all have a good week!

I'm A Blog Slacker

I'll admit it.  I am a total blog slacker.


Has it really been nearly two weeks since I've written anything?  Life moves so fast, doesn't it?  Days turn into weeks before you know it.  Time just gets away from us somehow.


How have you guys been?  


We have been super busy here.  Our local Farmer's Market opened two weekends ago and I have been one very happy girl!  Check out this tote bag that I got on the first weekend.  Quite handy for packing around all of my awesome Farmer's Market finds.

We bought some fresh pork last weekend, which was pretty tasty.  And also, some local strawberries, local raw honey and a few other goodies.  I love buying local.  It's a great way to not only support your community, but to know where your food is coming from and how it was grown or raised.

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We were in revival at my church this past week.  It was such a blessing.  I feel renewed and refreshed.  God is so good, yes?


Other than that, Hubby and I have just been working a little bit around the house and in the yard.  I am hoping to get some flowers planted soon.  I just love the spring season!


And, last, a few pictures for you.  Peace out, friends.

Hubby cleaning out a flower bed for me.  He's too sweet!

I heart purple flowers.  *sigh*

Sweet Jasper, watching us work in the yard.  Ignore that big ole dirty spot on the window where he rubs his nose.  I really need to clean that before I take pictures.  Eek!

Fresh squeezed strawberry lemonade.  Delicious!

Me and my man.  Love him!

Thinking and Reflecting

Boy, oh boy, has it been HOT outside this past week!  Today is the official first day of spring but it feels more like the middle of July.

Hubby and I went for a nice little drive after church on Sunday, just enjoying the afternoon together.  Everything is so pretty this time of the year.  The trees and flowers are blooming so beautifully!  God has brought the earth to life one more time.  He is good.

And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. (Psalm 72:19)

I started reading The Hunger Games series this week.  Wow!  I am surprised by how good the first book was.  I'm over halfway through the second book (Catching Fire) and it's just as good as the first book was.  Definitely a recommended read.  Hubby is even enjoying them, too!

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And now, we must insert some photos because after all, what kind of blog post would this be without pictures?

*Smiles*

This photo is so serene.  When I look at it, I see just a small portion of how big God really is.

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10)

 

Cherry trees are in full bloom in the Bluegrass state.  Beautiful, aren't they?

The dogwood tree is one of my favorite trees.  This bloom is still green, but it's beautiful, just the same.  When I see it, I am always reminded of the story about the legend of the Dogwood tree.  If you've never read it, you can do so here.  The flower in the shape of a cross is a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

And here's a picture of Hubby, just because I love him.  And because he's so cute!

Isn't God good, y'all?  He's blessed me so much more than I deserve.  I am so thankful that, even when I mess up, He still loves me and His grace is sufficient.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Happy Spring, my friends!

Spring Is In The Air

Spring has sprung!  It is a pleasant 70 degrees this morning and we're well on the way to a high of 80!  Wow, is it really March?  It feels more like May!


The warm weather and sunny skies have me pining for vacation!  I'm not a beach kinda gal at all, so this year, we are planning a trip to the beautiful Smoky Mountains.  I can.not.wait!!  It's just a few hours away and there is so much to do there.  Hubby and I love it!

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I was glancing through some photos of our vacation to Lancaster, PA last summer...awesome place to visit, by the way...and I decided to share a few with you.

Enjoy!

Lancaster County in Pennsylvania is home to the world's oldest and largest Amish community.  This is a beautiful Amish farm:

Gorgeous, right?

Lancaster also has around 25 covered bridges.  They are charming!  Here's one for your viewing pleasure:

Hershey, PA is a short drive from Lancaster, so of course, we had to visit Hershey's Chocolate World.  We toured the chocolate factory and made our own Hershey bar!  

And, no visit to Pennsylvania would be complete without a stop at Gettysburg.  Of course, the area is rich with Civil War history...perfect for my history-buff Hubby.

Here we are at the Gettysburg National Park.  In the background is the area that would have been the battlefield.

And here are the remnants of a rock wall fort built by Civil War soldiers:

Hubby and I had an amazing time, but there's nothing like comin' home!

What about you guys?  Any vacation plans in the works?  

Have a blessed week, friends.