Hope everyone had a lovely Easter. Now that Lent is done and chocolate is back on the menu (Virginia baked a decadent vegan chocolate cake for Easter, YUM!) we are now in the waiting game liturgically speaking until Pentecost. After giving up stuff and doing extra spiritual things during Lent, today we go back to our normal routines.
Saturday night while waiting for the Easter Vigil to begin at church, I contemplated this state of affairs. All the extra spiritual things I did for Lent, why don’t I do them more often? I thought why not do them not just as a Lent check-list but for the joy of doing them? Like, surprise God, here’s me doing this extra prayer practice at night (vs. watching more Netflix) just for the joy of it…
Well, it’s a thought. How often does God surprise us with joy and God’s Heavenly paintbrushes busy at work? As we move forward why not surprise God with a little extra faithfulness?
Speaking of busy Heavenly paintbrushes, a week or so ago our Japanese cherry tree barely had a bud on it. Nada. Sunshine and warm temps breezed in. The next day our tree blossomed fully, affording us joyful views for over a week. To wrap up her Lent to Easter post-a-day gig, Virginia thought a few pics might help keep our Easter joy and peace grooves going.
A plethora of cherry blossom joy!
“I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade;
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.” Charles Wesley
Cherry blossoms doing God’s joy and peace thing!
grace, peace & cherry blossom joy
Virginia : )
p.s. Thank you for all the encouragement during the post-a-day Lent gig. The comments, likes, texts, emails, calls (and prayers!) helped keep Virginia going! She will now go back to her sporadic blogging schedule – one or two posts a week (three if she’s feeling prolific!)
Roses in the Rubble 
The trees are gorgeous! The pear trees did the same one-day blooming here. I am going to miss your daily posts. They bring such joy!
This year our cherry tree surprised us with beauteous joy! Sometimes it blooms in stages, but this season bloomed full blast for over a week. It’s now turning green.. Glad your pear trees are blooming- our dogwoods are just now peeking out. Thanks for your encouragement during the post-a-day gig- it meant loads! Blessings!!!! 🌸🤗🌸
Thank you, Virginia, for the wonderful messages and photographs through Lent. They have been a sustaining gift. I can’t help but hope you do this next year!! I look forward to all your posts coming up. You go, girl!!
Mary, thanks for your encouragement that means loads! About half way thru Lent foundered a bit (scrambling the night before for topics to post) then a quote would jump off the page from an old journal. Voila, a thought to share! Blessings to you! 💐🤗💐✨🌸✨
Hi Virginia. Nice to hear you had a meaningful celebration of Lent and Holy Week.
Those Cherry blossoms are lovely.
Thanks Arlene! We’ve had such good rain everything is so green & blooms are busting out all over! Eastertide blessings to you and your family! Hugs! ✨🌸✨🤗🌸
Hi Virginia! Your posts and beautiful photographs added so much to my Lenten practice! Thank you!
Jane
Jane, your encouragement means loads!! Eastertide blessings & hugs!!! 🌸✨🤗✨🌸
Stunning!! Thank you, Virginia, and enjoy a much-needed rest!
Thanks, Debbie, for your encouragement that means loads! Blogging break enjoyed, but missed keeping up with everyone – playing catch-up now. Eastertide hugs!!! 🌸✨🤗✨🌸✨
Favorite line: “How often does God surprise us with joy…?”
Tim, thanks for your encouragement not just during this year’s post-a-day, but through many years of blogging! You are amazing! May God continue to surprise you with joy (& this redhead, too!) Eastertide blessings! 🌸✨🤗✨🌸
So pretty to see the blossoms! Thanks for the pretty sight
Hey GH, this year our Japanese cherry tree really bloomed full blast all over (sometimes blooms appear sequentially…) Hope that you are staying safe and well. Eastertide hugs!! 🌸✨🤗✨🌸