Things are all put away, organized the garage and preparing for my mother's Celebration of Life which is coming upon us soon. I know you may think this is a bit silly but to me it makes perfect sense. In my garage I store several wreaths I use throughout the year. I figured this out years ago to make it easy for me to go to the wreath I want by hanging them on the walls in the garage. I hang them according to season/holiday and then I just retrieve what I need when I need it. It is very simple and makes the garage look festive too with these creative wreaths on the walls and not taking up space in a closet somewhere.
I have all my baking done that I planned on making for the luncheon and stored to travel with. I made everything but the kitchen sink (not sure if I have the title correct but you get the point right) blondies. Peanut butter cup blossoms, chocolate mint cookies and my famous butterball cookies (half regular and the other half I have tucked inside a piece of dark chocolate) I found the best non greasy mini muffin cups for baking with @ JoAnne's the other day. I selected 2 complimentary colors that spoke of springtime and used them to bake a recipe of cookies. I bought enough in mini and regular size of the same colors so my sister-in-law may want to bake with them or use them when plating up dessert trays. I spoke with the priest the other day in regard to the details of the mass. I have to see if my sister agrees with me on this, but I think it would be lovely to livestream the mass. My mom was able to see the mass of a dear friend of hers via this avenue since she lived in another geographic state than where the funeral mass was taking place.
It will be good to see family and friends. My son requested me to make my homemade spaghetti meat sauce because he would like that for dinner when he comes to get me to go to Ohio and I went and purchased the ingredients to make it. I still have some homemade spaghetti pasta in the freezer I will make to go with the sauce. I will also make a few ricotta meat balls for the sauce. Imagine that, the one who loves when I make corned beef Reuban sandwiches around St. Patrick's Day chose my sauce over that meal! A nice salad will round out the meal too. I made the sauce and meatballs, and I will freeze them now so they will be fresh as a daisy (as the saying goes) when I serve the meal.
I have dear friends that are planning to come to the region this Summer and hopefully will stay with me for a little. A friend coming to TN for a woman's conference in May and we will stay at an Airbnb during the conference, but she will spend the last night in my home. I also recently invited a college friend to come for a visit the next time one of her children comes to Nashville. I think this home is a place for refreshing for family and dear friends what do you think? My heart is filled with joy at the prospect of seeing family and friends I have not seen for some years now. I cannot be a gloomy type of person at my mother's Celebration of Life events because I know she is in heaven, and I just love to share the joy of the Lord and peace and encouragement to those around me. Father shared with me that the latest thing people tend to do @ church with the urn of the beloved's ashes is have a fresh floral ring made to go around the base of the urn. I like that idea. Place them at church, then take them to the cemetery to place around the urn for the funeral rite @ the cemetery. Yes, I do find myself at times having tears well up in my eyes when I come across something of my mother's or I think of something about her, but I then quickly tell her she is in a much better place now in heaven then all of this going on in our world now. She really is.
I have to go and run a few errands today. Did I tell you that Jesus loves you, He really does so go and take Him with you wherever you go today. Spread the joy of Jesus with others today. You can be the sunshine in their life if it is a rainy type of day ok.
I received this card in the mail from a dear friend. Isn't the sentiment so very true and lovely at the same time. They enclosed a gift of money for us to remember our mother any way we please to. Also, enclosed in the card was a notecard my mother sent to her years ago. It must have been pretty special to my friend to keep it for years now. She thought that I just may enjoy it since it was from my mom sent to her many years ago. This is the part I liked in the note that she wrote to my friend "Kim is so blessed to have you for a forever friend." isn't that lovely.
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| See, this can be used as a dual word of encouragement. The life my mother lived and the life those that carry on and still remain here as a word for you too. |
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