A Magical Month

What a wonderful April I had, WOW!
Henry surprised me with an amazing 60th birthday party! What a blessing to be reminded of the many dear friendships we have through our church.
Then my sisters joined some my brother's members from Prince of Peace church plus several cousins on a delightful, relaxing, sunny cruise of the Douro (Golden) River in N. Portugal and into Spain. It was magical to explore castles, tiny cobblestone villages and even a villa of a vineyard owner plus a dinner in a Abbey!
We had some tears as we caught up on each others' lives but also lots of laughter and affirming family time together!

Tulips and Cousin Solvi

Springtime is delightful...suddenly plants appear that you forgot existed. Red and yellow tulips nodding in the breeze by our lamp post paint a hopeful picture of warmer weather.
"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." Song of Songs 2:12
Another delightful surprise was the appearance of cousin Solvi from northern Norway. She was a little girl when Kristine and I made the long journey back to Brakholm, the island where my grandmother grew up. Now a lovely, young lady working in the travel industry, Solvi had the opportunity to reconnect our family on two sides of the Atlantic. My mother, my sisters, my daughters, all were educated about Torghatten, a beautiful, magical hat shaped mountain with a natural, immense hole through the middle that towers over the small island of our ancestors. Just like the tulips reminded me of bulbs I planted last fall, I now recalled the hike up the mountain and through the famous tunnel. We watched videos of Lapland, the beauty of the Northern Lights, tasted reindeer jerky! Photos of our long lost cousins were a welcome opportunity to inspire us for another trip back to the Homeland.
I even baked scorpa (Scandinavian biscotti) in honor of our wonderful reunion!

Two Homegoings and a Homecoming

In one week we have had two funerals for family members and in between a marvelous birthday lunch. Mixed with sadness at the loss of Granny B and cousin Eleanor, was the celebration of their new life in heaven with God.
The gathering in of the extended families was magnificent! All 14 grandchildren were present, plus most of the 26 great-grandchildren to participate in the service and laying to rest of Jane Shelton Williams Bowers. What an incredible legacy Jane left behind...descendants who love each other and love the Lord! Cousin Eleanor had a similar legacy.
In between, seven of us gathered for a delightful lunch to celebrate the 30th, 60th and 90th birthdays of the other grandmother, daughter and granddaughter plus birthdays of one more sister and one more granddaughter, most in the lovely springtime.
On top of that amazing gathering was added our cousin, Solvi, all the way from Bronneysund, Norway; a delightful addition to the unbelievable homecoming!
What a lavish Lord we serve!
"...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
I Corinthians 2:9