Griffin is Six

 So six is a Big Deal.

And these years went by

 really fast- Mr. Griffin.

How fun to celebrate with a rainbow cake.

It  is just plain fun.

And your Birthday cards
 look BIG this year.

But, some things are a little bit 

different for birthdays right now.
We are celebrating with 
our "shelter in place" family.

We are not getting together 

and parties look a bit different.

 How fun that mom and dad put together

 a drive by greeting 

with your Kindergarten friends.

 Fun to see those buddies.

 Fun presents.

 Some things to move and groove outside.

Star Wars, Shooter things,

Roller Blades-yup.

Your siblings were happy

 to join in the party mood.

Its a good thing to have 

extra dad time in these days.

 What a blessing to celebrate with family.

We are proud of all the new things you are learning,

how you are managing to be Big Brother,

and add so much fun to your little family,
 and our Big family.

We Love you.

So your buddy at church is a policeman 

and put together a Police Car Drive- By.

We give thanks for the community 

that gathered to celebrate you in these days.

Lenten Journaling in Community- #10

 Lenten Journaling in Community- #10

This Dust

The Hymn Journal-

When From Death I'm Free

What is Man?

That He could be mindful of me-

mere dust.

 Beautiful hymn This Dust by Kip Fox

with a refrain that stays with you...

 Because of this empty grave...

we have a new day.

As Jesus is raised-

 so His faithful disciples

are Raised up.

 Image by Karen Hunter

Watercolors

Singing this refrain.

The story is changed-

 we have victory over death.

We rejoice that we have this

 awesome gift of eternal life.

 Always makes me think of a favorite hymn-

Have no Fear Little Flock-

we have been given the Kingdom.

 He is Risen indeed.

There has been an eternal

 shifting the power over death.

 In these days of COVID19 we certainly 

see and hear that Death is All Around Us.

 Because we BELIEVE...

 we are NOT AFRAID.

The refrain goes on and on and on.

Death is all around us,

we are not afraid:

written is the story, 

empty is the grace.

Supplies:

Watercolors

Colored pencils

Stamps and ink

Alpha stickers

Junk Mail

Magazine cutouts

Napkin

 Hymn page
Bulletin Cover
VFM margin
Washi tape
When-Death-Im-Free-Journal

Worship into the Week- Holy Week

 Gathering here the story of Holy Week.

Palm Sunday.

Maundy Thursday reflections.

 Good Friday Journaling.

Holy Saturday.

Easter Sunday-  2020.

In this very unusual Covid19 Lent into Easter -

 this was a process of slowing- even more.

Looking at Scripture...

remembering my days in Jerusalem.

Thankful for how this story ends-

He is Alive!

Supplies-

Visual Church Year Project
childrens-bulletins

Watercolors

Colored pencils

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Floral Hope

 I keep seeing signs of Spring that bring

 me so much hope in these COVID19 days.

 We try to take walks each day

 in the neighborhood.

The exuberance of flung 

open blossoms brings smiles. 

There are many having 

very hard days right now.

May some bright and colorful

blossoms bless you today

right here-

 if you don't have some of your own.

Lenten Journaling in Community- #11

Lenten Journaling in Community - #11

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I always like the image

 of the cross and crown

 for both Christmas and Easter.

  Hymn Reflection page

Christ image by 

Concordia Publishing House

 Paper Collage

Reflection Page

                                                      Watercolor Reflection

Image by Ann Gillaspie

 Paper Collage

Bible Margin by Visual Faith Ministry

 Scripture Reflection

Job 19: 23-27

 Devotion

Image by Concordia Publishing House 

  Back of CPH image

An Easter bulletin cover

 Song Reflection page

Did some research 

on the history of this song.

 Written by Samuel Medley

 (1738-1799)

 Card added to this page to gather 

some thoughts for this 

COVID19 Easter for 2020.

Visual Faith Experiment-

 A "Secret Code " Prayer.

A space for giving thanks 

and being present.

This Hymn journal has been

 a blessing this Lent season.

 He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia!

Lent Journaling- 2020

Finished up my Lent journaling for this year.

Used the calendar from Visual Faith Ministry

 designed by Kim Gilman.

The devotion was by

Lisa Clark- Eyes on Jesus 

by Concordia Publishing House.

 I liked the theme woven through the devotion 

and words that were connected 

throughout the Lent journey.

Simple tools-

 4 colored pencils 

and a black Sharpie pen-

 moving to Easter.

 What a blessing this is

 in my devotional life practices.

Easter 2020

 He is Risen.

 Just as He said He would.

He is Risen Indeed!

That is the Good News 

for Easter 2020.

We have the victory through 

our Lord Christ Jesus.

For many this year it has not been a Happy Easter.

Death and tragedy haunt our days this April.

COVID19 will outline the map for this year's 

celebration.

Subdued, with social distancing.

No family together this year.

Missing the littles.

 Lilacs in all things 

and every vase- for they will be short lived.

Some years they have not bloomed by Easter-

this year they are almost done.

We did family Worship via Zoom 

as we have done all of Holy Week.

We wrote a simple service for little ones, 

with visuals and all sang together.

A Joyful Easter-

because that gift of eternal life for all believers

is something that cannot be taken from us.

Even in this strange sort of year - 

there are Easter Blessings and Easter Joys.

He Lives!

The gathering of 100 year old 

Easter postcards of Crosses-

to remind us of THE CROSS.

We catered Easter dinner to the daughter

 and her family that live nearby 

and though we didn't get to eat with them, 

we were close in heart.

At the end of the day we set up

 a social distance center in the carport

 and visiting with long time friends

 and neighbors in the carport-

and ate pie together.

This Easter we pray:

 Dear Lord,

please place a hand

 of protection for first responders,

 doctors and nurses and emergency staff.

 If it be your will, bring 

a timely end to this pandemic.

Keep our family and loved ones 

safe and healthy. 
We give thanks for the gift of Jesus
 in these days of unknown- 
for He is our KNOWN. Amen