A Colorful Easter Tea Party

Welcome to my Easter Tea Party!

 Just having a small party out on my back deck.

Won't you join me, as I share a few old and new tea things.

 I don't own any real "spring" looking dinnerware, but I found these paper plates and fun decorations at our local Dollar Tree Store.(Wish they did make this design in dinnerware. I would buy it!)

I love flowers and the bright pastel colors are beautiful!

 I love the flower edged plate to set my blue frosted cupcakes on.

 I couldn't decide which plates to set, as these were lovely, too! So I used both.

The little Easter gift baskets were perfect for adding a few jelly-bean eggs.

 I just got these new teacups from Pier 1 Imports. I had been wanting to buy these colorful designed cups for quite a while. They came in a set of 4 and are stack-able.

 I also got this cute turtle teapot at Pier 1. The colors match the colors in my new teacups.

 Another spring-like teapot I've had for years is this birdhouse. It's really a "tea for 1" pot and cup.

 Since it is Easter, I couldn't forget getting a little chocolate. I found this cute card and edible cross, a perfect gift for a special friend!

 This is the front...what a beautiful design!

 Inside the card is a perfect quote, surrounded by more flowers and butterflies.

 My tiny spring angel, with her sweet little bird, joined our party, too.

 The vanilla cupcakes served today have a yummy fluffy whipped blue frosting, so it's not too sugary!

 I really love color! I made this floral centerpiece myself, with silk flowers and butterfly from the Dollar Tree Store.

 Here are my new teacups stacked up. They store very well in this holder, that came with the set.

 I love all the different colored handles.

 Another interesting chocolate find! Jesus is the TRUE reason we celebrate  

Easter

So glad you could join me today for my tea party.

Thanks, Sandi for having a link-up to your blog party at

Rose Chintz Cottage for Tea Time Tuesday

Hop on over to these blog parties, too!

Tea Cup Tuesday(Artful Affirmations)

Tea Party Tuesday (Sweetology)
 Friends Sharing Tea (Bernideen's Tea time)

Tea Cup Tuesday (Martha's Favorites

Masterpiece Monday

Welcome to My Little Town

Indiana weather, like the weather throughout much of the United States, has been very unpredictable this spring. In the past few weeks, we have fluctuated from 85 degrees, back down to 45 degrees. The warm days forced many of our trees to flower and flowers bloom.

 I wanted to share photos I took around my hometown. I live in a small, but growing town, where "downtown" is a mere 5 blocks long and wide. We have some things we are known for, but not by most people. So take a little stroll with me through my little town.

Rows of Flowering Pear trees in full bloom line the sidewalks!

Flowering Redbud in front of a historical building. (Old Jail Museum)

Daffodils in bloom on a street corner.

Our county courthouse...built in 1884.

In one of the downtown alleys are several paintings. This one is of John Dillinger,who in the 1930s robbed the police station in Warsaw, Indiana, stealing guns and bulletproof vests.

The alley where there are a number of wall paintings.

 Greeks Pizza makes the best hand-tossed pizza in town!

After a couple slices of Greeks, we can walk just a few stores down to Kelaney's Ice Cream Shop!!

"Courthouse Coffee" {The store with the balcony} offers lots of flavored coffees and smoothies, as well as soup, sandwiches, and pastries. . I often go and use their free wifi and sip on my favorite Vanilla Chai. It is a favorite meeting place for people of all ages. Facebook Link

These are just a few things that make this a fun place to walk around. 

Hope you enjoyed this mini-tour of my little town.

I continue to share my blessings through the Joy Dare!

 3 gifts redeemed 
572. My coupons, as I shop for groceries at my favorite grocery store.

573. An adorable line of gift and personal items introduced from DaySpring(Called "Redeemed").

574. Ephesians 1:7-8 "We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb."

 3 gifts entwined

575. The crown of thorns that sat on Christs head...reminding me of His suffering, yet He truly is the King of kings!

576. A grapevine growing in my back yard...knowing it will soon produce grapes.

577. Hearts entwined (defined-  For one person to twine together with or to twine around  another person....a symbol of eternal love between man and woman.) This kind of love is a true gift from God!

3 gifts of His promises

1.     578. In Him, we are a new creation!!

579. If we acknowledge Him, He will make our paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)

580. "God is patiently transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of His Son.  I can say it certain now: All is grace."   Ann Voskamp

 3 gifts uncovered
581. Garden pond, uncovered from it's winter plastic.
582. Pot of fresh vegetables, on the stove.
583. My dogs, sleeping down by my feet, under my bed covers.

A gift heard, a gift held, a gift hoped for
584. Heard - Favorite Easter songs
585. Held -my husband's hand
586. Hoped for -  Finding the right house for our family to live in.

 3 Gifts Round
587. An Easter Cupcake
588. My favorite music cd's
589. My 25th anniversary ring

 3 Gifts White

590. Easter lilies

591. An undecorated Easter egg

592. New crew socks 

Linking over at these Bloghops:

Jumping Tantem Sunday 

Multitude on Monday(A Holy Experience)

On Your Heart Tuesdays (A Pause in The Path)

Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)

Preparing for Palm Sunday

                                                                                     Source: catholicsupply.com via Ann on Pinterest

In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings. Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple (1 Kings 6:29). Again at the end of the Bible, people from every nation raise palm branches to honor Jesus (Revelation 7:9).  
The Bible tells us that a week before his death, people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus' path and waved them in the air. They greeted Jesus not as the spiritual Messiah who would take away the sins of the world, but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans.

 Listen to this touching video clip, comparing what they were looking for to what He came for.

(Sources: The New Compact Bible Dictionary, edited by T. Alton Bryant; New Bible Commentary, edited by G.J. Wenham, J.A. Motyer, D.A. Carson, and R.T. France; and the ESV Study Bible, Crossway Bibles.) 
The crowds refused to see Jesus as He truly was, placing their personal desires on him instead. We all have to decide who Jesus is for us. Is he someone whom we want to satisfy our selfish wants and goals, or is he Lord and Master who gave up his life to save us from your sins? I prefer the latter!

The people's cries of 'Hosanna' came from Psalm 118:25-26. Hosanna means "save now." Despite what Jesus had foretold about his mission, the people were looking for a military Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel's independence.
Today, we sing "Hosanna" to praise and thank the Lord, who saved us from our sins!
 Listen the song and raise up your praises to HIM!
Hillsong Uniited - Hosanna

They waved palm branches as He passed
And hailed Him as their King;
Yet, they knew not of the sorrow
The coming week would bring.

The glad acclaim would soon give way
To jeers and mockery;
In Pilate's court He'd be condemned
To a cross on Calvary.

But Jesus knew He was the price
In God's redemptive plan,
The Sacrificial Lamb come down
To die for sins of man.

The centuries have passed and still
He seeks those lost in sin,
Pleading with unyielding hearts
To repent and follow Him.

On this day we shout our praise,
O, let us not delay;
The palm-strewn path of long ago
Still leads to Him today.

(poem written by Kay Hoffman)
  

May you celebrate and remember Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem,

and His TRUE place as KING OF GLORY!!

And King of our lives!!

 Linking over to these beautiful blog hops:

 Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk)

Walk With Him Wednesday(A Holy Experience) 

Heartprint Hallelujahs(Heartprints of God)

Faith Filled FridayFriday(Beholding Glory)

 Fresh Brewed Sundays(My Freshly Brewed Life)

Birds, butterflies, and Hearts

 Hello, friends! This is going to be a short post and is a little late. I'm feeling under the weather today. Have a cold and sore throat. Just sharing a few things around my house today.

A Heart from a quilt I made several years ago.

My blue tea for one pot and cup, a heart and butterfly piece that my hubby got me, and a "forever blooming" flower made out of material.

A miniature butterfly teapot, a birdhouse hotplate, my pink flower fairy, and another spring flower.

Close-up of my hotplate.

Decorating my front door for the Easter season. I made this display all from stuff I bought at the Dollar General Store.

I have a little flag holder in the front landscaping. My Easter flag is flying today!

This year, my decorating has a mingling of many themes....birds, birdhouse, butterflies, flowers, hearts, and most importantly, the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Linking up over at these sweet blog hops:

Tea Time Tuesday (Rose Chintz Cottage)

Tea Cup Tuesday(Artful Affirmations)

A Return to Loveliness (A Delightsome Life)

Tea Party Tuesday (Sweetology)
 Friends Sharing Tea (Bernideen's Tea time)