WISTERIA OR LILACS? I LOVE THEM BOTH!

I love Spring!  I always said that Summer was my favorite time of year, but when Summer rolls around each year, I've already started to feel a bit anxious about what is coming.  It all starts with the first day of Summer being the longest day of the year.  I just know that each day after is counting down to Winter and that alone just sends shivers up my spine.  So, now I realize and declare that Spring my favorite season.  As each day progresses, I know that the days continue to get longer and longer, no reason to fret over the coming seasons.  I rejoice over all the signs of renewal that remind us each day of how our God loves us and is with us.  We can compare all the difficult times in our lives as Winters of sorts.  They're dark and cold, we feel abandoned and alone, but when we realize that God gives us hope and the opportunity of a new beginning, we can feel that joy that comes with renewal and reawakening of our spirit. Amen for that!

I made my second annual trek across the state of Kentucky recently.  It is my plan each year to visit Henderson and visit friends and former neighbors.  As I've always said, I love my neighbors, and just because I move away, that never changes.  It brings me such joy to visit them!  After a day in Henderson, I travel to Paducah for the Annual AQS (American Quilters Society) Quilt Show.  Last year seemed to be a long drive to the far western portion of the state.  This year was so much different.  My friend, Ann, made the trip with me.  We had a great time catching up with each other's lives since my move to Georgetown almost six years ago.  Hopefully, next year, we'll even have one or two more join us on the trip.

When we arrived in Paducah, we drove to my friend, Lori's house.  If you read last year's blog, you'll remember that she was my next door neighbor in Henderson.  She and husband Mike built the house catty-cornered from us.  When they moved to Paducah, they built the same house, only the mirror version.  Anyway, Lori made us feel so welcome and even packed us a nice lunch for the quilt show.  Wow, the quilts were amazing and we had a wonderful time viewing the handiwork of so many talented men and women.  I especially love the handquilted and traditional quilts.  Sad to say, the trend is towards machine quilting and non-traditional, but still, the quilts are amazing!  In addition to the annual quilt show, Paducah also hosts the Dogwood Festival and the AQS Quilt Museum, which houses all the previous grand prize winners of the show.  I'm already looking forward to next year.

I've finally been able to resume some nice long walks with the improving weather and also working out in the yard.  I've been enjoying lilacs on my walks and also cutting and arranging them, thanks to generous friends with overflowing lilac shrubs.  In addition to lilacs, I've been especially enjoying a sighting of a previously unnoticed wisteria vine that has overtaken an old car frame  located in the driveway of a house I pass on my walks.  Again, if you've read my previous springtime blogs, you know I experience a terrible case of not only lilac envy this time of year, but also wisteria envy.  Hopefully, this year I'll figure out how to obtain some of the early blooming wisteria to go with the late blooming wisteria that grows up some of the trees in our woods.

I've been feeling somewhat anxious lately about "wedding plans".  I've asked God to help me with these feelings and this morning he gave me the answer to my anxiousness.  Thanks to the fruits of the spirit that come with being a Christian, I've been blessed with patience in most aspects of my life.  God has reminded me to use that patience and to place my relationships with other people above my desire to help plan the "perfect wedding" for my daughter and her fiance.  I will continue to use His guidance as I go forward with the plans.  Jesus performed his first public miracle at a wedding and I know He will be with me as this special day approaches.

It is beautiful outside and it will be a busy day for me.  I hope you're enjoying your day and if you haven't lived the Springtime of spiritual renewal in your life, today could be the day for you to celebrate the joy that comes when your savior, Jesus Christ, becomes the center of your life.  Have a great day and stay safe.  luv, Susan