Sunday Thoughts...Prayer

A dear friend of mine gifted me with this wonderful coffee mug for Christmas. I just love it and it has caused me to think about prayer. It has been one of those seasons where my own family has needed prayer. God has been good to answer prayers for my dad. I am so thankful for all who remembered him and my family.

Praise time! Dad was cleared by the doctor on Wednesday to be able to live on his own again without the extra help from Senior Helpers. My sister and I met with the management of his retirement home on Friday. They too released my dad! He was so happy when we gave him the happy news. I have been feeling so thankful and so relieved and very blessed.

Long ago, I made a promise to myself that if I told someone I was going to pray for them, I was going to follow through. I decided with the New Year that I wanted to write down names and how I will be praying for those who need prayer.

So why do I pray? God has asked me to pray. One of my favorite verses is " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6. Prayer lets me draw closer to my God, to communicate with Him~to spend time with my Lord. It gives me the opportunity to hold up my friends and their loved ones. I want to share their joy and be there to comfort them and praying for them opens the door to be able to do that. I become part of my community when I pray and that helps to be thankful for all of my many blessings.

I hope you have a good week ahead filled with blessings and opportunities to show those around you the love of Christ.

First Friday Tasha Tudor Book Review~Tasha Tudor's Treaure

Happy April! It's a new month and Easter is nearing. Don't you love this print by Tasha Tudor? I think it's perfect for spring with daffodils and a darling bunny.
I am getting so excited about my trip and I must confess, I have been spending a lot of time looking at my Tasha books and Pinterest boards in my spare time!

With Easter approaching, I thought it would be fun to explore this little set of books. The set of three is called Tasha Tudor's Treasure. It was originally published by Oxford University Press and later Henry Z Walck reprinted First Prayers and First Graces and encouraged Tasha to come up with a third book-
First Graces. He later published the three little books in a cardboard slipcover.

The set includes First Prayers, First Graces and More Prayers. Each has it's own book jacket. They are small, perfect for a child's little hands.

First Prayers was published in 1952 and is a collections of prayers including the Lord's Prayer, various grace before meals and of course, the 23rd Psalm.

First Graces was published in 1955 and is made up of 21 prayers of thanksgiving. This illustrations is about Thanksgiving. The pictures are so sweet and as usual, Tasha has chosen to feature children in her drawings.

More Prayers published in 1967 and is the last in the trio. The book shares scripture verses and more psalms.   This is a page from the book.

I have had this little set since the early 1980's and they are all very sweet. First Graces is my favorite of the three.

Waiting for Easter.

Life is Fragile...

It's Sunday evening and just a quick post. Yesterday my bible study and quilter friend Nancy called me to let me know that one of our sweet bible study ladies was in the hospital. Sharon had been ill most of the week and it was discovered that she had come down with spinal meningitis. The doctors had asked her husband to gather his family as it was not looking well. Nancy was calling to ask for prayer for Sharon and for her family. I was so sad all day. Sharon is just one of those people you just enjoy being with as much as you can. I had a great conversation with her a week ago and found myself thinking, I would never get to do that again. Oh, life is so very fragile and so very short.
Nancy let me know last night that they had done an MRI....no swelling or lesions. Her color was better and they even sent her husband home for some sleep. Yes, prayer is powerful. Hoping for the best and asking God to let us keep her a bit longer. Writing with a thankful heart tonight.

A Heartfelt Thank You

I am so humbled by all the prayers and encouragement from so many of my blogger friends and my friends. Thank you to those of you who left me a message...I have never corresponded with many of you. I am touched. I am still dealing with the sadness but I know there is a purpose for this and that God is in control.
My dear friend LaVonne sent me some things to read this morning and I so appreciate her taking the time to find just the most perfect readings. Thank you my friend.
I went to visit my friends in Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island WA for a few days to surprise another friend for her 50th birthday! I drove back home today, so may be late tomorrow with my Teacup Thursday post. It was good therapy to be in such a beautiful part of the Northwest and to be with friends who made me laugh and forget the sadness for awhile.