Archive | March 2013
Anticipation of Easter
Hinchee Family Easter 1969
Hinchee Easter 1967
Hinchee Cousins at Granny Hinchee’s House
Friends ready to go to Easter Service 1969
Do you remember when you were a child and the anticipation you felt as Easter drew near?
I don’t know about boys, but I vividly remember going shopping to pick out
the perfect Easter outfit.
Not just a dress – but the matching assessories as well.
The perfect dress that “looked like spring”.
Hat
White Gloves
White lacy socks (for the younger years) or stockings. (I still remember my first pair. They made me feel so grown up!)
All new under garments were a must! (Does anyone remember the scratchy crinolines which made out dress move like a bell when we moved from side to side and caused it to puff out perfectly whenever we had the opportunity to spin around? Ah, what fun!)
White Patent Leather Shoes
White Purse complete with a new lace hankie, a small comb, a small mirror, a stick of chewing gum and a small coin purse with coins inside to place into the offering plate at Church.
A Spring Coat to match the dress if Easter came early in the Spring. (I think we called them dusters?)
A small corsage from Dad Hinchee made me feel quite grown up! I still love wearing flowers – in spite of allergies.
This was just part of the anticipation. Of course, Moms enjoyed preparing “Easter Baskets” which were waiting for us when we arose on Easter morning. (I enjoyed the marshmallow treats and gave Mom the jelly beans and creme eggs.) I don’t know about you, but I am much older than my sister and brother and dyeing the eggs, preparing the baskets and watching Melissa and Steve squeal with delight on Easter morning was the best part of the tradition!
In 1969, our family celebrated Easter as new believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We added going to Church when we were saved in October of 1968. The first Easter at Church was extra special – two of my friends joined us and also believed on Him that Sunday!
After Church, the Hinchee family gathered at the Grandparents home for a wonderful meal cooked by one of the best cooks in Roanoke!
However, none of the trappings could compare with the true meaning of Easter. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! “He is not here, He is risen, as He said!”
For centuries, the anticipation of the coming Messiah is evident in the Word of God. God had promised to send a Savior. He established the Passover, laws, ceremonies, traditions that would point to the Cross. His Word revealed prophecies of the coming of the Messiah and our Salvation. That the LORD would lay on Him the iniquities of us all. (Isaiah 53).
The Passover is a picture of Christ. The Tabernacle and the altars with their offerings were a picture and yet when John the Baptist said of Jesus Christ, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” was lost on the Rabbis, the religious zealots, those who were searching diligently for the Messiah didn’t even recognize Him when He bore their sin (and ours) on the cross of Calvary.
All the years of Easter traditions before I received Christ at the age of eleven did not point me to Christ. They didn’t symbolize New Life in Christ or that His shed blood washes us white as snow. – that in Christ, we are new creatures! I was just playing dress up until the Gospel reached my ears and my heart and He made me brand new!
Now, I am anticipating not only the celebration of His defeat over death when He arose from the dead but also the things to come. Thankfulness that He suffered for me and cleansed me from my sin – past, present and future! A home in Heaven, The rapture. The wedding feast – as we are the Bride of Christ adorned for her Husband! (Okay ladies, now that is a good reason to go out and buy new Church clothes – right?)
I’ve been changed by the blood of the Lamb. He gave His life for me and arose that we may have new life! Does my countenance show it? It’s not about the clothes or the sweets that remind us of His sweet sacrifice but it has everything to do with Him. How about you?
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O Wondrous Love (Steve Pettit) – YouTube
O Wondrous Love (Steve Pettit) – YouTube.
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“He is not here, for He is reisen as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Matthew 5:28
Resurrection Rolls
Here’s a new twist on the Resurrection Cookie idea for Easter, both are recipes you can do with your kids/grand kids in order for them to understand the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This fun recipe uses Crescent rolls and a disappearing marshmallow!
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Ingredients:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar
Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
Read Matthew 27:57-61
1. Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.
2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.
3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar which represents the spices used to anoint the body.
4. Then wrap…
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It is my joy to repost one of my favorite Easter posts from my friend, author, speaker, blogger, Homeschool Mom, wife, Mother and Grandmother, Marilyn Boyer.
Her family site is now http://characterconceptsblog.com/ I hope you will have the opportunity to visit their site.
Looking for a special tradition to teach children about the true meaning of Easter? Reposted last year from The Learning Parent. This is a wonder activity to do with your children, grandchildren or young children to teach the true meaning of Easter. An empty tomb! “He is not here; He is risen!” 
Click on the link below for the recipe! Check out her website for other wonderful crafts, books, activities and pics! Activities to Emphasize the True Meaning of Easter |http://characterconceptsblog.com/
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Love Is…
One of my college professors at Piedmont Bible College defined love as:
“To purpose the good of another without benefit to oneself.” (Dr. Robert Delnay)
I Corinthians 13 tells us how.
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StarCam – The View from Mill Mountain
StarCam – The View from Mill Mountain.
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The Star Cam is up and running, refreshing every 15 seconds. See the beautiful Roanoke Valley during the day and gorgeous lights of the city at night. Go to http://www.starcityradio.com/roanokestar.html for a current picture of the Star City.
The beautiful Roanoke Valley of Virginia has changed drastically since Isabel’s childhood in 1925. The paved roads, bridges, beautiful tall buildings, museums and the neighborhoods have changed over the years. However, some things remain the same.In 1924, the a ticket booth sat at the foot of Mill Mountain, charging citizens money to ride the street car or “The Incline” to the top of Mill Mountain. There was a park, a pavilian where a bandstand delighted people with their music. Children played, adults took in the sights, young people danced to the music and families had an all day picnic. It was the place to go.
Today, Mill Mountain is mainly known for the Mill Mountain Star which shines brightly; illuminating the night. It was erected in…
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Perfect Model for Jim’s House!
Photograph by Kathie Trent Kingery. (Photo used with permission.) Check out her facebook page at Miss K’s Photography or send an email: ktkingery@hotmail.com
When I first saw this photograph, I knew this would be the perfect model house for Isabel’s half-brother Jim. If you have read The Vision of a Mother’s Heart, you may remember Isabel’s surprise birthday party. A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE is posted under The Vision of a Mother’s Heart Sample Chapters.
I don’t know about you, but I love looking at houses – especially older abandoned homes. There is something sad about seeing a house or cabin that used to be someone’s home. If I am a passenger in the car, I scour the scenery for “homes” that may be appropriate for characters in my book. Some old houses have so much character – rotting gingerbread trim, bay windows, wide, wrap-around porches. Any of the above elements will grab my attention and my imagination. “I wonder who lived there?” A story begins to take shape in my mind. I visualize the house as it must have looked when it was new. Children playing in the yard, dogs, kittens, flowers and Mama watching the activities from the porch swing while stringing beans.
I’m not sure how much research most authors do when writing a novel. An author of historic fiction must spend a lot of time in research in order to have a story that is historically correct and appealing to readers. I spend a lot of time in research, including reading local history books, visiting local historic sites on-line and checking census records for the time period.
I look at houses on the internet, go to realtor sites who have slide shows of older homes and browse through the rooms. I especially like sites with vintage or antique furniture, restored homes, Pinterest is a wonderful site for getting ideas for a character’s setting. Magazines are also a good resource when researching period homes and appliances.
When I saw this photograph taken by my friend, I just knew it was “Jim’s house!” A printed copy is on my story board for inspiration for the sequel. She has other wonderful pictures on her facebook page.
Last night, someone posted the picture of an old abandoned cabin. It was exactly as I imagined Grandpa Greene’s cabin in The Vision of a Mother’s Heart. I wasn’t the only one with that thought. A good friend who had read the book posted that it was just like the cabin in the book and she could see Isabel coming to the door. (Most likely with a baby brother in her arms!) It was perfect! Just as this house is perfect for Jim!
Be sure to look for Jim’s house in the sequel, Hope Beyond the Sunset. It may play an important part in our story!
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Purdy Cat’s Introduction to Snow
This gallery contains 23 photos.
Katherine H. Purdy 