Wordless Wednesday, Dancing Yarn Lady

I posted this dancing (falling? acrobatic? tree climbing?) lady once before but I think she is worth looking at again and besides some of you are new to my blog. I saw her on my walks around town.
I am linking with Wordless Wednesday

Easter Joy to All

The Easter news brings us great joy, Jesus' resurrection from death on the third day is proof that we too will have eternal life in heaven, as Jesus promises us.
Paul said "I passed on to you, as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Paul wrote Romans in about 57 A.D. when he was on the road to Jerusalem, perhaps in Turkey or Greece. In this letter he introduced himself and his beliefs to the Christians in Rome as he planned to visit them, on this missionary trip which turned out to be his last.
Romans 1:4-5
And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

Such good news for all who believe in Jesus.

Book Beginnings, J. Jefferson Farjeon

"Thirteen Guests" by J. Jefferson Farjeon.
Here are the first few sentences from this mystery.
Chapter 1. Completion of the Number.
"Every station has its special voice. Some are of grit. Some are of sand. Some are of milk cans.  Some are of rock muffled by tunnel smoke."
This sets the scene for a traveler to arrive at a railway station near a country home. A house party for 12 guests is scheduled, but an unlucky thirteenth guest arrives unexpectedly.
This is the first book I have read by Farjeon, and he has many admirers. He wrote about 60 novels so there is a lot more reading ahead for me. "Thirteen Guests" is a British Library Crime Classics book, reissued in 2015 in this series, and originally published in 1936. Alfred Hitchcock made one of Farjeon's books into a movie.
I am linking to Rose City Reader

Book Beginnings, Ralph the Heir

"There are men who cannot communicate themselves to others, as there are also men who not only can do so, but cannot do otherwise. And it is hard to say which is the better man of the two."
The above is the first two sentences of "Ralph the Heir" by the brilliant Anthony Trollope.
He goes on to describe Sir Thomas Underwood as one of the first sort of man, who has many good qualities but lacks friends and the ability to make friends.
I am reading a biography of Anthony Trollope where it is suggested that Trollope's own father was a man like that. Honest, fair, caring, but unable to communicate his deepest nature to others. Also, Sir Thomas in "Ralph the Heir" and Anthony Trollope's father were both actively researching for and writing huge books which they never finished.
Book Beginnings is new to me, and I am linking to Rose City Reader who coordinates this Friday event.
Just share a first sentence or two from the book you are reading and you can join in too.

Funny lemons from one tree, Amazabobs, Wordless Wednesday

We have a Meyer lemon tree that we planted about 15 years ago in an oak wine barrel. The lemons are always standard size but this February I picked this giant lemon from the tree. What is up with that?
I am linking up with Wordless Wednesday So far 14 bloggers signed up with the number growing quickly.

Choosing a Church

Some people find us Christians a puzzling group; here are a few words explaining a little about all the goodness I find in my faith. Feel free to skip if this post is too annoying, ha ha.
I visited 5 or 6 churches before choosing the one I attend now. I love this church. It is alive with love, serving people, and following Jesus.
A perhaps surprising thing about our church is that the services are held in what looks like a huge auditorium. Folding chairs. Very high ceiling. No windows.

Plenty of room for 500 of us at a time. These are not photos of our church, I found the photos on Pixabay and they have the theme of simplicity. I am an art history major and still thrill to visit ornate cathedrals and churches with beautiful traditional architecture but this auditorium style church is the one for me now.
There are several other buildings on our church campus, with a library, children's and teen rooms, and a coffee shop open during the church hours where you can get coffee for $1 and the money goes to charity. In the lobby before going in to church is free coffee and doughnuts, a small bookstore and tables where you can learn about volunteer opportunities.
This church is lively and the music loud and full of praise.
The people who attend do so much to help people that I could in no way list ALL the things. Many are done quietly. It gives us all lots of joy to help people as Jesus wants.
I attend Women's Bible Study before the second church service each Sunday. These ladies are dynamos of doing good things, some of them sew in a program making clothes for boys which is sent to Malawi and other countries worldwide. This group began when they saw a need for a companion program to the existing one that sews dresses for girls. There are large groups and small in our church and something helpful for everyone. We have a big Celebrate Recovery program for those in recovery from drugs, alcohol, over eating, depression, mental illness, etc. I am inspired by all the helping done by our church and I just started volunteering to visit two ladies in an assisted living home.
A great group of people. I hope you have people like these in your life.
If by any chance you don't, check out some churches near your home; you might find a safe warm place there.

Wordless Wednesday Ocean and Retirement

The bay near our house in February 2016.

I have always enjoyed large bodies of water, growing up across the street from Lake Michigan, and now marveling at the changing moods of the Pacific Ocean near our home. Being retired means I walk along the ocean several times a week; the ocean is ever new and the air is so clean.

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday Camellias at Church and Retirement Volunteer

I took these photos of camellias growing at our church on February 5, 2016.

I saw this camellia on Sunday and couldn't resist bringing my camera with me a few days later to take photos to share with you blog friends.
Linking with Wordless Wednesday

I am starting my new volunteer path, being a visitor to one or two ladies at a retirement home. One I met on Wednesday February 24 and one I will meet today, March 2. I am looking forward to this new venture, and any tips you have on visiting with retirees in assisted living are greatly appreciated by me. The activity director said the gal I will meet today might enjoy me reading short stories to her.
I have a great book of compiled poems, "Poems to Learn by Heart", edited by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, that could work.
Any other ideas?