SEASONS - A BEAUTIFUL MEMORY OF ANNUAL SPRING GATHERINGS AT THE FARM

(A special memory by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

My parents long ago moved away from the farm that they inherited from my grandfather, deciding like all people do when they get older to simplify their lives.  My Dad has moved on to heaven and my Mom didn't need to be keeping up a farm on her own.   I do not blame them for doing this at all, and I have always reminded them that memories never fade away.  I am so very grateful for all those wonderful memories, especially the spingtime memories, that we shared in my old childhood homes on that land.  The first homestead was  in an over one hundred years old rock house, then there was a new brick house built, then finally a move to a fine stately house that sat on top of a high hill.  All of these places were setting peacefully on land once owned by my grandfather, and life at each place was enchanting.

We always had such beautiful family gatherings and they were especially special in the spring.

So sometimes, I just like to stop and look at the photos and remember those special days and be grateful to God for allowing me and my family to have them.  Here is a brief sharing that I will share with you where I recorded a typical memory of one of our spring gatherings:

After a nice peaceful ride through the country, we arrived! 

The farm was lovely, all green and fresh for spring!

Mom and Dad greeted us, and the house was beautiful and full of delicious food smells.

The tablescapes Mom used were so lovely!

We joined company with my brother and his family, my uncle and my cousin (both of who now reside in heaven with my father) and gave thanks for all the blessings of the day.  

Then Mom fed us a feast.

After much good food and conversations, our daughter Christin and her husband Clay decided to take a stroll outside. 

I took their photo from Mom's kitchen window.

It wasn't long before everyone wanted to get into the act.  

We all went outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and take a few group pictures.

Here is a photo of me with my husband, my parents and our children and son-in-law.  I'm the one with only her head of wind blown hair showing!

Since this photo we have gained another son-in-law and two and one-thirds more grandchildren! 

Here are our girls and our first son-in-law.  Our son got cut out of this photo, but he is in the next one!

  These were the days before Lauren was married when Christin and Clay were only newlyweds.  There are no pictures of my other son-in-law (Vince)  because it was before the days of Vince and Vinny, our grandson by Vince.  Also, Olivia was only a thought into the future in those days.   It was during a time when Erin was foot-loose and fancy free.  Now we get to enjoy the company of her boyfriend Alex at most family gatherings. 

I'm so glad I have these photos to share with those others who have come to join us later.    They can now know a taste of the family history from these photos and our many stories.

Don't you know we had a good place to hide Easter eggs when the kids were younger? 

Have you ever seen greener grass or more lush land?  

Our kids were fortunate to have the run of this land when they were young children, building huts and dams in the creek, playing in the old treehouse and running through the pastures with our lab named Baby.

I think The Farm was glad to see us that day, maybe it was even marking memories too, suspecting that we would not be around forever.

We were certainly glad to be there.

It was a very beautiful day!

These good memories make my soul feel complete and resurrected!

God has graciously allowed us to share so many blessings!

FUN UNDER THE SUN ENJOYING THE OUTDOOR MARKET OF MT. LAUREL

(Writing and Photography by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Mt. Laurel is a lovely place, even if you aren’t there on Market Day, but Market Day is very special. 

The day I was there it felt like God had put up His bluest sky just for me!  It seemed He had intensified the landscape with bright blazing colors. The delicious scents of fresh cut flowers and the heavenly aroma of the amazing foods being sold at the market were so inviting. 

The moment I drove into the community, I felt completely surrounded by beauty.  This new urban-type community conforms to the land, and serves it’s inhabitants well by keeping everything needed for a rich daily life within walking distance of their homes.  There are beautiful churches, a school, shops, restaurants, a library, a grocery store and a hardware store, as well as other business establishments.  The architecture was lovely, quaint and well planned. 

Each front door of the homes seemed to say "Welcome!  Come visit me today."  I passed rocking chairs on porches that whispered, “Come sit a spell.”  There were comfortable benches scattered in shaded nooks.  I resisted the temptation to stop at a few of the open houses, just to peek into their lovely rooms, and to wonder through the streets and step inside the very interesting and unusual shops and restaurants.  Every little area looked like a place where I would enjoy sitting down with coffee and a good book.   

I had no time for that today though, after all, I was here for the out-door market which is held every Saturday starting in the spring and lasts through the summer.  The day can get away before you know it, and those marketers like to start early in the cool morning air.  I’m told that most of what is sold here is grown on the property locally and organically.  The growers host various educational classes to teach people the science of maintaining and growing your own food and eating and living nutritionally.   I didn’t need anyone to teach me that I had stumbled upon a good thing. 

Who could resist the smell of freshly baked bread?
I certainly could not pass it by.  The samples get you every time too, especially when they have all those jars of fresh jam and honey to add to the already perfect backed goods.

If you can "can" it, you can find it here.  Amazing how many flavors, just waiting to be tasted.

Veggies and flowers make a perfect combination on any table.  Forget planning out the tablescapes, this is a natural tablescape; designed by the greatest of all designers.

Just look at the beautiful sunflowers!  You know, I'm sure I passed the field they came from on the way in.

Do you have a little girl in need of a dance costume?  You've come to the right place.

Or maybe she only needs a hair bow.  You can find it here.  There is even a tea party going on for Moms and daughters around the corner after the market.   

Maybe you would like some cheerful glassware for your spring table.  Aren't these wonderful?

If you don't want to prepare your own veggies for cooking, someone here has done it for you!

This is truly a fruitful place.  The peaches were to die for
.

Soon my tummy and my shopping bag were full of fresh foods and crafts for the home.

I passed the people walking their dogs and the moms pushing their babies in strollers and made my way back to my car.  A beautiful window box caught my eyes as I was leaving.  It looked "just perfect."  It said in flowers how I felt about this beautiful day.  I gave thanks to God for the experience and headed for home to try some of the goodies I had found.

 

SEASONS - SPRING BEGINS WITH A FAMILY PASSOVER SEDER - PART THREE

The Afikkoman ritual has been a part of the Passover ceremony since Second Temple times.  

It would have been included in the Passover services during the days that Jesus walked the earth.  

Can you think of Him as a very young boy participating with Joseph and Mary and his brothers and sisters? 

The Greek word aphikomenos means  “He is coming,”  and clearly suggests Messianic overtones. 

Three matzot, one of which is broken, is an image of the triune nature of God – with the focus on the broken middle piece of matzah, which is a picture of the Suffering Servant of the LORD. 

Consider that this piece is taken, 

wrapped up, 

carefully hidden from view, 

only to be discovered at the end of the Seder by little children.  

This is an image of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  
He was taken, pierced and crucified: at His death His body was wrapped in white linen cloth:  He was hidden away in a grave in a cave; the next morning He was found by His disciples, those who had learned to come with the heart of a child before Him; He was found resurrected!

Only after partaking of the Lamb of God who was slain for our transgressions do we understand and take hold of the reward given to those who seek for Him with the heart of a child.

Even though all four of our children are now grown, they, have in the past, enjoyed looking for where the matzot has been hidden by their Father.  Soon we will have grandchildren old enough to do this!  What joy it will be to see them find and discover the mysteries of Christ!  We always give a prize to the winner.  I have come to see this act as symbolic of Our Father in Heaven giving rewards to His children when they have found Christ and are safely inside The Kingdom of God forever. 

Here I might add a word of caution to anyone planning a Passover Seder in this age and time.  The ways of the world are all around us now, and even the church is full of false worship and deception.  Mankind has made his own traditions.  Not everyone will relate to your tradition and you may often find it a struggle to carry on against so many other worldly traditions. Jesus never said following HIm would be easy.   I urge you to go prayerfully on and do what you believe, in spite of this, but do not be legalistic or try to force others to believe what only God can open up their eyes to.  A Passover celebration is only valid when people come with open hearts truly desiring to worship God in the way He has shown us through His Son Jesus Christ and His people, Israel.  If people don't understand this, just pray for them and keep living your life before them.  With many it takes time for the real truth to seep into their hearts and minds.  Often our children, even though we have taught them well, get distracted by the things of the world and do not make time for the things most precious to us.  When this happens I remind myself that it is nothing compared to what our Heavenly Father has experienced from His children for ages.    The world has quite a sway especially for young adults these days.  We are not legalistic and we accept our children's answers when they decide not to participate, yet we still hold out the invitation each year.  They seem to go through stages, like all young people do.  When they come, we welcome them with open arms and happy hearts, and often when we know the family will be small that year, we invite others who are looking for a good place to celebrate the Passover.  Last year we only had one of our children who was able to be with us, but we had a house full of other good friends who are passionate about the things of Christ.  I often think of it as another example of coming out of Egypt.  When Moses first announced the plan many were hesitant and had to consider a long time before deciding to move with God's people.  Some hesitated before sprinkling the blood over their door post.  We live in the same type of world where people are bound up in things that will not allow them to be free, yet see those things as a false form of freedom.  I pray patiently and give these things to God and we extend hospitality to anyone who wants to join us.  Usually our own family begins to think and remember what they know in their hearts and they return to rejoice the next time.  

Life is a journey.  

Life is a learning process.  

We are forever thankful for those who chose to walk along beside us on the way!

With our minds focused on “The Lamb of God” represented by the Motzah, 

we often watch a musical video presentation of “WATCH THE LAMB”, which was beautifully acted out, and sung by Ray Boltz.   You may find it on You-Tube.

I've included it in this blog for your viewing:

There is usually not a dry eye at the table after this video.  I think it is one of the most touching video presentations ever.  You can find any of the video presentations mentioned in this blog on You Tube. 

THE FOUR QUESTIONS

God commands that children are to learn from the Passover experience.  Even us "grown" children have things to learn....  

Every year a child will learn a little more of the truth.  Life is nothing but a long learning process, and we are all always learning!  

We tell our grown children:  

“This is a tradition that you will be able to pass down to your children one day, the tradition of The Asking of The Four Questions.”  It was stated in hopes that we will one day have so many grandchildren that we will have to buy a bigger table!

A child should ask each question before we begin the telling of the story.  At most of our celebrations we have let each of our grown children read one question each, being that they are four and there are exactly four questions:  One day their children will follow in their footsteps and take over their readings.

1.     Why do we eat only unleavened bread on this night when all other nights we eat either leavened bread or matzah?

2.     Why do we eat only bitter herbs on this night when all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables?

3.    Why do we dip our vegetables twice on this night when we do not dip our vegetables even once all other nights?

4.    Why do we eat our meals reclining or leaning on this night, when on all other nights we eat our meals sitting?

 The answers to all of these questions are found in the telling of the story. 

 (We pour the Second Cup at this point, but do not drink it yet.)

(To be continued in Part Four)