I remember the first Earth Day "celebration". I was in high school and there was a lot of concern about the environment. Younger Christians may scoff at Earth Day and think it a totally secular movement... but it shouldn't be.
If anyone should care about the Creation, it is Christians. And yes... I was influenced by Schaeffer. Both he and Edith wrote a lot about caring for the environment, especially as in America we had a river so polluted it caught on fire!
For me Earth Day is a good time to think about how amazing this world was created. As I plant seeds this week, I will definitely be thanking the One who made the dirt and the seed and the harvest to come.
If there ever was a true day of renewal and celebration, it is Easter (aka: Resurrection Day). Our weather was the best we have had in recent years, an irony since in gorgeous springs it seems Easter was cold and rainy and now here in that "winter that never ended or so it seems"... we had sunshine and temperatures in the 70s.
Lovely to celebrate Resurrection!
About a month or so ago, Mrs. Christopher asked if our families could have Easter dinner together at our house. We enjoyed our two Thanksgiving celebrations together since their wedding (and yes... they will celebrate their second anniversary next month!) so much that they thought Easter would be lovely. So did I.
I was already deep into spring cleaning when she asked but I love having people over. I enjoy the preparation and thinking of what the table will look like. I would serve ham and creamy cheese potatoes as usual and they brought everything else.
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| This is the second "crop", the buds had not formed on these beauties the night we had freeze warnings. |
I did make a change in the desert. Instead of my usual creamy cheesecake dessert, I made the Philadelphia brand 9 x 13 baked cheesecake. It was delicious and oh, so easy. The recipe is... here.
I had blueberries in the freezer so I served it with homemade blueberry sauce instead of the recommended canned cherry pie filling. (I totally forgot to take pictures of the people or the food, we were having such a good time together.)
There is something special about coming around the table to celebrate His Resurrection, setting the table with Great Grandmother's Victorian china, enjoying the traditional foods from our home combined with those of Mrs. Christopher's family... and the fellowship of the saints.
Yes, it was a lot of work but enjoyable. I put the tablecloth and linen napkins in the washer to soak overnight as I always do after a celebration. The china was placed back in the china cabinet yesterday. The Noritake goblets (which actually match my wedding china) were returned to their home in the hutch.
The tablecloth was laundered and folded, then draped over a hanger in the office closet and the napkins folded and put away with the silver napkin rings in their drawer.
All is ready for the next celebration around the table. As for the hostess... she is taking a day of rest. ;)
Note: I love that tablecloth! It cost $1.00 at a thrift store as there are a few small holes in it but they are all near the edge where no one really notices, anyway.
11 comments:
Beautiful!
This year I we had extra friends with us, there were 20 of us in total, so we opted to set up a buffet on the long serving counter and we used paper plates this year! I could hardly believe myself as I love a beautifully set table with china. I am loving your photos of your table settings!
Of course I know that the most important thing is the fellowship of the saints, and celebrating our risen Lord! So that is what we did!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful table with us. So wonderful that you and Mrs. Christopher's family share such delightful fellowship!
Deanna
What happy crockery - so special to see a table that has been prepared with love.
You're a gracious hostess and certainly deserve your day 'off'.
Your table is beautiful with all the dainty touches. I love our earth too (my name means Earth in Latin) and I first joined a wildlife protection group when I was 10 years old. Our Heavenly Father made each creature and each blade of grass, I agree with you.
Beautiful table and I Love Great Grandmother's china! How wonderful that you enjoy fellowshipping with your son's in-laws! Makes for happy celebrating all around, I'm sure. So glad you had beautiful Spring-like weather for your celebration, too! How lovely!
We hosted a Spring Tea at our church a couple weeks ago where ten of us each hosted a table, using our own china, table decorations, table cloth/runners,etc. We had to take everything home to clean afterwards. It took me several days to get it all washed and put away and, as it was a very busy week leading up to the Tea, it took me a week recuperate!! I've been feeling my age lately! Ahh well! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Laura C. from WA
you set a lovely table, Brenda. It reflects your lovely nature! Thank you for sharing your holiday doings with the rest of us.
Your table looks beautiful. The tablecloth looks like one my grandmother had. It's amazing how nice things can be found at thrift shops for a song.
Oh my Brenda;
Beautiful table setting, you do have some lovely china and silver. The Lord even made the flowers to bloom perfectly, so you could use them for your festivities. It seems to me you had to pick them early? Can we have the recipe for cheesey potatoes? It is such a joy to celebrate the Resurrection! Blessings to you and yours. Love and Hugs Nana
Happy Easter, Brenda! So glad you were able to celebrate with your family at your beautiful table! I agree, your tablecloth is lovely. I don't think it a coincidence that thrift shop and gift shop rhyme, do you? ;)
Oh, dear. I'm afraid my hometown is the one with the river which caught on fire. But I must say, things are much better now.
Your Easter table looks lovely and I know your family must have been wonderfully happy together.
Lovely table!! Tis nice to be wanted, Brenda...no small gift!! Looks like the napkins are the kind my grandma had!! I have a few of them put aside.
Elizabeth in WA
Your china is beautiful. My friend has that pattern, and I've always admired it. I agree about being good stewards of the Earth too, and have really loved the Schaeffer's writings.
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