Happy Easter 2025

Photo: Getty

Here we are again, celebrating hope, optimism, and human perseverance, along with starting with a clean slate. Let's take a break from any stresses, challenges, or hardships in life to enjoy a festive meal with family and friends.

Photo: iStock
♪♪♪"Morning has broken like the first morning 
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird 
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning 
Praise for them springing fresh from the world" ~ Cat Stevens ♪♪♪

Let's put our work aside on Easter Sunday and enjoy the company of our besties. Catch up. Break bread. Share a laugh. Whatever floats your boat today, enjoy! A day of leisure, a good meal, and a celebratory spirit await you.

In spring, life begins anew. The next images are posted for their cuteness.

Photo: Alamy

Please excuse the impolite word in the bubble below, and yet it's a common human expression, isn't it? You can't help but laugh at the cleverness. Sometimes humor is rude, and the little baby chick is adorable.

Who are you going to pick out of the lineup?

✝ Happy Easter, Everyone!🐥🐇🐑

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Noli me tangere by Simone Cantarini (1612 - 1648), an Italian painter who was born in Pesaro, the then Papal States 

Scholars of theology think Mary Magdalene was an influential figure in the early Christian Church. According to all 4 Gospels, she was one of the women who traveled with Jesus and supported his ministry from the beginning to the end. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John mention her by name 12 times, more than any other woman fellower, as well as, more than most of the apostles. Mary Magdalene was never a prostitute. Blame Pope Gregory IX for a sermon he gave in the 13th century for this wrong perception. According to the Gospels, she witnessed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and was the first person Jesus appeared to after rising from the dead. Some theologians think she was a leader of the early church. She is declared a saint in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches. In 2016 Pope Francis elevated her status higher calling her the "Apostle of the Apostles." Theologians postulate the reason Mary Magdalene was the 1st person the risen Christ appeared to was due to how highly he regarded her. Some of the unauthorized (called non-canon gospels, the gospels of Thomas and Philip) portray Jesus and Mary as romantically close, which so far is impossible to confirm, but surely will continue to be the source of endless speculation. Easter, the most important date on the Christian calendar, celebrates hope, optimism, and human perseverance.

Enjoy the day and eat the chocolate.

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Photo: The altar of Westminister Abbey, London England 

Once again we celebrate hope, optimism, and human perseverance. 

A belief that ultimate good can overcome challenges, evil, and the limitations of life. Existence is layered and multifaceted. There will be trails, and yet everything has an opposite. Up - down, hot - cold, bad - good, despair - hope. Death - eternal life? It's a leap of faith.

Photo: Trading News

We also celebrate all the goodness life has to offer both in nature and manmade ... from flowers (nature) and colored eggs (art!) to human kindness (generosity of spirit).

Photo: David Attenborough's Facebook post.

Every year there's a new cycle of life. Welcome to the world little lamb. My lovely Readers make the most of your time here on earth!

🐣🐇🌷

A flashback photo of my mom and me on Easter Sunday. Dad was taking the picture. Unlike Christmas or Thanksgiving, it was the one holiday we sometimes treated ourselves to eating out and after our dinner hobnobbing around town.

Happy Easter from THE SAVVY SHOPPER!🐥

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Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio

Leave it to one of my favorite Baroque painters, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571 - 1610) to depict a resurrected, incognito, very human Jesus eating a meal in the town of Emmaus with his clueless disciples who fail to recognize him ... until they do. Then Christ vanishes. (Khan Academy analysis here of the painting).

Once again we celebrate hope, optimism, and human perseverance in a flawed, limited, and sometimes challenging world. But, spring is here -- days are getting longer and warmer, and life is good.✝️🐣

Happy Easter! 

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Photo: Patch

 It's Holy Week on the Christian calendar, a time to remember it takes hope and perseverance to overcome the expected and unexpected challenges in our Journey of Life. 

Photo: Country Living

Equally important to note: Life is meant to be lived -- happy, enjoyed and purposeful, so try to reach out where and when you can to make a connection and difference in someone else's life.

Photo: recordonline

Be kind! Embrace the spring ... your family and friends ... your unique talents and interests ... you be you!

Photo: Istock - Getty

Value a pretty table setting and a good meal; and don't forget the chocolate bunny!

How lovely and apropos to the season is the sentiment of Phillip Phillip's song, Home -- and just to be clear: On this earth it's meant to be a message from human to human.  Below are my favorite lines: 

''Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble - it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home ''

Hope and human perseverance! Happy Easter, Friends!🌷

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Pretty Hearts For Her

 

Sometimes I think Valentine's Day exists to bridge the gap between New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. It's such a long stretch, there needs to be something to celebrate. And what's more, here on the Western hemisphere, it's winter. Everything has died! We need the vibrance of red and the warmth of love to recharge us ... Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to wear  red, sparkles and hearts. The following are adorable heart necklaces that would make festive Valentine' Day jewelry ... perhaps a gift for a lucky someone:

1) 14K White Gold Ruby Pavè Heart Pendent - (See the above image ↑.) I've been looking at this heart pendent for ages because it's gorgeous and a generous size. You won't need your eye glasses to see its loveliness! It has 6 1/2 carats of rubies and 1/2 carat of diamonds in 14k white gold. I cannot lie, the one disappoint is true of so many pendents nowadays, namely the chain it hangs on so so slight, customers will need to replace it with another more substantial chain. For the money, it shouldn't be so flimsy, but with the high price of gold these day, it nearly always is!

2) Ruby 2 1/4 ct and Dimond Accent Heart Pendent Necklace in Serling Silver - I would fawn over this neckless if I hadn't set my sights on choice #1. The heart is smaller, yet still pretty and also comes in pink sapphires, or blue sapphires. The silver metal in lieu of gold makes it a more budget-friendly alternative.

3) Silver With Rubies (2 1/2 carats) and Diamonds (1/5 carat) Necklace. - A slanted heart orbited by the sparkle of diamonds pendent. Cute and different!

I thought I'd show you a throwback diamond heart necklace. The late stage actress Arlene Francis was a 25 year panelist of the game show, What's My Line. Ms. Francis popularized diamond heart necklaces by wearing hers daily and on the show. It was a gift given to her by her husband, Hollywood actor-producer, Martin Gabel on their one year wedding anniversary in the 1940s. Sadly 40+ years later in 1988, the heart pendent was ripped off her neck by a mugger in Manhattan as she exited a taxi, a heartbreaking loss for her since Martin had died.😢🖤 

Martin Gabel was the son of a Philadelphia jeweler and what a big, gorgeous, diamond heart it was! It's the perfect size for me! 😁 I want one, but alas, who could afford the huge diamond heart pendent in today's dollars!?! Looking, ogling and admiring is free, I always say. So let's stare at it for awhile.😍 First a dreamer, then a realist ... that would be me!

The ruby and diamond heart necklaces I curated above are more affordable ... and go on sale often!♥

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Hello Easter 2020

Photo uploaded by my Canadian friend, Michael Henry

This year's Easter of staying home and social distancing is tough, isn't it? Fortunately it is the first serious disease for many of us that has stopped us in our tracks, a global pandemic with no viccine to protect us (it's at least 18 months away). Unlike earlier generations, we aren't used to enduring fear, suffering, and uncertainty over a long haul. And yet, we know we'll get through this trying time, don't we? Of course, we do. 

"Tomb, thou shall not hold Him longer; 

Death is strong, but Life is stronger;

Stronger than the dark, the light;

Stronger than the wrong, the right;

Faith and Hope triumphant say

Christ will rise on Easter Day."

~ An Easter Carol by Phillips Brooks (who wrote "O Little Town of Bethlehem")

Wash those praying hands often.😊


Stay vigilant and well, my lovelies. Happy Easter Everyone!🌷

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On Easter Sunday we again celebrate hope, optimism and human perseverance. It's been quite a year, but we're still here to forge ahead.

Speaking of which, Notre Dame Cathedral's famous rose window was saved following Monday's fire. And thankfully, much of the iconic stained glass windows, art and relics are safe too! Some of these irreplaceable articles date back to the 13th century.

Let's jump back a little further in time ... do you recognize this man? 

 Photo: TwentyTwoWords.com

If a history buff, you might. He looks more Middle Eastern than how centuries of Western paintings, films and television series depict him.

The Jesus of Nazareth 1977 television movie

I grew up with the image of blue-eyed, hunky actor, Robert Powell as Jesus. (Va-va-room, I believe!🙂) However, theologians who study history say the real Jesus Christ looked more like the first image above. As a Galilean, his skin was dark, his beard (if he had one. Jews in Antiquity often didn't) and hair were coarse and cut short; and it is likely: Jesus was not long and lean, but shorter in stature. Does it matter to believers that the real Christ looked so different than how we in the West were conditioned to see him?

Enjoy this lovely holiday with family and friends. It's Passover weekend also for those who celebrate. A weekend to relax and spend in a positive way ... Muslim, Jew, Christian, or something else. Let's put Christ back into Christians and commit to treating everybody with love and respect. Strive for fairness and humanity for all. I'm pretty sure, we'll fall short sometimes, but we will hit the mark often if always striving!!!

On this Easter Sunday eat the chocolate!🍬

Happy Easter!

 - The Chi Rho is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" = Christ.

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Here's hoping you enjoy time with family and friends over a festive meal. Hours of catching up. Much laughter. A little reflection. Some sweets. And, a bit of rest and relaxation. 

On the holiest day of the Christan calender, thankfully, it remains a low-key holiday. No gifts to exchange and no commercialization. A quiet, yet meaningful holiday of eternal hope.

  

Easter celebrates perseverance over adversity, which is something all human beings have in common. Whether or not your faith celebrates Easter Sunday, let's all plan to enjoy the day ... and eat a piece of chocolate in solidarity! Happy spring, a joyous Passover to readers who celebrate and ...

Happy Easter Everyone!🌷

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Easter is this Sunday ... and not a moment too soon. Old Man Winter begone! On the Western Hemisphere, it's symbolic how Easter arrives as spring begins. In the west, we have persevered through another cold, harsh winter when nothing grows, and now can look forward to sunny days as a new cycle of life begins.

Christianity recognizes that not all is right in the world. Both good and evil exist. There is much suffering and injustice on earth. In fact, history is a solemn record of hard times marked by hunger, disease, death, natural disasters and political unrest, etc. But Easter reminds us to look at the big picture. Find the light at the end of the tunnel. With perseverance, good can ... and will overcome evil.

Explaining why evil exists is difficult, and yet without strife, there is often no growth. I have heard it said, we learn as much from our hardships and failures as we do from our successes. Easter reminds us to look on the bright side of life! Be positive. Have hope. Opt to do good. Keep striving, and never give up! 

A Happy Easter! Likewise, a Blessed Passover. 🌷🌻🌺

River Jordan 

The Secret Sisters

'Go to the river Jordan', said the prophet to the king

'Wash in that murky water seven times and you'll be clean'

Yeah, that deep rollin' river's gonna make you new and whole

And the faith acquired of you will save your soul

Let's go down to the river, raise our voices in prayer

And get ourselves a snow white robe to wear

Take away the earthly stains, remove each and every one

In the name of the Father and the Son

Jesus said to John the Baptist, bury me in that cold grave

Made of Jordan's icy water, I will show you all the way

And a light came down from Heaven saying this is My Own Son

And I sure am please with what has just been done

Let's go down to the river, raise our voices in prayer

And get ourselves a snow white robe to wear

Take away the earthly stains, remove each and every one

In the name of the Father and the Son

I'm looking for the river Jordan, that old life giving stream
Within its waves of mercy sweet forgiveness ever teamed
I'm a weary broken soul living in a house of clay
And that river's gonna wash my sins away

Let's go down to the river, raise our voices in prayer

And get ourselves a snow white robe to wear

Take away the earthly stains, remove each and every one

In the name of the Father and the Son ... Bury me, river Jordan

Songwriters: Laura Elizabeth Rogers / Lydia Lane Rogers
River Jordan lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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