As Promised...

Standing tall and proud, the nation's guardian...Le Lion des Flandres (Flemish Lion).

Monument to King Leopold 1, Laeken.

Located in the Royal Gardens, this magnificent example of Gothic architecture is credited to Louis de Curte (known also for the St Michael and Gudula Cathedral in Brussels), recognized at the International Exhibition of 1876 for his excellent designs and command of elaborate and faithful details.

A mere 7 km from Brussels, Spring is showing all its colours in the 14 hectares gardens of Groot Bijgarden. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and roses abound here for visitors to admire late April and early May.

First edified in the 12th Century, the newer 17th Century Flemish Renaissance Castle of Groot Bijgarden is not opened to visitors but with such beautiful gardens none the less a must seen if you happened to be in the vicinity. 

Trees are only showing their buds but the flora is well evident in the park.

I have to laugh...I did not want to sound like a tourist yet I do! 

Tomorrow I would like to share my visit to a beautiful grotto in Brussels and perhaps introduce you to a lovely farmhouse close to Verdun the next time?!

See you then,

The Perfect Quote...

My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness.

(Michelangelo)

So what happened to me the last couple of weeks since my last posting? 

Let's just say that after traveling abroad yet again the last 6 weeks I had the opportunity to see beautiful sights and meet some incredible people!
How blessed we are to belong to such a variety of nations and yet revere one God, no matter our faith...

I'll be posting some photos in the next few days (not much of the tourist kind though, sorry) and I hope to see you!

Never To Be Forgotten...

Today is Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Memorial Day 

Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Holocaust Day, is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews and five million others who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories, and for the Jewish resistance in that period.
The Germans and their collaborators killed as many as 1.5 million children, including over a million Jewish children and tens of thousands of Romani children, German children with physical and mental disabilities living in institutions, Polish children, and children residing in the occupied Soviet Union.

Like many I remind myself how little the world has learned from this tragic period!

I like to remember those little ones, those innocents whose lives were snuffed like mere candles extinguished simply because their physical aspect, family origins and/or faith were different...
I only have to listen to the news to know we have much to learn from the present and the past if we are ever to have a future!

(Photo source Google - Anne Frank)

Note: Additional information can be seen (HERE)

They should never be forgotten...

Rejoice: He Is Risen...

(Photo Source HERE)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36).

Rejoice! He is risen!

Good Friday

A message of Love between a Father and His son:

O my Father, can You hear me call?

I need Your light, there’s darkness over all.

I ache to hear Your voice but remain here all alone

Father, when will I begin my journey home?

O my Son, I know You cannot hear.

But I am coming, behold I am very near.

Hold to my words until You hear the trumpet call,

Then You my Son will rise the victor of all!

(Source:  “The Descent - Arise” by Christian Stephens)

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples prior to the celebration. By performing this lowly act of service, the Bible says in John 13:1 that Jesus "showed them the full extent of his love.
By His example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service.

During the Passover meal, Jesus took bread and wine and asked His Father to bless it. He broke the bread into pieces, giving it to His disciples and said, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Then he took the cup of wine, shared it with his disciples and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you with the blood I will pour out for you." 
These events recorded in Luke 22:19-20 describes the Last Supper, the biblical basis for the practice of Holy Communion.

In the United Kingdom H.M. Elizabeth II takes part in the Ceremony of the Royal Maundy, which dates back to Edward 1. This involves the distribution of Maundy Money to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age), usually chosen for having done service to their community. They receive ceremonial red and white purses which contain coins made especially for the occasion. The white purse contains one coin for each year of the monarch's reign. The red purse contains money in place of other gifts that used to be given to the poor. 

Source: The Royal Mint 

To Believe Like A Small Child Again...

(Photo source Kristy Wiggleworth/AP Photo)

A beautiful photo, a child's innocence, the whole world in front of her...

One thing though...Not everything is as it seems...It appears this butterfly is facing us, the child is just behind (a glass plate?Both photos are superimposed?) and it is therefore unlikely the butterfly landed on her nose...

Still, both are God's work! To believe like a small child again...