Category Archives: Five Minute Friday

Own ~ Five Minute Friday

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

A Good Friday Poem:
The Cross is Ours to Own

The day is gray and gloomy, yet
Somehow it feels just right
To sit in contemplation
Of the day they killed The Light

A day darker than all the rest
But still we call it Good
Because Jesus died for us
As only a Savior would

We often want to forget that part
It is so hard to realize
Not Him but we should have hung there
For all to mock and despise

Truth is nailed there before us
The sin is ours alone
We may often try to deny it
But the cross is ours to own

Each crack of the whip
Torn flesh from the crown
Every strike of the hammer
His blood dripping down

The pain He endured
Swords thrust in His side
The anguish and despair
As His world did divide

We should be the ones
Who died on that tree
But “It is finished,” He said
Now from sin we are set free

A plan from the very beginning
His love on a cross of wood
A day where transgression passed away
And today we DO see it is Good

To read how other writers made “Own” their own, click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

Break ~ Five Minute Friday

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“And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.” 1 Corinthians 10:17 (NLT)

Breaking the Bread

I got the job by default. In other words, no one else was able or willing to do it and so, I am now the Communion Steward at our church. That means I’m responsible for preparing the table and being sure the bread and juice are ready to be offered to all who wish to partake. I’m going to be honest, I’ve whined a bit about this task. It’s not that it’s difficult or time consuming really, but it does interrupt my normal Sunday routine on those days I must get it ready. (What that really means is I can’t sit in my chair, dressed in pjs, listening to praise music, and drinking coffee for as long as I do on other Sundays….I know, poor me.)

It was while listening to that praise music one afternoon that my attitude began to shift. The words of a song made goose bumps appear as they carried me back to the moment when Jesus took bread in His hands to break it for the disciples.

“He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
Luke 22:19 (NLT)

Those lyrics literally made me weep as I was reminded what sacred work I’ve been given each time I ready with my hands, the bread of remembrance, as Jesus did with His so long ago. Hands that He knew would soon be pierced.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
John 6:51 (NLT)

Learning from my lesson in the music, as Maundy Thursday draws near, let’s prepare the table of our hearts and open our hands to partake of what Jesus offers.

What if we allow Good Friday to carry us to the foot of the cross where blood from Jesus’ hands has fallen and recognize that He is the bread, broken for us? Goose bumps may appear. Tears may fall.

And on Easter Sunday, let’s be found rejoicing that HE IS ALIVE and celebrating that the routine of “normal life” has been interrupted! Thanking God, we can now eat of the Living Bread offered for us, be willing in the sacred work He’s gifted us with, and raise our hands in a new attitude of praise.  As He instructed His disciples back then and instructs us today, from now until eternity, let us do it all in remembrance of Him.

“In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God’s own will is done

Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is My body
And precious blood shed for you
Shed for YOU”
(emphasis mine)
In Remembrance of Me by Cheri Keaggy

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Story ~ Five Minute Friday

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“When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb.”
Battle Belongs by Phil Whickham **Spectacular carving is done by Paul Weaver on display at Lehman’s Hardware. If you ever get a chance to see his display, do! It is AMAZING!

Happy Ending

I’m a happy ending kinda gal. Books and movies without one just aren’t for me. I want the underdog to prevail, problem to be resolved, dream to be realized, sickness to be cured, and love to never end. But guess what? That’s what I wish MY life were like too! But alas, as we all know, real life doesn’t always have a happy ending.  The plot of our lives often includes loss, unsurmountable challenges, failure, death, and broken relationships. Hardly the feel-good scenario I desire.

I know that like me, you can recount chapters in your life where the result was not as hoped or prayed for. They’re the ones we often don’t want to “reread.” I’ve been struggling for a while with a couple in my life that ended anything but happily. To be honest, I’ve been wondering why the Author would have written them this way. 

Then, as often happens, the plot thickens….

Sitting in church yesterday the Pastor began reading her chosen scripture: John 9:1-41. It was verse 3 that caught my attention. The disciples were questioning Jesus about a tragedy, an unhappy ending in a young man’s life. They wanted to know why he’d been born blind. It’s the kind of question I’ve been asking myself. Maybe you’ve wondered something similar too. They had their own theories but here is what Jesus said:

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.” John 9:3 (NLT)

“So the power of God could be seen.” As these words sunk in, I realized how that changed the young man’s challenging story. Then it hit me, how does MY story change if instead of saying those unhappy, disappointing, devastating endings “just aren’t for me,” I delve into those chapters to discover how God’s power was displayed in each of them? That’s just what I’ve been doing since then and while I didn’t realize it at the time, God’s might is written throughout it all.  It feels as if I can proclaim along with the man God healed, “But this I know, I was blind, and now I can see!” (vs. 9:25) 

There’s no doubt that our life stories will take twists and turns we wish it didn’t and we may  struggle to get through chapter after chapter, but, when we focus on the fact that the circumstances we find ourselves in can be used to show the world the power of God through us, it can change our outlook and the outcome completely. Yep, I DO love a happy ending! Don’t you?

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12 (NLT)

“Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hand the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open My Eyes by Clara H. Scott

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Saver~Day 24~Write 28 Day Challenge~+ #FMF Assume

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Day 24: Saver + #FMF Assume
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
http://www.anitaojeda.com

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

Saver of Treasure

“I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
~I’d Rather Have Jesus~

I’m a saver. Not so much of “stuff,” but rather of memories…cards, letters, photographs, drawings, newspaper articles…you get the idea. Somewhere along the way, I began tucking my most precious keepsakes into my Bible to preserve them. It seemed like a great place at first. But as time passed, it became so full of treasures that it was impossible to effectively use my Bible anymore. So instead of opening it regularly to study, there it sat, stuffed full, closed on the table. Those cherished bits and pieces slid between the pages of God’s Word now assumed a more important place than, well, God’s Word. 

Isn’t that what can happen in life too? We are savers of what’s important to us…money, status, followers, our appearance, our homes, our skills…or a multitude of other things. We fill our days protecting these things until we become so crammed full of the world, that our hearts are closed off to what’s really important. We’ve placed so much between ourselves and our relationship with God, that we’ve allowed those things to assume a more influential role in our lives than, well, God.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

So, where is my heart? Where’s yours? Clinging tightly to the past? Working hard at all cost? Desiring more money, attention, or possessions? Obsessed with coming in first, keeping up with others, or always being right? Jesus tells us in the verses above that these worldly “treasures” are temporary, here today and gone tomorrow. Filling all the spaces of our lives with them just leaves our hearts ineffective and closed off just like my Bible sitting on a table.

I am glad to say that I finally decided to stop stuffing my treasures into that Bible. I put it away and got a new one so that now, I can be a saver of the wealth of God’s Word. The good news is we can do the same with our hearts.

“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3: 1-4 (NIV)

When we decide that we’d rather have Jesus and an eternity with Him in glory, all that we’ve been clinging to, the moth chewed, varmint destroyed, thief stolen things the world affords today don’t seem nearly so valuable, and our hearts? They can now assume the most incomparable position of all, “hidden with Christ in God.” Now that’s the perfect place for our treasure!

Fascinating~Day 3~Write 28 Day Challenge

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Day 3: Fascinating
Singing My Way Through Write 28 Days
Five Minute Friday: Ignore

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1 (NLT)

What a Wonderful, Fascinating World

“I see trees of green
Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world”
Louis Armstrong

It’s everywhere we look. If we look. The colors, textures, patterns, and all the intricacies of God’s artistry in nature. It wasn’t until I began learning about photography that I truly started noticing the perfect attention to detail in creation. The more I discover, especially in unexpected places, the more fascinating it becomes to me. I now find myself asking the same question as David did long ago. Why?

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers-the moon and the stars you set in place-what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them.?”
Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)

Who am I, a mere mortal, so far from deserving, that God should think of me by surrounding me with such beauty? Birds adorned in breathtaking feathers, each one amazingly unique. Flowers, delicately awash with more colors than an artist’s palette can hold. The sky, the sea and everything in them. Trees, rocks, all the animals on earth. Even the iridescence of a fly of all things! If we go back to the Psalm, David really answers his own question and mine, he says, “that you should care for them.”

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. The don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”
Matthew 6:25a, 28-30 (NLT)(emphasis mine)

The sun glittering on water, butterfly wings, leaves fluttering against a brilliantly blue sky, a new born lamb, even the inside of an acorn cap of all things! The list is unending because, He’s everywhere we look. If we look. It’s difficult to ignore that we are surrounded by a mosaic of God’s care for us. Each and every piece precisely and expertly crafted as reminders of His great love for you and me. That’s who we are! He planned it this way from the beginning. And it was and is very good. What a wonderful world indeed!

Fake~Five Minute Friday

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“Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

Slow Doesn’t Mean Fake

When I first received this dove planter as a gift, it was full of a variety of live succulents. I loved it! Following all of the directions that came with it, I was determined to do everything right to help those plants grow. I tried my best, I really did. But despite all my effort, they didn’t make it. Every single one shriveled up and died. It’s not how I thought it would be, And now, the only things inside that container are artificial, plastic imitations. They look good, but it’s not the same as having the real thing growing there.

Here’s the truth: Sometimes, when I look at those fake succulents, I see myself….

When I received the gift of salvation, I was full of so many ideas about what it meant to live for Christ and I’ve attempted to follow the direction I’ve received. Believe me, I’ve been determined to do everything right to increase my growth as a Christian. I try my best, but despite all my effort I’m still not where I thought I’d be by now. 

Those of you who’ve read much of what I write know that I share lessons the Holy Spirit has given me to help us as we live a Christian life while in a difficult world. They’ve all been things I’ve needed, yet I haven’t mastered any of them. Behaviors I’ve struggled with for years like worry, clinging to control, rule following, and perfectionism continue to deplete me today. I spend more time playing Wordle and being on my iPad than I do being in the Word. My prayer life at times feels as if it’s literally shriveling up. Oh, I can look good on the outside and even sound good, but feeling like a “plastic imitation” is not who I want to be. I want the “real thing” growing.

“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

Thankfully, this verse reminds me that our growth as Christians doesn’t happen because I try my best or you try your best to follow the directions. We must be rooted in and draw from God, not our own performances. The result of depending solely on our own efforts? Well, I’m afraid it’s a lot like like my succulents, we’re just not going to make it. Maybe you’ve been realizing the same thing

The life cycle of a Christian is much like that of a plant. When we are in the fertile ground of the Gardner, with attention, care, the Son, and being watered with the Word we thrive and grow. BUT, like in nature, it doesn’t happen overnight.  Progress takes time. Accepting this helps me, and maybe you too, understand that slow doesn’t mean fake.

Here’s THE Truth: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Growing is gradual and takes hard work. Yes, we may wilt at times, have to endure the elements, and our progress may often feel stunted. But, God the Sower won’t give up! He will continue working in us, around us, and for us until we finally see ourselves for real, as the one He’s always cultivated us to be.

Click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com if you’d like to read more offerings about “Fake.”

Doubt ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 (NLT)

Show Tribute

Have you ever been to a tribute show? You know, one where an artist’s life’s work is to portray someone who is well-known? I recently attended one and I must say, it was an intriguing experience. 

While I knew without a doubt that John Denver wasn’t in my presence, at times it sure seemed as if he was. The man on stage looked like him, acted like him, and sounded just like him. I could almost imagine that John Denver was standing right in front of me, singing songs I could remember every word of. Watching and listening to Ted Vigil was a reminder of all I knew and loved about John Denver and his music. And since then, I’ve wanted to hear more, enjoying it now like I was hearing it for the first time.

Did you know that as Christians we are to show tribute with our lives too? 

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a live filled with love, following the example of Christ.”
Ephesians 5:1-2a (NLT)

“Imitate God.” “Follow the example of Christ.” You and I should make it our life’s work to portray Him to the world. 

We should look like Him:

“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new self, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 2:21-24 (NLT)

We should act like Him:

“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.”
Titus 2:7 (NLT)

And we should sound just like Him:

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Is it easy? We know the answer to that question, but we can’t give up. As with any life’s work, portraying Christ takes dedication, practice, and lots of prayer, but as they say, “The world’s a stage and the show must go on.” So, we step out into the Light, living so that whether sitting in the front row or all the way in the back, those watching can almost imagine Jesus standing right in front of them, a reminder that they are known and loved. And then maybe, they’ll even want to hear more. 

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.”
Psalm 40:3 (NLT)

I have no “doubt” you’ll find great writing over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com where others offer their take on the prompt.

Receive ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above,” James 1:17a

Perfect Gifts

Making a Christmas wish-list was always exciting when I was a child. I remember thumbing page by page through the Sears Toy Catalog and circling item after item I wanted and hoped to find under the tree. 

That long list of wants has grown noticeably shorter the older I get. In fact, this year I was hard pressed to think of anything I needed. That didn’t stop my family from giving generously, though. I recently posted about the wonderful, unexpected present they gave me (a Bird Buddy) which I not only enjoy immensely, but more importantly, it’s a gift that shows they know and love me well.

It is for those very same reasons that these days, I really look forward most to opening the special treats my young grandsons pick out and wrap up on their own just for me. They’ve chosen things for my love of art, dry MiMi skin, and this year a notebook (because I was a teacher and love to write) and pretty dish towels that have a bicycle with a basket on them that looks just like mine.Yes, being known and loved results in receiving the most perfect gifts. Don’t you agree?

Why is it then, that I sometimes question what I receive from God? He is the One who knows me (us) best and offers gifts with the greatest love; so how can I think they are anything less than perfect?

“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!”
Psalm 139:1-4,6 (NLT)

God knows EVERYTHING about us. He knows us better than we know ourselves, His love is more than we can comprehend, and yet, when those items I have on my prayer-list aren’t delivered in the way I’d hoped, I question God’s choices for me. Maybe you’ve done that, too.

When we’re offered a different job than the one we really wanted, that relationship we long for doesn’t happen, our plans change and take us where we never imagined we would be, or a multitude of other things we’re given in this life, can leave wondering why we’ve received the “white elephant” instead of the “special treat” we’d expected.

Here’s the thing: all the situations listed above are not just gifts, but the most perfect gifts I have received from God. Every teaching job I tried for was a dead end except Circleville School which was NOT on my wish-list. I’d given up on finding “the one” and then met him the first week after moving to rural West Virginia where I’d never considered going. The result? A better life than I could ever imagine. Did I recognize them as perfect gifts in the moment? Definitely not. Do I know now, without a doubt, that I’m known and loved well by the Father? Definitely!  I have to be honest, sometimes I have trouble remembering it. I guess I’m still a work in progress. You too?

The truth is, the long list of wants I’ve had for my life is growing shorter the older I become AND the more I get to know the Giver. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of much I need that He hasn’t already given. Yes, being known and loved truly does result in receiving the most perfect gifts! Don’t you agree?

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

Witness ~ Five Minute Friday

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“We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” Acts 5:32

Witness

One of my very favorite read-aloud Christmas books is Max Lucado’s “The Crippled Lamb.” It’s the story of Joshua who was born with a leg that doesn’t work and he can’t do all the things he wishes he could. A day comes for his flock to move to a new meadow and he is excited. But, the Shepherd comes to Joshua and tells him he must stay behind. Instead of joining the others he is sent to a stable. As you might guess, the little lamb is devastated to find himself somewhere he doesn’t want to be.

 Later in the story, noises in the stable wake a frightened Joshua. He looks around in the dark and is surprised to find that a baby has been born and is laying in his manger.  Yes, this little, disappointed, weak lamb becomes one of the first to witness the miraculous birth of Jesus, the Messiah. Amazing! It gets me every time. There might even be some tears.

You know? This isn’t just a book for Christmas. It’s a story for life. Our lives. We all are “crippled” in some way and it can hold us back from doing all we want to. We make plans only to have them change unexpectedly. And I’ve been devastated to find myself in the midst of something or somewhere I never wanted to be. Maybe you have too. But, like for Joshua, those dark, often scary places. or when we are at our weakest, are exactly where we too can witness God.

Back in the story, Baby Jesus becomes cold, Joshua realizes he can help and curls up beside Him to warm Him with his fleece. The lamb who wasn’t where he thought he’d be, learns he was actually right where the Shepherd had wanted him all along. I don’t know about you, but  when I look back I can see the same thing in my own life. There have been many times when I was not in the place I thought I’d be or wanted to be, but soon discovered was exactly where God knew I needed to be. Sometimes it’s been to help me grow and others to help someone else, both in ways I never thought possible. Amazing! It gets me every time. There might even be tears. Oh, who am I kidding? When witnessing God’s love, for me, there are always tears! 

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”
Luke 2:11(NIV)

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

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Day 29: Lost

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31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes

“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

Day 29: Lost

While I was away caring for my grandsons Covid caught up with me. Thankfully I wasn’t extremely sick but a few days in and something odd happened. After spraying air freshener I couldn’t detect the scent at all. I tried to convince myself that it was my imagination, but when I opened a new can of stinky dog food and didn’t grimace like I normally did, I knew I’d lost my sense of smell. 

Normally I have a keen sense of smell, noticing whiffs of things others don’t. Many aromas illicit happy memories for me, too. But now, I found myself no longer able to perceive the sweet scent of a freshly bathed little one, the warm, homey essence of spices from French Toast on the griddle, or the fresh fragrance of clean laundry.  The thought that the joy from smelling those things I love being lost, for I didn’t know how long, was disheartening. 

The longer I couldn’t smell, the more bland food began to taste and my appetite for it waned. I could no longer detect good from bad refrigerator smells which had the potential for unpleasant side effects. My world lacked the fullness it once had and oh, how I hoped it would return.

It’s always amazing how God uses unusual things in my life to teach me important lessons. Does He do that for you, too? In the midst of all this Covid drama I was reminded that Christ is referred to as an aroma to be experienced.

I don’t know about you, but when I live life distracted in this unhealthy world, it’s more difficult to detect the fragrant offering of Jesus. The longer I’ve lost my sense of Him, the more my desire to feed on the Word wanes, I have a greater difficulty distinguishing good from bad which has the potential for unpleasant repercussions, and I realize that the joy I’d had breathing in His love is missing. My soul is downcast. 

With time my body healed and I was happily able to smell again. Thank goodness the same can be true for our souls. Immersing ourselves in the pleasing aroma of Christ the crucified offers us healing and a life saturated in love. Even more than that, one full of hope for His return.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)

Breathe in. Take joy in the presence of His sweet fragrance. Celebrate that what was lost (us) has been restored!