For Evie

 

Joshua heard that you were trying to catch a frog yesterday and he wanted you to see the one he caught. He would love to look under rocks with you and go on a bug hunt. We can't wait to see you!

 

Here is the frog on Joshua's head. He liked it up there.

Goodbye belly-button breath! (That's not nice!!!)

Meaningless, Meaningless

I was driving down the road today with the sunroof open, listening to Brad Paisley, popping chocolate-covered almonds, thinking that my long-standing favorite season (fall) was getting a good run for it's money with all these splashes of spring green, when I thought to myself, "Why do guys always refer to each other by their last names?". Niether I, nor any of my girlfriends do that.

Solomon forgot that one, didn't he?

A Day of Earth

 

What a happy coincidence that our little beginner produce garden was completed today, Earth Day! We have been talking about how to enjoy our corner of the world while also taking care of it. We're learning how to make our own compost, what flowers to plant for a natural insect-repellant, and we've planted fruits and veggies that we love to eat! This particular garden method is called square-foot-gardening but it could also be titled, "Gardening For Dummies". Just my style. Check back with me in a couple of months to see if we have a harvest!

And can you believe this was part of our memory verse today?

"The depth of the earth are in His hand, and the mountain peaks are His. The sea is His; He made it. His hands formed the dry land." Psalm 95:4&5

Praise be to the Creator of this wonderful planet that we call Earth.

Happy Birthday, Becky!

 

A Rich & Thoughtful Poem For You

You've been my sister for almost 13 years,
My friend for almost as many.
My neighbor for a year,
And still, you've never called me 'Jenny'

Shannon and I enjoyed lunch with you the other day -- let's do it again soon!
Love, Me

Glorious Day

How long have I been a follower of Jesus? I don't know but it's been a long time. Have you ever been around an older person that wants to tell you the same story all the time? Out of respect, you smile and pretend you haven't heard this one before but you're tempted to be a little impatient about it? I can't explain this but every year, on Easter morning, I hear the same story -- and it means more to me every time. The ending makes me want to jump up and cheer like I've never heard it before! It's the story of how a perfect, holy God loved a flawed and hopeless world. As I type this next sentence I'm tearing up again (boy does this underscore what I'm trying to say). God's remedy for our brokenness was to essentially say, "Pick Me". He volunteered Himself to take every beating for every single wrong mankind has ever and will ever commit. I'm not too proud to admit that I have participated in some of those wrongs. I've never been bent on doing evil but I do, without a split second of thought, know that I need Jesus! He became my Savior a long time ago and continues to save me every day. That story is personal to me.

Because Greg's Dad is a Pastor and they live fairly close, we went to their church Sunday. It was such a sweet service. The message was given better than I think I've ever heard it. The whole family gathered at their house afterward.

 

My two nieces were too delicious! Oh, was Joshua proud to be hangin' with such cuties! Olivia has a word now - it's 'Josh'.

 

It was rainy and cold so we did an inside egg hunt. I dropped the ball on remembering a basket but Grandma had one! A PINK ONE!!

 

And, for the big meal, I, Pedro, built a cake - from scratch! First time, ever. Isn't that sad?

 

Happy Easter -- every day!

Camping Part II

Camping part two involved nothing of camping whatsoever! We just headed 10 minutes down the road to our favorite getaway place -- Big Cedar Lodge. It was perfect spring weather which is great for us because we love to walk everywhere we go, exploring the expansive grounds. It earns you all the treats you don't normally eat at home but are totally a part of being on vacation!

Looks like we got all our luggage.

 

My little lovey!

 

More lessons on skipping rocks.

 

An unbeatable Ozark sunset.

 

Camping Part I

We enjoyed a chance to get away this last weekend. It began by "camping" with Greg's parents and brother. We use the word camping loosely because the trailer they have is anything but having to rough it. The camping terminology is more in the fact that we are in the middle of nature, by the lake, and do cook our meat over open fire. Also, there's a lot of this:

 

You wouldn't know that these three have highly stressful jobs. Or maybe you would by the fact that, once given the opportunity to sit and not think, they don't really move from these positions - like turtles sunning on a rock. It's the best kind of therapy! What they were watching at this particular moment was a curious little kid....

 

....collecting these things.

 

Poor salamander. There was also a very large snake that, unfortunately, did not make the approved list of keepers.

The dogwoods and redbuds were in full bloom and the water was clean and blue. It was a perfect beginning to a really restful weekend!

Reading-challenged

I had to go to the bookstore yesterday to order a gardening book I needed. While typing up my order, the guy behind the counter asked, "So what do you read for fun?" I had a moment of panic, honestly wishing I could answer something like "The works of Walt Whitman" or "The Love Revolution". Even a self-help book would have preserved my pride. I held my head high, though, and answered truthfully, "Southern Living Magazine". I think when I'm done with this garden I need to start reading again....any suggestions?

Greg and I do like to read magazines together. It's great entertainment just to look at each others' article titles. He laughed when he saw mine the other night: "NO FUSS ALLOWED! Pull on your dark denim and slip into your favorite heels for fresh food and fun with the girls." Now alright girls, admit it, you were shaking your head at my lack of intellectuality at the bookstore but you're really wanting to read that article, aren't you? Well, come on over sometime. I'll put on my heels, make us some chicken caesar salad bites, and we'll talk about how much we love Jane Austen....