Spring

OOOOOOOH! It's a crocus! yea!
Look! Some more peeking out!
And here is the guy responsible for it all - working alongside God to make it all happen!

Senseless

We in IC are reeling over the Sueppel tragedy. thinking. trying to make sense of it. We won't be able to do that. more connections keep popping up. There were so many of them and they did so much in this community that it's bound to happen. Now I realize Sheryl worked for the 4 C's Education. They sponsor the continuing education programs and the conferences we attend twice a year to fulfill our contract hours for extended ed. Did that sentence make sense? So much does not make sense these days! I am trying not to consume my mind with it, but it keeps going anyway. I cannot imagine the grief their families are going through. . . their pain will not go away anytime soon. I can only try to imagine the many cries that are going up to heaven . . . the prayers that are being sent up . . . . the screams of grief all being heard by God at once. How can He contain it all? Steve has gotten himself lots of attention, but I think about that little 3 year old preschool face who was not here on earth very long at all . . . will they remember her long? If we can only forget the beating she took and see her dancing around and laughing with Jesus . . . . . .

Why "I'm Free"

He's alive! He defeated death and so will we someday. Amazing, isn't it?
This is a very old picture that belonged to my grandma Frances Quint. She died when I was 12 and this is the only thing (a wonderful thing) I have to remember her by.
Here is the cake I made for Sunday's dessert. What began as the tomb opening up and Jesus resurrecting became a mess, so I turned it upside down and wa-la, it looked more like a rabbit, so, here a rabbit it is! (just kidding, I hope God has a sense of humor). Anyway, I used a Skittle for the mouth, half a chocolate egg for the nose, raw spaghetti for the whiskers - which for some reason grossed out some of the kids, yet they asked where it was after I took it off and threw it away, I think they really wanted to chomp on it. I still had some Valentine hearts for the eyes! Contrary to what Sam thought, the ears are not bacon strips! Just pink frosting. All in all, I think it was a hit for the audience I was targeting!!!

He did this . . . . .

Want to know the coolest thing about the coming? Not that the One who played marbles with the stars gave it up to play marbles with marbles. Or that the One who hung the galaxies gave it up to hang doorjambs to the displeasure of a cranky client who wants everything yesterday but can't pay for anything until tomorrow. Not that he, in an instant, went from needing nothing to needing air, food, a tub of hot water and salts for his tired feet, and more than anything, needing somebody --anybody--who was more concerned about where they would spend eternity than where they would spend Friday's paycheck. Or that he resisted the urge to fry the two-bit, self-appointed hall monitors of holiness who dared suggest that he was doing the work of the devil. Not that he kept his cool while the dozen best friends he never had felt the heat and got out of the kitchen. Or that he gave no command to the angels who begged, "Just give the nod, Lord, One word and these demons will be deviled eggs." Not that he refused to defend himself when blamed for every sin of every slut and sailor since Adam. Or that he stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven, and the giver of light was left in the chill of a sinner's night. Not even that after three days in a dark hole he stepped into the Easter sunrise with a smile and a swagger and a question for lowly Lucifer, "Is that your best punch?" That was cool, incredibly cool. But want to know the coolest thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Just for you. -Max Lucado

My Designer Jewelry!

This is the necklace Noah made me. I wore it Sunday and boy, did it make him smile! It is the style of a "free spirit" which describes the maker and the wearer both! I love it!
This is the necklace Jackson made for me. I wore it today and got lots of compliments. I love it!

I love THEM!

Art for my birthday

Here is a very nice birthday present I received from Will. I love it!

My girls will like this one!

Per Laura's blog of March 5 - 58 reasons she loves me - # 38 - is an example of how Laura exaggerates sometimes! This ointment is from '86 . . . . but I will cut her some slack because I cleaned all the "OLD" stuff out of the cabinet last summer and didn't tell her about it!!!!!!!!!! And look, I've still got 2 refills left!

A Birthday Blog

These beautiful flowers were delivered to my door at the same time I was talking with Emily on the phone. And they were from her!!! They sure brighten up a cloudy gray snow flurry-ing day! Thanks again, Em! I love you.
And this is the card I got from Gary and Melinda. Here's the front:
And here's the inside:
I whole heartedly agree with him. In his note, he says "Whoa, Nellie! Sure hope I don't have to move to Canada!" Me, too. What the heck is happening, anyway??? Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and take us out of here! How much bigger of a mess do we have to get into??? Sorry for going political on my birthday, but I'm old now and it IS my birthday, so I can if I want to. I guess.

Grandma and Lily

Photo #1 - we are still looking around trying to figure out what to do next and FLASH, that was it. #2 we are doing a nice smiley thing #3 weird smiley thing #4 we were going to do a silly face thing, but as the machine counted down 4,3,2, I realize Lily's not going to do it, so I try quickly to smile instead. It turned out pretty good though. Lily has her copy of these, which is probably still in her tight little hands now! She knew she has something very special! We did all this after lunch at the mall while Laura shot pics of Noah ice skating. We had fun, huh, Lily?!!!

Injury

I tried to warn Don about the dangerous 3-ring binder, but he bravely stood his ground as the forklift approached. dang blasted!!!

We're # 1

A big shout out to our City High Little Hawks!! Girls basketball State champions! whooo hoooo!!!!!!!!! It was a huge "touchdown pass" way down court to the freshman Johnson who put in the winning bucket with a fraction of a second left on the clock! It was a thing of beauty! What a game, I'm exhausted and off to bed.