Easter Thus Far

I have been thoroughly enjoying this Easter season.  Even the snowstorm I almost secretly enjoyed:)  Keyword being almost.  Anyway, like I said, I've loved celebrating Easter.  On both a spiritual level and just a fun level.  I always enjoy it, but this year seems extra good to me for some reason. 

 

Last weekend was Communion at my church.  We always have it on Palm Sunday.  It was such a special evening, as it always is.  I know that our congregation really loves each other all the time,  but Communion night always seems to be the night when everyone actually tells each other how much they love them.  Love flows, tears flow, and people come away feeling so fulfilled and appreciative.

 

A couple days before Communion I had watched The Passion of the Christ.  I had not seen it since it came out (like, going on 10 years now) and while I know we can't know exactly what happened that day, the movie helps to really reflect on how it might have been.  Perhaps one of the reasons I've loved this year??

 

On the fun side, my nieces came out to decorate eggs the other night.  We had 12 different colors of dye so it really only took us about 20 or 30 minutes to decorate 4 dozen eggs! 

 

 

One thing that I just love about my little hometown is the cross at Easter time.  Thanks to the coal mines back in the day, we have a "mountain" in town.  Mount Jumbo.  At Christmas time the city workers put a lit up star on top of the Jumbo and at Easter they put up a cross.  I love that even in a time when people are trying to snuff out the name of Jesus, the cross still gets put up for all to see.  When I swung by to get a picture of it, I had greater visions of what it might look like on my camera, but I guess I can't be too picky with my little point and shoot:)

 

Happy Easter everyone!!

Rejuvenated!!



Over Christmas break I really wanted to go to Florida but it just didn't happen.  So then I thought I could maybe go over spring break, but decided I should go visit Alabama once again.  At first I was a little disappointed to know I wouldn't be seeing the sandy white beaches anytime soon, but I am SO SO glad I chose Athens.  I went down praying for a rejuvenated spirit that had been a little run down with the stressors of life and my prayer was answered!  As usual, my pictures are pretty sporadic/almost non-existent, but here they are!

 

Sunday was spent with the work team that was in Cullman, fellowshipping, playing volleyball and eating a de-LICIOUS supper.  Actually, it was the ICC/Bradley group and so technically I was a part of the team since I guess I'm technically a part of the ICC young group:)  During a debate over which team got the good side of the v-ball court, the fact that I was the oldest player in the game made us win.  So, they all know I'm older than the rest but I tried to keep it a secret about how much older I actually am;)

 

 

Quick pic with Jessica!

 

 

Saturday, for the first time since I moved 2 1/2 years ago, I got to watch Devin play baseball.  He quit the regular ole little league and is now in a travel ball tournament thing.  He's really good!  I had never actually seen him win a game before but this time they slaughtered the other team, 17-3.  It was really fun to watch him play again. 

 

 

Since I didn't really have a chance to talk to him much on Saturday because he was playing most of the time we were together, I took him out after school on Monday.  At first we were going to get supper but then his mom wanted us to go earlier so we opted for an after school snack at the Nestle Tollhouse store.  I forget that he's getting to the growing boy stage where he can eat like a horse.  When he said he would eat both scoops of ice cream I didn't believe him but he sure had no problem getting every last bite down.  And probably could have done another whole scoop just as easily.

 

He's really growing up and conversation is a lot easier to carry than it used to be.  Sometimes I miss my little long haired buddy that loved sitting in my lap and holding my hand as we walked around the playground.  Well, that is, whenever he wasn't doing something to get in trouble:)  The little guy that, when I first met him I could hardly stand him because he was such a troublemaker!  He's no longer the little boy who sits on the swings and asks me to sing his favorite songs while I push him "really really high".  The daredevil.  The ringleader.  The jokester.  The smart one.  But he's a good kid.  Sometimes I wonder why I keep up with him.  Why do I still do stuff with him when I visit?  Is there really a point?  Does it really make a difference?  I hope so. 

 

 

Anyways.  It was just great to be there for more than a day and a half over a weekend.  Finally some quality time with some people I love down there!  And of course my favorite restaurants that I can't get at home:)  Going was a great decision!

Dr. Suess!

It's Dr. Suess's birthday today!  This is one of my favorite books to read out lout.  And just in case you were wondering (which I'm SURE everyone is) I can almost read it as fast as this guy.  I get mixed up on the Bim and Ben part and the Luke Luck part.  Gotta slow down a little with them.  But other than that... I can let 'er fly;)  But now since pride cometh before the fall, don't ask me to demonstrate because I'll mess up just because I said I could do it!

The Countdown Is On

10....9.....8....7....6.....5....4....3....2....1......

 

Ten days til Spring Break.  This girl is

 

MORE

 

than ready!!

 

Gonna go spend me some quality time in Alabama:)

 

Not quite the Florida trip I've been wanting, but a much needed break nonetheless.  And at least I'll be in a state that borders the ocean??

Unexpected

THE EXPECTED PLAN:

 

Stay home.  Alone.  Eat supper.  Study for several hours.  Watch a movie.  Go to bed.  *YAWN*  Boooorrrrriiiinnnng!!!!!

 

 

 

THE UNEXPECTED EVENTS:

 

Got a text from Cassie asking what I was doing "right now".  Get a little suspicious.  A few minutes later, hear the door open.  Call out her name.  Hear her laugh:)  Huge hug!  Trip to Dairy Queen because I've been craving it for weeks now.  Good times with a great friend.  MUCH better than the expected plan!

 

 

 

PROGRESSION OF PICTURE ATTEMPTS:

 

 

 

Attempt #1: Couldn't keep from laughing.

 

 

 

Attempt #2:  "Let's gaze into each other's eyes" she said.  FAIL!!

 

 

Attempt #3: I said "Okay now let's take a nice one."  Oh that girl.

 

 

Attempt #4:  So then she said "Now let's really take a nice one."  Well, she did at least. 

 

 

Attempt #5:  Between my "it's Friday and I wore sweatpants all day" look and her "worked last night/slept 3 hours/well travelled" look, that's just as good as it's gonna get.

 

Sometimes I love the unexpected!

Puppy Dog Eyes

There is truth to the idea that people give in to puppy dog eyes.  They look at you with their big sad eyes and just BEG you for whatever it is they want.  Our dog?  He comes to the front porch while we're eating, jumps up on a table we have right outside the window and gives his best big sad puppy dog eyes.  He doesn't always get what he wants but there are times that he's rather convincing.....

 

 

Can you say S.P.O.I.L.E.D.???

 

Oh Butch.  What a dog.

*Sigh...*

I had kind of a bum day today.  Nothing major, but I decided to drop my Spanish class.  This semester is so busy with my program classes and starting clinicals, and it made me really sad but I think it's the right choice.  When I say sad I mean I really almost cried when I went to student services to drop it.  It's the last class of the cycle, and I'm afraid I'll never actually get around to finishing it up.  I've had the same teacher the whole way through and really like her, and she likes me a lot too.  That's one of my biggest reasons for feeling sad is I feel like I'm letting her down.  She didn't want me to drop it but understood why I needed to.  I know I could have done it, but I would not have been able to do it well.  And that was important to me.  Also, by taking the time needed to do it well, I take away much needed time for my classes, and right now I know I need to focus on those. 

I feel a little dumb about how bummed out I am about it.  I keep thinking it's just a class!  But I'm actually mourning a little:)  Granted, the mourning will not last long and it's nothing that keeps me so distracted that I can't focus on anything else, but it's there.

So anyway- really boring day here in blog land but this allows me to process a little:)