He Is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

 

 

We sang this song at church today - it's one of my favorites. (Blessing #1132) Even though we face many trials in this world, we can take our eyes and lift them up. Up to heaven, where we will one day be with Jesus for all of eternity. (#1133) It's sometimes easy to get caught up in the hard things we face, but we can readjust our focus on what really matters - Eternity - and then the things that seemed so big, all of a sudden become very small. (#1134) The best is yet to come (#1135), and I look forward to the day when God restores everything back to the way it was meant to be.

No more tears, no more shame.

No more sin and sorrow ever known again.

No more fears, no more pain.

We will see you face to face. See you face to face.

And we will worship. Worship.

Forever in your presence we will sing.

We will worship, worship you.

An endless Hallelujah to the King.

An endless Hallelujah to the King.

 

Beau Joins Our Family

After Rollie died in December, we knew that it would take some time for our family to move forward and add a new dog to our family. It was a hard wait for Jillian, but the day finally arrived. (Blessing #1128) We really wanted to adopt a dog from a shelter, and after speaking to the gals at Heartland Pet Connection in Hastings, we knew we found the right place. (#1129)

We were really impressed with how they work with their pets, teaching them skills, helping them overcome adversities, and prepare them for a successful transition into their new families. And this is where we found Beau. (#1130). He's a year-and-a-half, beautiful yellow Lab. He's a bit shy, but just in the time we spent with him at the shelter, he's already developing an attachment to us . . . especially Jenica.

His favorite place to lay down is a small little corner of the living room, between Chad's lazy-boy and the couch. It must feel "safe" to him right now.

He had a big day yesterday as he was introduced to life outside the shelter. And he's gettin' lots of love in his new forever family. (#1131)

Soccer and Singing

It's spring! But the weather sure hasn't felt very spring-like lately. Tuesday, the sun was shining (blessing #1121), but the cold wind kept us wrapped in blankets during Jenica's first JV soccer game of the season. "Bundle up, snuggle-cup", as Jillian would say.  She likes to make up silly rhymes. (#1122)

Because Jenica's game and Jillian's spring concert were scheduled for the same night, about 30 minutes apart, I was only able to see half of the JV game before it was time to get Jillian over to The Tassel for her Spring Music Porgram. Chad was coaching the boys team on the adjacent field and was able to switch fields for a while so he could watch Jenica play her first half. I'm grateful it was a home game, and that Chad and I were both able to see part of her first game. (#1123)

Mrs. Butler always does a great job with her kiddos, and we could tell they were having fun. (#1124) Jillian's favorite song (and mine too) was the one called "Fireflies". Each of the 2nd graders had flashlights that they flashed on and off while singing when they dimmed the lights. It looked like fireflies were fluttering around on stage. Too cute!

After the program, Jillian searched and searched and proudly showed us her 4 pieces of artwork, which were on display in the foyer. (#1125)

Jenica's game ended just in time for her to walk across and catch Jillian's portion of the program. (#1126) The bad news of the day was that my nephew Xander (also a 2nd grader) got sick earlier in the day and missed the program. Things like that can't be avoided, but it sure creates some sad moments for both mamma and child.

As I sat watching the kids and enjoying the program, I happened to notice several of the boys yawning off and on while trying to sing. And those yawns took me back in time about 14 years to when Jacob was a little boy and yawned his way through music programs too. Flashbacks like these are always a welcome gift. (#1127)

Grapefruit Knife

My Pampered Chef grapefruit knife is one of my most favorite kitchen gadgets. (Blessing #1120) And it gets used heavily this time of year, thanks to the fresh grapefruit coming in from Texas.

In my attempts to find a link to the Pampered Chef grapefruit knife on their website, I discovered that it's been discontinued. (Gasp!) What?! Say it isn't so! If you like grapefruit and wish you had an easy way to separate each section easily, you'll want to find a knife like this with the curved end. The one end allows you to separate the fruit from each membrane, and the curved edge allows you to cut away the fruit from the rind. If you find one on eBay or amazon, snatch it up right away!

Broiled Grapefruit

Each year, my parents bring us fresh grapefruit from Texas. Big, juicy, Ruby Red grapefruit. (Blessing #1119). Some times they are so sweet, you don't even need sugar sprinkled on them.

Today, I decided to try something that I saw on Pinterest. Broiled grapefruit. First, I used my handy-dandy Pampered Chef double-sided grapefruit tool, (which upsets me that it's been discontinued) then I sprinkled each side with 1 TB brown sugar and a little cinnamon. Then I broiled them for about 5-6- minutes, until the sugar carmelized. They were really good! But will I make them this way again? Probably not. Plain grapefruit, sprinkled with a little sugar, is still my favorite way to eat a grapefruit.

Thanks for breakfast, mom and dad!

Track.....I think not!

That was my thought back in high school. Why run when you can walk (or ride a bike . . . or drive), and still get there? I had a "jogging" class in 8th grade, which i didn't mind, but we didn't have to jog the whole time....just part of the time. And I eventually got to where I didn't mind jogging. But running? Uhhh, no thank you!

Our kids did track in junior high and pretty much hated it. So when they got into high school, both Jacob and Jenica opted for soccer instead. I haven't told them, but it appears that there is a lot more running in soccer than track.

Today, Jenica brought home her new girls soccer t-shirt, which is always designed by the senior girls. I like it! (No offense if you're someone who enjoys track.)

Different strokes for different folks. I'm thankful we live in a community where several different options exist for the athletes to chose from each season. (Blessing #1118) And I'm glad I don't have to run. I'll let my children do that instead.

St. Patrick's Day Mulligan

Well, I totally dropped the ball yesterday. It was St Patricks Day, and the only thing I did was dress Jillian in a green shirt. It wasn't until I was tucking her in bed last night that she told me that it didn't feel at all like St. Patrick's Day. She was disappointed. I then realized that I evidently rely on her teachers each year to make it feel like a special day, but this year it fell on a Sunday. And I dropped the ball.

That's why today was our mulligan. Our do-over. Praise God for second chances! (Blessing #1114)

Jillian helped me make green cupcakes with green frosting after school (#1115), followed by green pasta (a little food coloring in the boiling water does the trick nicely) with Chicken Alfredo sauce and Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Alfredo sauce. (#1116)

As you can see, she was elated. Our St. Patty's Day Do-Over gave all of us a chance to add a little more green to our diet. (#1117)