Happy Birthday Kristen! We Miss You!

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter! It was a lovely Easter with our family! At least a portion of us were able to gather together here in Fayetteville. We sloshed our way to early church to beat the crowds. I had to smile at the lady who's rain boots went perfectly with her Easter dress. She was prepared! We gorged ourselves on a yummy Easter dinner of Prime rib, hash brown casserole, asparagus, fruit, deviled eggs and rolls. My beautiful coconut pie was not as pretty on the inside. It ended up looking like coconut soup. (I subbed gluten free flour for the regular flour and didn't add in any xanthum gum. Oops!) I'll be scooping out the middle to pour over some fruit for a luscious treat. At least my chocolate bunny cake was as tasty as it looked.

Favorite Frozen Treat!

I'm already in anticipation of summer. I've been looking online to plan a summer trip to D.C. to see my niece. (More on that in a later post.) I've already had a few days that were warm enough for me to swim in the pool. All indications that summer is coming!

Since I've got summer on the mind, I thought I'd share with you my favorite summer treat. I have to be careful when I buy them because I could eat all of them in one sitting. Edy's Fruit Bars. My new favorite flavor is the lemonade. Very close behind is the lime. I am totally addicted. They are sweet, tart, ice cold deliciousness. Crazy as it seems, as I get older, I am beginning to prefer fruit treats instead of chocolate. GASP! I said it. I never thought the day would come. Look for them in your grocers freezer. Flavors include: Acai Blueberry, Creamy Coconut, Grape, Lemonade, Lime, Peach, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Strawberry and Tangerine. Yum!

Alone Time

My boys are off camping this weekend and I've been enjoying my alone time. I'm alone during the weekdays but it's just not the same as having a weekend to yourself. My plan has been to catch a bunch of redbox movies and piddle around with moving furniture. I stayed up late Friday watching a movie. Consequently I slept in Saturday morning. It's easier for me to get into a project on these 'free' weekends. No one is asking what's for lunch or supper. No one is disturbed when I run the vacuum at 10 o'clock at night. I enjoy these breaks but I'll be glad to see my boy scouts back home tomorrow. They are so sweet, they come back with a mess of dirty clothes to be washed and sleeping bags to be aired out. Sigh!

It's always a shock.

I can't tell you how many times I'll be just driving along and it hits me. Kristen is GONE! It's like someone punched me. I feel shocked. How can this be. I will be just going along with my day and the surprise of losing her will hit me. It really sucks. It's like the sharp cut of a knife. It doesn't go away. The pain hasn't lessened. This is just our life. I think the quick sharp pain hits me so hard because it will come out of the blue. I really hate that. It's like my mind must constantly remind me not to get to comfortable. You never know when life will change. It frustrates me to have no control.

God please help me to remember that you are in control. You know the number of our days. You are there for me in those moments that hit me out of the blue. You are there for me to lean on. You provide comfort and your word tells me that this life is only temporary. Soon we will be together again with you in Heaven. Amen

Book Report

I've been meaning to tell you that you should definitely read The Centurion's Wife by Janette Oke and Davis Bunn.

I read it a week or so ago and loved it. It is especially appropriate to read during Lent. It is a fictitious look at the crucifixion of Christ from the Roman perspective. The central characters are Leah a servant in Pilate's household and Alban, a Centurion. Leah is of mixed heritage, having a Jewish grandmother, and is servant to Pilate's wife. Alban is the centurion from Luke 7:1-7. I think this is a wonderful tie in by the authors. Under the authority of others they are both asked to inquire into Jesus death on the cross and his disappearance from the tomb (resurrection). As the story unfolds Leah and Alban find more than the simple answers that they sought.

What I enjoyed about this book is another look at a story most of us find so familiar. A look behind the scenes at the reactions of Jesus' followers and the non-believers. I was fortunate enough to download this book free to my Kindle. The Centurion's Wife is the first of the Acts of Faith series by Oke and Bunn. Book two is The Hidden Flame. I encourage you to give them a try.

In All Seriousness

We're moving!





To Japan.




We will be solving the Nuclear Crisis.




I will be feeding the homeless.



APRIL FOOL'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Don't you just love the quote of the day. So true, so true!

Did you know that Kristen loved April Fool's Day? I think that a) she just loved the fact that it was April and her birthday was just a little over 3 weeks away, b) she just loved a good practical joke. One year I got Abesol(sp?) on my toothbrush. Even when I rinsed it off I still had a little of the numbing effect. Even when it wasn't April Fool's Day she would tap you on the shoulder just to make you look behind you. She'd also jump out at me and scare me. This became easier as I got older and didn't hear so well. I'm pretty easy to scare.

The sun is out and Devin left me with an outdoor task! Yea! Sunshine!!!!!!!! I think after I'm done I will grab my camera and head out on a walk. I've seen some of the best tulips blooming lately. I'm also anxiously awaiting peonies and lilacs! Both of those make me think of Peabody. Lilacs are Grandpa Lackey's house and the wonderful smell of his giant lilac bushes. I have visions of the shady porch and his porch swing. Peonies make me think of Mom's back yard and then Grandma Knust. Mom transplanted the peonies from the yard where Grandma lived at one time. (Don't shoot me if I remember wrong!)

Speaking of flowers...I think it's going to stay warm enough for me to plant my hibiscus and hydrangeas. I guess I was in a H kind of mood the other day at Sam's Club!

Got to run! Sunshine is calling my name!