Soooo disappointing. I don't know what's up with my camera, but it hasn't been saving the pictures I've been taking. I lost a picture of Morgan mowing the grass... yes, it's that time! YAY! He wasn't as excited as we were for this new job of his, I think he spent about an hour in the bathroom and getting water trying to prolong the inevitable, I guess. The first attempt at mowing was... well... let's just say that Helen Keller would've probably done a better job. So, Chris made him do it over again with more guidance this time. He still missed a few spots, but the improvement was wonderful. I'm sure my neighbors were glad.

The other pictures I lost were of our trip to the aquarium last week. We had a really good time with our neighbor and her children. We bought the Mommy and Me passes back at the beginning of the year. Next time, though, I think I won't choose to go on Friday - I forgot about Spring time and field trips! But the kids had a great time. The were especially fond of the whale sharks!

Last week, Ivey's teacher gave her the letter bucket to take home and fill with things that begin with the letter X. Um, OK. Other than xylophone and x-ray I'm left with pretty much nothin'. We did find an x-box game, other than that we just had a few random x-items, like a magnet and puzzle piece of the letter X. She was pretty down about it since we couldn't fill the bucket all the way to the top (over-achiever.) So, we decided to make the day better with X-cupcakes. Hey, it's all I could think of.

I read a book yesterday entitled "Crossing the Valley: Biography of Ramon Rivas." It was incredible. This man's love and passion for the Lord were absolutely inspiring. He was a missionary in the Columbian jungle in the mid 1980's. His love was for an unreached people group, the jungle people of Berrocal, Columbia. His sister actually led him to the Lord when he was 20 years old and they were the only ones in their family who were Christians. He attended World of Life Bible Institute in Argentina and then went on to Columbia after receiving an unquenchable desire to serve that forgotten people group by man, but knowing that God had never forgotten about them. His service to the Lord was absolutely amazing, reminding me much of Paul. Wherever he went, he preached the Word and people came to receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they would beg him to stay or to come back to visit them, forsaking arrangements to visit in other cities. Ramon was killed after only serving in the jungle for 2 years. He did not ever know that both of his parents and all of his siblings became devout believers after his death, nor did he ever see his vision of a Bible Institute built in Berrocal become reality. This poem was one that he loved and I was touched by it as well:

"That Comes from Me"

'Our confusions are His occasions'

Soul, I have a message for you, I am going to whisper it into your ear so that you shine marvelously in the midst of the storm clouds of your life. The message is short, only four words. Let them penetrate deeply in your heart so that they carry you to true peace.

That comes from Me.

Have you thought that everything that worries you also worries Me? Because "he that touches you touches the apple of his eye." (Zechariah 2:8) You should know that when temptation entangles you and the enemy is surrounding you, that comes from Me, because your weakness needs My strength and your security is only based on what you leave Me to fight.

Are you in difficult circumstances? That come from Me. I am the Lord of the circumstances, your environment, your neighbor, they only do My will.

Are you in economic difficulties? Is it difficult for you to overcome? That comes from Me. I am responsible for your money. I want you to have to come to Me and depend on Me. My wealth is unlimited. (Philippians 4:19) I want to show you that My promises are true.

Are you crossing through the darkness of life? That comes from Me. I am the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). I allowed the earthly counsel to fail you so that you had to turn to Me and you will reach the enternal Counselor.

Has a friend disappointed you? One to who you had opened your heart? That comes from Me. I have permitted this disappointment so that you would know that I am your best friend.

Were your plans undone and are you tired and overwhelmed? That comes from Me. You made plans and then you asked My blessing. But I want you to allow Me to make your plans; then I will take the responsibility because "this thing is too heavy for thee, thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. " (Exodus 18:18) You are only an instrument.

Did you want to do something big for Me, and instead you were confined to your bed in pain?

That comes from Me. I could not get your attention when you were busy; I wanted to tell you my deepest secrets. "Also they serve those that are on foot and wait." Some of my better laborers I exclude from active service so they learn to use the power of prayer.

Were you suddenly called to a difficult job, full of responsibility? Trust in Me. I believe you are capable of overcoming difficulties "for this thing the Lord they God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto." (Deuteronomy 15:10) In this day I deposit in your hands a receptacle with sacred oil: use it with prudence. Oh soul! Anoint with it all the events, every word that hurts you, every interruption that makes you impatient; every expression of your own weakness. The sting disappears

when you learn to see me in everything.

"Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, ... for it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life." (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)

Our family went to the Braves game this past Wednesday night with our friends Cacee, John and Asher. It was fun, but the kids kept asking when the game was going to start. We were sitting so far away in the nosebleeds that we could barely even see the ball! We finally decided to leave at the top of the 9th because the guys behind us were screaming curse words and wouldn't stop even when asked several times. Of course, as we were walking to our car we heard fireworks and lots of yelling from the stadium. Chipper Jones had hit a homerun to win the game and we missed it!!!! Oh well...It was fun though and I guess it was our "big outing" for Spring Break. I sure do wish I was at the beach though!!!

Our family poses for a picture. Gavin absolutely hates to get his picture taken. A side few was as best as we could do, oh well...

Ivey does the tomahawk chop. She was such a fun cheerleader to watch!

Our wonderful friends, John, Cacee and Asher. God has blessed us with so many awesome friends!

Yep, we were pretty far away!

John, a.k.a "Ham", kept taking the camera and taking pictures of himself. HA-HA, joke's on you!!!

This is the beginning of a compost pile. When I was a little girl, I remember my grandmother keeping dried egg shells on the counter. Out of curiosity I asked her about it one day and she told me that she used them for fertilizer for her plants. I thought, "Hmmmm, that's interesting" and then never thought another thing about it. Well, as the reasons for many things that my mom or grandmother did when I was young become clearer, I decided to look up exactly why eggs make good fertilizer. After researching a little bit, I decided that it was indeed a great way to use natural things that I already had and put them to good use. It also turns out that used coffee grounds are also a great fertilizer for plants, so I decided to start my own pile. In the end, hopefully my plants will be happier and I'll feel good about reusing things that would have been thrown away.

We had a wonderful Easter! We enjoyed a wonderful morning of celebration at church and then went home to complete a few tasks before enjoying the rest of the afternoon with family. We had quite a spread of delicious food for lunch and then just sat around and visited. It was such a wonderful day and truly a blessing!