Spring Happenings

Easter Sunday

Lanie's Birthday

When the Girl of the Year is named Lanie, you just have to order one for your own Lanie!

North Conway

March and April 2010 has been remarkably warm. We have sure enjoyed the early spring this year. The ice on our little lake went out a full month early, and now, the week that it usually goes out, there are daffodils and crocus in full bloom. My azalea burst forth yesterday. We are planning to put in the garden this weekend, which is waaaay early. April brought Easter, and we actually had an egg hunt OUTSIDE! This has NEVER happened in my memory of my whole entire childhood, or in my children's childhood. There is usually still snow on the ground, or at the very least, MUD! It was so nice to NOT have to shop for sweaters to cover bare arms. Easter dresses are quite often sleeveless, for some reason, making it difficult for us Mainers. The girls loved that!
We went to North Conway, NH this year for spring break for the simple reason that there was a conference there that Terry was asked to speak at. We were excited to be able to go, as we are not always able. We planned to go a day early and got a hotel that not only had an indoor pool, but waterslides! My kids were in Heaven! We also hit the outlets later in the day, and attended First Baptist's Bible study and prayer service. The next morning we had more time for the slides and then headed off to conference in the afternoon.
Back in Maine, we celebrated Lanie's tenth birthday. We didn't throw her a party except to have cake and share gifts as a family this year. The reason? Well, American Girl dolls are quite pricey, that's why. The doll of the year this year was named Lanie. What else were we to do? Lanie didn't mind the trade-off, as you can see from the huge smile. I remember getting a Jennie doll when I was her age. I played with that one more that any others, and I had quite a few dolls. It must be all the special clothes that are just for her. My mom and my friends mom sewed a bunch of little dresses and things for our dolls. American Girl has books to go with their dolls, which is another great thing!
This week, we are back to reality. School as usual, but this weekend my two older kids are headed to a music camp put on my Lee Baptist Church. They have the kids prepare ahead of time to preform a sacred piece on their instrument of choice, and then they work with them on singing in a choir. The kids had a blast at the last one. Of course, there is lots of food, fun, and Bible, too.
Pictures will have to come a little later. Firefox won't let me upload, so I have to figure that out. If I have too, I will go under Explorer to do it.

Lanie was too fearful to try the big slides. We finally got her to go down this little one. That's where she stayed.

Remembering Dad

My wedding

Reading to his "Little Doll".

A quick hug from "Thano"

Being silly with Lanie at her third birthday.

Holding Mikayla about three days old at our home in Maryland.

I remember how he would always try to say a word of encouragement to Terry and I about our efforts in our ministry. He seemed to be endlessly optimistic about the ministry even when we were ready to throw up our hands in defeat. A quick compliment. A promise to pray about it. A story. A smidgen of advice.
An arm around a grandchild along with a small compliment, or encouragement. A special nickname for each of them.
I remember a quivering chin when talking about a mentally disabled person pointing out John 3:16 in his worn out Bible.
I remember that his suit jacket always smelled like cigarette or cigar smoke because he sat in the local coffee shop with a bunch of fellas. I remember the waitress calling him "Reverend Deyah" as she refreshed his coffee again. If I got to tag along, I got to have a hot cocoa and a chocolate, sugared doughnut.
I remember that I couldn't get away from his influence. Even out of state trips brought us to someone who knew him and had a story to tell about him. It seemed that Dad knew everyone and could carry on a conversation with anyone. When I was a young person, it was exasperating. Not now. Now I hope it never ends.
He wasn't perfect, but we loved him. He didn't always do everything right, but God used him.
Today, it has been a year since I laid my head on Dad's chest as I cried and said goodbye. So, rather than going on and on about my memories, I would love to hear some of yours. No matter how small.

Good Friday and Facebook

Dear Friends and Family,
What a blessing it is to remember what Christ has done for us this Good Friday. How are you remembering His death and resurrection this weekend? Share with us! We would love to hear from you. We have heard a little from some of you on Facebook this morning. Our family has enjoyed playing hymns all day today. I have posted some of these on the left hand side for you to listen to. Later, we will be practicing our special music for Easter Sunday. This Sunday, we will have a sunrise service followed by breakfast with our Church family, and then the usual Sunday services. Then I have some surprises up my sleeve for my kids. :)
We never realized when we started up an account with Facebook what a blessing it would be!!! I doubt that the inventors of it ever realized how it would be used by the Christian community. At first, we were put off by questionable ads and apps. Several pop-up blockers and filters later, and we are enjoying it to the fullest in our own way. This morning, Good Friday, I logged on and read status after status with verses of Scripture and quotes from hymns all commemorating His death on the cross for us. My dear Christian friends scattered all over the globe each sharing what was on their hearts...what a rich blessing!! How I miss them all! But how wonderful it is to hear from them almost daily! This could never have been accomplished just a few short years ago! We hear about their struggles, their joys, their prayer requests, and their ministries.
It is my prayer that all my friends and family will take seriously the celebrations of the weekend. Allow yourself to be fully blessed by what the Lord has for you in your churches this Resurrection Sunday! Let Him work in your hearts! Look what He has done for you. What other King would leave His kingdom to live on earth, knowing that everyone would reject Him and eventually kill Him?
"Amazing love!! How can it be? That Thou, my God, should'st die for me?"