HAPPY BIRTHDAY KURTIS!!!

Eleven years ago, we met our wonderful Kurtis for the first time! Now I know I repeat myself with each birthday, but I just can't believe it's been eleven years!
Kurtis is a tender-hearted, generous and kind boy who has brightened our lives. We are proud of the person he is and love him dearly.

Kurtis' highlight of his birthday is that he is getting a new puppy! We can't wait to meet him! I'm sure he'll do a great job taking care of it.

Happy birthday, Kurtis!

(Kurtis loves hallowe'en and spends several months planning out what he is going to do. The picture above is one part of the display that he and his dad put together last hallowe'en. He sure does have a creative mind!)

I Heart Spring!!!

I sure do love spring.

More than summer? Not sure, but boy, do I sure love spring. The smells, the green grass and buds, the warm air on your skin. The sun. The sandy gravel on the road that mixes in your bike tires, reminding me of youth. As soon as I feel the slightest warming, I run to my garden centre and get me some flowers. My friend stopped by and said, "Oh, you HAVE to be the first on the block to get flowers out."

Why, yes I do.

However, even I had to stop and reflect on my geekiness when Connor and I had this conversation the other day:

ME: Look at that nice dirt!
CONNOR: Huh?
ME: The dirt! At that house! Look! It's all nice and dark brown and lush and rich looking.
CONNOR: Huh?
ME: Doesn't it look beautiful? It's all mounded up all ready for planting. It's gorgeous!
CONNOR: Huh?
ME: The DIRT! Over there! It's gorgeous!
CONNOR: WHAT are you talking about?

At this point, realizing I was talking about soil like it was art or something. I really loved the sight of that dirt!

Now, I am NOT a master gardener or anything, but I do love planting and flowers and SPRING!

Please don't hate me for my geeky love for beautiful soil!

Dear Monday Morning,

You're arrival is here like clockwork. You never fail to arrive after a blissful weekend of family, friends, work, fun, and worship.

I must admit, you are my least favourite morning of the week. If I could, I would skip you and go straight to Tuesday. But I know you will continue to show up week after week.

While I dread your arrival, however, you're not so bad after an hour and a good cup of coffee. And I'm working really hard to not let you get the best of me when you creep into my Sunday Night.

Monday Morning, I will find a way to co-exist with you.

Love, Me.

Ode to 1 a.m.

Two cups of coffee

after 6 p.m.

does not a

sleeping girl

make.

The Empty Tomb

An empty tomb. The stone rolled away. Huge and heavy, yet rolled away by the earth-quaking appearance of the angel. Guards like dead men. Those Romans sure thought they had planned for everything. But they didn't plan on the power of God.

Do we plan on the power of God? When things are smooth sailing, we sure love to think we do. But when the storms roll in, the stone rolls in, life upside down, the supportive crowds rolling out, do we really plan on the power of God? Earth quaking, guards like dead men, stone rolling belief?

What a sight for the women who went to look at the tomb! They went even though they weren't sure what they were going to do about that stone when they got there. They went at dawn. As soon as was legally acceptable. Eager to do a task for their Lord, even though He had died. Did they plan on the power of God? Imagine their fear and joy at what the angel said to them, "He is not here! He has risen just as He said He would. The power of God. The "piece" that passes all understanding. The piece of God that is beyond our understanding in this life. But, thankfully, we can have the peace that passes all understanding.

the tomb is empty

The tomb is empty.

The Tomb Is Empty!

He is not there. He has risen, just as He said. Come and see. Then go tell!