Easter

 A few months ago when the First Presidency announced that Easter would be Sacrament meeting only and that and Christmas would always be that way going forward, I thought about how we do a Christmas program and why can't we do an Easter program as well?  After all, there is a lot more scripture on the life of Jesus and His atonement, crucifixion and resurrection.  I spoke to Bishop Rickert and asked if I could do it and he agreed.

I spent some time in the four gospels and 3rd Nephi as well as Jesus the Christ and a recent talk by Elder Stevenson.  I had a thought back in February that I should have Amy and Luke Jensen sing, "Gethsemane" for Easter.  She agreed to do it.  With that in place I began to formulate a program.  I picked out more music and then tried to put the scripture I wanted to use in an order that would make sense.  Then I fit the music in.  I had to go back after I had it submitted it to the bishop and revise it just a bit.

Easter morning following the sacrament, Becky Hoffman began as the narrator.  She had the perfect inflection in her voice and paused at just the right places.  She was the perfect person to do the narration!  Amy and Luke's song was perfect.  I couldn't stop my tears.  Bishop Rickert sang a special number as well as the Primary and finally the seminary class.  The bishopric members each bore their testimonies and then we finished with He is Risen!  

The Spirit was so strong for me and I hoped others felt it as well.  Bishop asked me what I could possible do to top it next year.  What a great compliment.  Then as I was attempting to leave, Chad stopped me and asked if I had written the program.  I told him I had.  He expressed that he had never experienced an Easter celebration better than this one.  He always had one when he attended his previous church but not like this one.  I told him that I just followed the Spirit and it worked.  

I have some ideas for the future and I hope that those thoughts are what the Spirit confirms to me.  If not, then I'll just go forward with what it does confirm.  I hope all that were there, felt the Love of our Savior!

Power in the Sun

One of my favorite things to see is the breaking of dawn and the setting of the sun.  So often spectacular views are given as the day begins and/or ends.

Thinking about the power of the sun is incredible.  It gives light and heat to our world.

I love  the sunshine shining through my windows in the winter and warming my house.

At night I love a full moon!  It gives such light especially when bouncing that light off of the water or the snow.

This full moon photo looks like it could be the sun.

As I contemplate the power of the sun and it's ability to help things grow and give us so much light especially in the summer and warms us it is a wonderful metaphor for the Son.

The Son of God, my Savior and Redeemer does the exact same thing as the sun in the sky.  He offers us the chance to grow and fills our souls with light and warmth.  

He may not personally come into my house like the sunshine does but He does enter as I open the door for Him.  Through the scriptures, prayer, good books and music I can feel his presence.  

I am ever grateful for the Son!  There is such power as I depend upon Him and His atonement.  I know that He lives and loves me.  I am always grateful for my testimony of Him and all that He has done for me!

 

Love

I was unable to go out and walk with Tracy and Erica due to watching Eddie so I went out by myself a couple of days.  One afternoon after the snow had melted, I found this "heart" on the road.

A lot of times while I walk alone I will either pray or listen to scriptures on my phone.  I felt the love of my Heavenly Father as I came upon this spot in the road.  The creations on this earth are so wondrous!  I appreciate them so much.  I love the Spring season and although it was slow in coming and staying I found this symbol today that made me happy!

 

Getaway in Sturgeon Bay

We typically have a week away in Florida sometime in March or April.  Dennis and Phyllis Allsop have built a new house and are moving so we won't visit them until the fall.

Since we didn't go somewhere warm and enjoy the beach, we went to Door County instead for three days.  

We climbed Eagle Tower in Peninsula State Park and enjoyed the view on a beautiful sunny day.

It sure is a different view when the trees are bare. 

I liked the view with the pine trees against the dark blue water. 

I commented that rebuilding Eagle Tower and making in hanicapped accessible had to be a huge undertaking and the cost had to be astronomical!

We visited the Maritime museum.  This is the view from the 10th floor. 

Here's the view out of the window of our little rented cottage.  

Since it was St. Patrick's Day weekend, there was a parade in town.  We attended for a little while but when the parade is not with people and businesses I know, it just doesn't hold the same interest.  The tower was lit up for the occasion.  

It was a wonderful few days away from everything and just being together.  We went to all our favorite shops up and down the peninsula looking for the perfect pieces to display in our new bathroom.  I found some nice things but nothing that I felt I had to have.  

Sunday morning we made the 2 3/4 hour trip to Adams-Friendship for their ward conference.  A long drive but so worth it to be with those young Rice boys.  Only two in the Primary on this day but what great boys they are!

 

A New Bathroom

Many years ago my dad removed the two windows out of the north bedroom and had only one installed as he was going to make that room into a bathroom.  I'm glad he didn't because we needed it a lot over the 20 years we've lived here.  

Pat has mentioned it many times over the years that he wanted an upstairs bathroom.  

With Erin getting married and moving out, we moved Tom into the southwest room and began demolition just into the new year.

Lathe and plaster wasn't as bad to remove as we thought it would be.  He had one way to remove it and I had another and my way worked better with less dust.

Once the three walls we removed, Pat framed up some new walls.  The fourth wall was fairly new with sheetrock so we just left it intact.

The water lines for the vanity run up and over the ceiling.

The progress was slow due to it being basketball season.  There were days when nothing happened.

The shower was the first thing to be installed.  It started to look like it might become a bathroom.  We talked about having a shower with a seat as we are both now over the 60 year mark.  I decided against it since if I ever need a chair in my shower I will not be using an upstairs bedroom.

Then the sheetrock.  Guess who got to do all the mudding, sanding and ultimately the fun part, the painting. 

A new window was installed.

The north wall did not come down but had some roughness to it.  I bought some light weight mud and texturized it.  I love how it turned out!  I painted the north wall "pine mist" and the other walls "lemonade".

The false ceiling was the next step.

Finally the new flooring pulled it all together. 

The toilet was installed and then the double sink vanity.

The shower doors went on after I finished my caulking and painting.  

We bought that little wooden "chest" at an FM auction while we served as missionaries in Nauvoo.  It is the perfect size for towels and washclothes.

The last thing was to buy a blind to put inside the window.  It pulls up and pushes down which I really love.  There is now a giant full length mirror next to the window.  

A few more photos printed on canvas will arrive next week and I also have two "Nauvoo" windows that will go up and then it will be finished.  I never knew I would love having a bathroom across the hall from my bedroom.  With doing all the work ourselves, we figured about $5000 for the project.

 

Winter?

Our winter has been very mild.  We only had a few weeks where it was really cold and we had very little snow.  I think the snowmobile trails were open for about two weeks.  

With all of that, I decided to begin my spring clean up in February.

I've never had the sand toys out in February.  This space is usually piled high with snow.

I raked the south lawn which doesn't take very long.  I also raked the lawn by the swingset as well as the lawn in front of the house.  

On this day it was warm enough to wear shorts!

I've gotten the grill out twice already and once we've gotten the lawn chairs out and sat outside until it was too dark.  I love the warm, sunny weather but worry about drought.  We need moisture.

Today is March 21st and we are expecting snow overnight and into tomorrow morning.  A few inches in forcast and we need every bit of it.  Fire danger is extremely high and no burning permits are even being given out.  My dad always said that the robins need to be snowed on three times before the Spring is really here.  I guess we will see.

 

Three Generations of Officials

Patrick enjoys officiating basketball and really enjoys the pay at the end of the game.  He had Erin officiating while she was in college to earn some cash.  Then he recruited Andrew while he was still in high school.  Now he has gotten Cami into the game as well.

All three of them enjoy the paycheck.  It's good as officials are always in short supply.

Cami had an evening where she had no game but the boys had a home game.  He asked Mr. Zobeck if she could work with he and Andrew.  He agreed.

For most of the game she shadowed one or the other of them.  

By the end of the game, Pat was sitting at the scorer's table and allowed Cami to work with Andrew without him.  When all was said and done, he gave his check to her for which she was very grateful.  I've noticed that this young lady is not afraid to work!