Easter 2019

For the first time in forever, we had beautiful weather for Easter weekend - and the Barnes came to stay and Grandma Wellman was here and the Hackers were close by, plus our Branch family, of course. We had lunch outside with the wildflowers almost every day. Scott and Destini spoke in church (beautifully), and we potlucked with our people. Chrysta helped me paint and Grandma planned a gift exchange game for us. We had our eggs and baskets and a beef brisket dinner with the missionaries and Chrysta made a carrot cake.

Sometime on Friday, while everyone was going in and out of the house, the doors were left open long enough for Charlie to sneak out (somewhat worrisome because she was just spayed and declawed and was still recovering from surgery). None of us noticed she was gone until Saturday, and by then she had been out all night. We couldn't find her anywhere and spent much of the day looking - wandering in the woods by the lake and asking all the neighbors. Chrysta said that we should pray so we all knelt as a family and asked Heavenly Father to help us find Charlie. The kids were all in a state of mourning by bedtime when we hadn't found her. Later, when I wasn't looking, Nolan went outside with a flashlight to try one more time. Scott went out to check on him and they both came in triumphantly carrying our kitty! Nolan says he heard her meow and saw her eyes shining in the distance on the property. It was a joyful reunion and we all felt we had received an answer to our prayer and an Easter miracle. It was a beautiful faith building experience during an already power-packed spiritual weekend. We love the Lord and praise His name forever!

Blessed Spring

I dont know about everyone else, but Mae and I are overjoyed to welcome the sunshine back to town. We have been eating our lunches outside in the yard (or flowery meadow of wishes, as we like to call it - we've been consuming a lot of L.M. Montgomery material lately and it's definitely having an effect on my brain). So here are some pictures of our picnics. I mostly just lay on the blanket and read and revel in the moment, while Mae climbs trees and finds bugs and gathers flowers and "wishes" (dead dandelions). The pictures really dont do these moments justice. If I could, I would capture our conversations and keep them forever. Mae counts butterflies and talks about bees and honey and makes wishes for her daddy and brothers and sisters, and gives me sweet-smelling gifts of flowering weeds and tells me she loves me.

Also, Maranda gave me some gorgeous spring blooms in a llama vase, just because. I adore living across the street from her and Devin. And I just keep thinking, if the Celestial Kingdom is a beautiful place where you're surrounded by the people you love...I'm already there.