Gracey McDonald. Amazing Baby. Carson McDonald with Easter bucket on head. Imposing.

Go with the flow...

Go with the flow. Such well known words. Seems like I hear those words too late. Just when I am in the middle of a fuss or things are not going like I had planned or for some reason I have decided that I am going to fight the world then I realize that early on I could have chosen to go with the flow. When I consider water and how it moves and ebbs and sometimes rushes there is very little that anyone can do about it. When water is flowing everyone has to respond. If there is a flood then one must evacuate or if it is in your home then seems like forever cleaning it up. But water doesn't have weapons as it doesn't need any. It just goes. And when something stops its direction it merely finds another or goes over. There isn't a war of which is stronger. Water just is. I want to be like water. Easy, moving, alive and never afraid of what is in the way. Just flow through or around. Don't freeze in fear or agenda but seeing everything as a possibility and opportunity rather than a hastle or battle. Refreshing and nourishing, a giver of life and greatly desired.

The Lighting of the Deck!

Jim hung the deck lights the other day. First, the weather was cloudy, then windy, then raining, then hail, then SNOW! Finally it was complete and here are the results!

Easter...

Happy Easter. Yes! What a victorious time. I love that Jesus was such an example to me even in death because He represents the victory even over death. So, when death happens I remember that even though I do not see the victory there is definately one stupendous victory goin on over on the other side. This makes me sing!
So, if there is even victory in death then there can be victory in all of the other things in my life that may look tragic and painful. There is another side and I can choose to stay singing.
So, problems, challenges, annoyances, misunderstandings...take that!

"Up from the grave He arose...

with a mighty triumph o'er His foes...

He arose the victor from the dark domain...

And He lives forever with His saints to reign..."

The Winnings

Aren't they crazee?

B-I-N-G-O

Went to Bingo the other night and won won won. Ammon and Amiah both won two baskets each and then Ammon won the Blackout. He wanted to win that sooooo bad. The prize was a BSU fleece blanket, a BSU DVD against TCU and a sheet cake.
When they arrived home there was shocked faces and some excited kids.

The First Fire

We couldn't wait to light a fire in our new firepit. It was fun and cold and warm and dark and light all at the same time. Smiles on this face.

Dad's hands

My dad's hands are one of my favorite parts of him. As he lay in the hospital bed there are a few little things that I notice more than his hands. I see his eyes (sometimes when he is not resting). I see the line of tubes and needles and beeps and flashing numbers. But I see his hands.
When I was little I loved those hands because those large capable hands could fix anything. They could make sure I was safe and pick me up to sit on shoulders. They could open the most stubborn lid. They held tools that would create beautiful functional leather pieces. They occasionally were my regretful spankers.
Later in my life I miss that those hands should fix everything. Now I must fix many of my own messes and calm my own fears. I sit in the hands of God. But as my father is infirmed in this time his hands are so sweet. They are the emblem of his strength. I hold those hands and they hold mine. It feels good. I am there to comfort but instead his hands comfort me.

Worries...

Jesus told me personally to let your worries be in His Father's hands. He said be thankful for today and let tomorrow take care of itself. He said the birds of the air are to be my example of no worries. Yet my anxious heart goes crazy. I can feel the weight of my world and it quite frankly, feels like too much.
How does one learn this lesson of the ages? How does one learn to trust implicitly with a child that has no one who really truly cares for them? How does one learn to let another learn their lessons and take their own chances without getting my opinions and my learned lessons in their way?
And Father in heaven, how do I learn to trust you with my own father on this earth? How do I let you have his health and vitality and wellness and me not worry? This is a big one for me. You know Lord, that I want to be anxious. It is my assumed job. A job that You never assigned to me.
And so I minute by minute let go of the white knuckled grip of worry over to You. Less and less this grasp of control as it yeilds its way to trust and acceptance. For You are to be trusted. You are worthy of my most valuable ones. You are capable and ready. You have proven Yourself over and over again and my heart need not be tormented.
Guide me at what I should do, how to accomplish this.

Check out the "Before" pics slide

Over there to the right there is a slide show of some pics of the house before we started. Scary!