Dogs, Neck Pain, Headache

Those three words so describe my life today.
Dogs: I am having to have the carpets cleaned in my downstairs today because the house smells very doggy and my parents are coming this weekend. It looks and smells ALOT better. As a matter of fact, they just finished and it looks INCREDIBLE!!
Neck Pain: I have either slept goofy on my pillows or have a sinus infection or an inoperable brain tumor but MY HEAD IS SPLITTING and has been for the last three days. I know seasonal allergies are VERY bad right now but it feels like it's in my upper back. I don't know...it's bad.
Headache: Explained above.
I have lost the cord for my camera/computer link up and need to load the pictures of Maggie's signing on my blog and facebook. That's the next order of business today.

Dodge City!!!

This has been the biggest whirlwind week of our lives! Maggie signs her letter of intent for Dodge City Communty College today! We are so excited for her! Jim is in Seattle so will miss the big moment but I am planning on taking TONS of pictures. We have cookies from Connie's, a cookie cake, punch and all the purple and gold and white accessories we could find! After this morning she will officially be a Dodge City Community College Conquistador (or Conq for short).

This is a picture of the campus. It looks very brown in this picture but it really wasn't this unattractive in real life.


And this is her wonderful Coach, Shaun Pohlman. He's going to be a great Coach for Maggie and so encouraging and nice. We love him and his sweet family!


After today...my baby girl will be college bound. I plan on celebrating with a lot of chocolate and my bed tonight. I'm worn out from all the excitement!

Spring is Here!

These were the shoes I wore for Easter. I think they are SO cute! Best yet..they were pretty comfy. I can't wait to wear them all summer long...I just think they are wonderful and I love that metallic silver. I desperately need to update my capri's and t's wardrobe. Plus I love having a few cute flowy skirts to wear in summer. Oh! I just can't wait until summer really hits.

I know spring has really sprung when I start seeing these in my garden. Peony shoots.


It won't be too long until they look like this...

It's almost always right before Memorial Day here. Even though they are always covered in ants..I always bring them in and enjoy them in bouquets. I have a system for getting rid of the ants. I drown them. Fill your kitchen sink with soapy, warm water and then submerge the peony heads for a few seconds. This kind of stuns the ants and you can shake them (or they float) right off. It takes care of all but the most stubborn little stinkers.

My kids are off school today (yahoo!) so we are going to enjoy our long weekend together with mowing and cleaning up. I will enjoy that..I'm not sure about them.

Easter

We have had a fabulous Easter! What a great day! We got up this morning and thoroughly enjoyed church. Joe and Maggie came with and we all enjoyed the incredible music, sermon and whole experience. It was so worshipful. I was in tears the whole time, overcome with the sovereignty of the service.

We came home and I cooked a ham, hashbrown potato casserole, asparagus, peas, broccoli/cauliflower salad, rolls and lemon pudding souffle cake with whipped cream for dessert. We colored eggs..the kids ate alot of chocolate and it's been an all around great day.

Happy Easter dear friends. I hope you all have a moment to recognize the brevity and joy of the day. The chocolate eggs are pretty yummy too!

Good Friday

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
(Refrain)

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
(Refrain)

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)

I love this old hymn. It was one that we sang at my Grandfather Hauck's funeral and it was precious to him. The words all bear reflection.
I hope everyone takes a moment (at least) today to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. God loves you. We say that often meaning God loves mankind but I don't mean that today. God loves you in particular. Enough that if you had been the only person on earth...he still would have sent Jesus to rescue you.

John 3:16-18....This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyones who trusts in him is acquitted. (The Message)