First Lost Tooth

I've been sick the past few days and was really looking forward to a good night's sleep last night.  I took some Nyquil and I was out.  Until midnight.  And then again until 2, 2:20, 3, 3:30, etc.  I think you get the idea.  I should have given the Nyquil to Taylor and Emma instead.  They had all sorts of issues.  Itchy legs that needed lotion.  Needed to go to the bathroom.  Couldn't find their sheets.  Needed to tell on their cousin Peyton for something she had done on Saturday.

The final need came at 4:00.  Taylor's loose tooth was bothering her.  She didn't want me to pull it, though.  I kept telling her there was no other choice.  Go back to sleep, or let me pull the tooth.  She finally gave in and we headed to the bathroom.  I pulled the tooth right out.  I couldn't be grumpy anymore.  Her excitement was contagious.  The Tooth Fairy's shift had already ended for the night so the tooth will go under her pillow tonight.

I was able to go back to sleep until the dog needed out at 5:30.

Easter 2012

Because of scheduling conflicts, we had to wait until two weeks after Easter for our Annual Manuel Easter Egg Hunt.  It didn't matter, though, we all still had a good time and we got the candy half-off!  It was just my immediate family plus my Aunt Cathy and my grandpa's sister Jenny this year. 

We attempted the softball game, which has been on hold for a few years due to weather.  The game was cut short because of an unending temper tantrum by an over-tired Emma.  I think it would have been fun if we had been able to continue.  Maybe next year.

The kids were so fast this year, it was hard to keep up with them.

Time for horseshoes.

After the kids went to bed, we played a fun game of cards.

Tornadoes, Teeth, and Toes

Saturday night was the first time I have ever really "prepared" for a tornado.  I grew up in Kansas so spring weather feels pretty normal.  This tornado was different.  We had several days to prepare and even then, I didn't get concerned until the news told me to have sturdy shoes such as work boots in case we needed to walk through debris.  That scared me. 

Yes, I was one of those people who went and bought water and packed a small bag of clothes, just in case.  I packed important papers and medications in the basement ahead of time.  And, yes, when we saw on the news that the tornado was headed right for our part of time, we went to the basement.

The girls had been asleep a few hours before we woke them up.  They did surprisingly well.  Taylor saw the weather map on TV and said "Wow!  Those are beautiful colors!"  She then followed up by telling us she was hungry.  They never got scared and went back to sleep right away.  And, yes, we had a snack.

The storm took a different turn and missed our neighborhood by three miles.  Unfortunately, others in town weren't so lucky.  Thankfully, there were no deaths. 

Followed are a few fun facts that are completely unrelated.

*Taylor has a very loose tooth!  Yeah!  I can't believe she's old enough for that.
*I had a hole in one of my socks that showed one of my toes.  Will said, "throw that thing away!  We're not in Willy Wonka!"  I laughed pretty hard and then threw the sock away.
*While walking in the grocery store parking lot following a young lady with too small shorts on, Emma says loudly, "Her shorts are too short!  You can almost see her bottom.  She needs to put them in the garage sale."  It makes perfect sense.  That's what we do when her shorts get too small.

The Old Rugged Cross

Not the greatest, but the best I got.

I feel like I'm breaking the rules a bit.  Sure, its cool to show your Easter pictures a few days after the holiday, but to actually write a full-blown religious post that isn't shared on Easter?  Nobody does that.  Well, I'm going to.  Don't worry, I'll share pictures, too.

Yesterday was Easter.  The day to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.  The day started out kind of rotten.  My daughter was difficult.  I got in a fight with my husband.  I tried to focus on the message during the service, but Satan kept throwing other thoughts my way.

My family and a few good friends came for lunch at our house.  Things went well, but when all was said and done, my heart felt heavy.  I didn't feel the joy that I should be feeling on that day of celebration.  I was exhausted and wanted to take a bath and start reading The Hunger Games.  That's what I wanted to do, but I felt a prodding from the Spirit to do something else.

I pulled out some study notes on the Holy Week and read the scriptures to go with it.  I know the story.  I had been talking to the girls about it all week, but I hadn't taken the time to make it personal to me.  All day long I had been hearing "The Old Rugged Cross" in my head.  Not the lyrics to the song, just the title.  I finally pulled out my old hymnal and looked it up.

Verse three says,
"In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, such a wonderful beauty I see.
For twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.
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 someday for a crown."

In that moment my heart was full.  I was right where I needed to be, knelt before the Savior who died for me.  I hope that your Easter was a day of celebration and I pray that you know that He died for you, too.

My sister Tricia, and her family.

We had a great time celebrating with extra friends this year!

I wish we could of taken with us looking at the camera.

Me, with two of my sisters.