Taxes and Other Such Fun

I thought it was so cute yesterday when John was helping Edward do his taxes - it was something new to photograph. He gets a $70 refund. Woohoo!

Living Stones

See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. I Peter 2:6-7

This morning, we talked about how Jesus is the living stone or foundation and as we come to Him, we are built as living stones into a spiritual house.

Spring's Bright Things

Flowers "won"

These yellow flowers and all that went along with them were a good antidote this past March to that time of year in the midwest that gets very wet and gray. They came out of one of those guessing games at the table at the Fernando Ortega benefit dinner where the winner gets to take the centerpiece home. I really tried to give it back, but then when they insisted, I thought how I could take a photo and share it with the world on the intertube...

I have spent the past couple of days listening to Fernando Ortega and painting in clean and bright colors with my friend Cathy who we saw Fernando with. She is such a kindred spirit! Fernando, painting, hanging out with friends - 3 of my favorite things for sure!

Flash Back Friday 65

June 11, 1988
I was telling a friend of mine that our bridesmaids wore white and she wanted to see it. So this is today's flashback - almost 20 years ago!

Bonding

This afternoon, I thought it would be good for the girls to go on my walk with me, so we walked to a place for root beer floats. We had a good time.

Take This Test

A friend of mine at work gave me this test and I had to go home afterwards:

There is a mute who wants to buy a toothbrush.

By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Now, if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses,
how should he express himself?

I'll put the anwer in the first comment!

Netherlands Nuesday 23

Mom & Paula doing the Hot Babe Pose in front of Hotel DeZiende (they look glad to be leaving ;))

Happy Birthday to Sister Paula today!!! Woohoo, you get your picture in the blog.

Fiddler Under My Roof

Maria, March 2007

True Things

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
And make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulder
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
-Stuart Townend

Guest Blogger Day: Bridget

I'm helping out my mom today!!! She said i could clean the bathrooms or do her blog...so i chose the blog. Duh. She picked out a couple of pictures of me and my friend Jessica. ( not very good ones though)

Flash Back Friday 64

Bridget loves Opa's ice cream, March 1997

Like a Rolling Stone

Bridget dressed in an old Rolling Stones shirt of John's for decade day at school yesterday, and Maria did a nice 80's hairdo on her. Her excitement that morning was just so hard to capture in one picture, hence the 2x2 mosaic.

What is Truth?

I actually remembered when I woke up yesterday that it was April Fool's Day so I was on guard and it was working out good for me. John told Bridget she could go back to bed because school was cancelled and I quick blurted "April Fool's" because I don't like to see people be disappointed.

Bridget came home from school at 3:35pm and excitedly told me about all the jokes that were made in school that day in the name of April 1. I was amused. The truth is, on this day, watch out or you'll be fooled.

Oh, remember that picture of me eating a donut that was in the Brian Diemer 5K brochure? Today a friend wrote to tell me it is on their website this year. I thought this was pretty cool so I sent the link to John. He called me later in the afternoon to tell me he also saw the picture on a billboard on 68th street on the way to work. I was so excited at the thought of a bigger than life picture of me out there - I don't know why, I just thought it would be funny. He told me it was that billboard by the railroad tracks and I couldn't picture it, so he said it was that one that says April Billboards at the bottom, so I said what side of the road is it on, and he said you see it when you're driving TO school. I was all, why do they like that picture so much??? I still couldn't picture where the billboard was, so he told me it's the one that says www.aprilfools.com. I finally got it.

Netherlands Nuesday 22

Groningen Train Station, September 2007

I could say this was taken during the war, but I'm really bad at April Fool's day jokes.