The Empty Tomb

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Jenster

HE IS RISEN!!

Happy Day

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Jenster

(Wednesday, April 20, 2011)

When I went in search of an image for this post I didn’t have anything particular in mind. One look at this oversized, cheery smiley face and I knew I’d found it. The huge smile, the bright yellow, the blue skies and fluffy clouds… it expresses my feelings to a T.

This joy I’m experiencing, I’m sure it has something to do with the sunny skies and warmer weather. I do love this area, but it seems as though spring takes forever to get good and going. Today, however, feels like spring. The windows are open and I can hear birds and kids and mowers and the smell of freshly cut grass is wafting in… It’s just lovely.

It could also be that it’s the time of year again when I get to do one of my top five favorite work responsibilities. I get to write the Kids’ Camp drama. Our Valley Kids’ team brainstormed this morning (over coffee at Wegman’s, adding to the delightfulness of today’s experience) and as a group we came up with some great ideas. Now I have the fun of taking those ideas and working them into some type of attention-grabbing skit. It’s definitely a group effort. I just think I have the funnest part!

(Continued on Thursday, April 21, 2011)

I had to stop writing yesterday to go watch my friend, Stacey, give a great presentation on Pediatric First Aid at MOPS. It amazes me how much things have changed since my kids were little.

Another reason for my good mood is most definitely because we’re going down to see Taylor tomorrow and will get to spend Easter with him. Not only do we get to spend Easter with him, but we get to watch him do what he does every Sunday morning. Play his guitar in the worship band. It NEVER gets old. EVER.

The chorus of “Oh, happy day, happy day… You washed my sin away. Oh happy day, happy day… I’ll never be the same,” has been playing through my mind for two days now, simply because of the “happy day” part. But the song is about so much more than just having a really good day. It’s about what makes those of us who are Christians exactly that. And considering this is Easter weekend I think it’s the perfect song to express both my mood and the celebration of the best day in history.

So in honor of both my spirits and my dude, Jesus, I’ll close this post with a little Tim Hughes singing “Happy Day”.

Just A Quick Chat

Posted on March 27, 2010 by Jenster

Hola, Amigos! I don’t have time to hang out for very long, but I just had to post a quick update.

My folks flew in from Little Rock on Wednesday (don’t even ask if their arms are tired because that joke is so old and corny it does not bear acknowledging) and we’ve been enjoying our visit. They actually just sold their house – it sold in four days – and will be about the business of packing up and moving when they get back home so I hope they can relax and enjoy their trip! Except my mom doesn’t know how to relax so very much, which works out very well for me because she cleans instead. I’m okay with that.

Yesterday was our Easter Eggstravaganza at church. What a trip! We had 40,000 eggs and several egg hunts for different ages, a petting zoo with the cutest baby cow (I know, I know – that’s a calf) and the biggest bunny I’ve ever seen, two bounce houses, free popcorn and cotton candy, carnival type games, balloon stylists (I have no idea what they’re really called), face painters — it was great! I helped out at the MOPS table making pinwheels. It was fun because I saw a lot of preschool families and some of the kids would look at me like they weren’t quite sure why I would be somewhere other than the preschool. There were a ton of people and they all looked like they had a good time. I know I did!

OH! The most exciting thing around here is that we finally replaced our microwave that went out in November. Todd and Taylor installed it yesterday and we’ve been using the heck out of it. It doesn’t make funny noises and it actually heats up the food! I keep looking at it lovingly – almost like I look at my camera – and sometimes I even caress it a little when I walk by. I now remember what life was like before a microwave and I’m telling you, it was lame!

In other news, I started Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time a few weeks ago. So far so good. I think I’ve lost around 7 pounds which is a drop in the bucket, but I’ve gotta start somewhere. This times feels different because I actually want to stick with it and it’s almost easy. (Hope I didn’t just jinx it!) This week will be a bit challenging with the rentals here and Easter and all, but if I can just maintain I’ll be happy. Of course, I’ll be happier if I still manage to lose.

And that, my friends, is what’s going on around here. Until next time…

Haphazard Thoughts

Posted on March 22, 2008 by Jenster

I have weighty issues to discuss. Deep and meaningful subjects. Is there anything more significant in the life of a Christian than the celebration of Easter? And yet… this post is neither weighty, nor deep and meaningful.

This is who I think of every time I look in the mirror. If you only ever heed one piece of wisdom from this blog, may it be this. Do NOT wax your lip after you’ve blown your nose countless times the previous several days and already have a bit of a raw spot. Because if you do you just may rip the delicate skin off and end up looking like you have a port wine stain under your nose. And make up only does so much.

This past week was our Spring Break so Thursday night three 13-year-old girls spent the night with Katie. Half our basement is finished and that’s where they hung out and slept. Sometime around midnight I heard giggling so I got up to tell the girls to keep it down as Todd had to get up early for work. What I found was Ben and Taylor conspiring against the chickies.

Taylor went downstairs and told the girls he had to put his backpack away in the unfinished side. While he was over there he unlocked the Bilco doors and then went back upstairs. He then went outside, around to the back of the house, through the Bilco doors and put on his Scream costume. Then he ran back outside and started knocking on the basement windows. This freaked the girls out so they ran back upstairs to the main floor. Taylor then went back down into the basement with all the lights off and just stood there. When the girls came back downstairs and turned on the lights he scared the bajeezers out of them. Katie was so mad she whacked him in the stomach with a baton. Meanwhile, Ben and Taylor were cracking up. He told Ben the baton hurt, but it was worth it.

So when Todd left for work Friday morning he banged on both Ben and Taylor’s doors, saying, “This is payback for keeping me up last night!” To which he was told, “It was worth it!!”

Late Friday morning I drove the girls to Shady Maple Smorgasbord and we stuffed ourselves silly. It’s the biggest buffet I have ever seen. I know where we’re taking the in-laws the next time they come to visit. My Father-in-Law LOVES a good buffet. Here’s a picture of the girls in the parking lot: