Spring Is In the Air!

We can feel it!  

The sunshine and the warmth has been so welcome after the frigid temperatures of last week.

Today it reached 53* which is an 80* spread from where we were one week

ago at the unheard of low of -27* !

We can actually see some grass!

Joe and I took a walk yesterday and still wore our heavy coats.

Today we wore our lighter coats - it was so nice out!

The boys, as usual, were out playing basketball today and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Twenty-six days until the "official" day of spring!

It's the Little Things That Make Us Happy!

It's been a crazy and stressful year dealing with Covid.

Our local library closed down again right after Thanksgiving, which for our family of

readers, was awful!  Yes, we could reserve books online, and pick them up at the drive-through

window, but it's just not the same as just leisurely browsing through the stacks.

Imagine our surprise the other day, when we were heading to the drop off/return door, when

we noticed the library had an OPEN sign on it!

WE WERE THRILLED!!!!

 

This young man was especially happy!

"Reading is the magic key, to take you where you want to be!"

quote from the "Alice in Bible Land" books!

Another Granddaughter!

 Welcome to the family, Kinsley Joanna!

Rachel and David are now the proud parents of another beautiful baby girl!

She is much loved already and Elenna and Nathan are thrilled with her!

We are just thrilled with all of the pictures we have been receiving from

Rachel.  We had hoped to be in Arizona for her birth, but with Covid..........

Hoping to be able to see all of them before too long!

What a beautiful addition to our family!

Another Birthday For Me!

Isaiah 46:4 

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I

will rescue you.

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Isaac and Joshua go to so much effort to make sure my birthday is extra special!

I love their homemade cards and the gifts they choose for me.

And Joshua sent me on a treasure hunt for my gift, and I had to decipher the code on each clue!

He's read too many WW 2 books!

Even though it was freezing outside, we had a wonderful birthday meal, and watched

one of my favorite movies of all time - WAR ROOM!

It was a great day!

A glimpse of Spring!

We were out an about this afternoon, doing last minute errands before the next snow storm

hits.  Five to seven (more) inches they say!  And that's just the first round of three, apparently.

Then there comes the Artic Plunge - supposedly the coldest weather Lincoln has had for

85 years! So we don't really plan on going anywhere anytime soon.

We'd made a big Costco run the other day, so just needed to pick up a few groceries, get the

mail, and go out to eat to celebrate my birthday, one day early.

Then this lovely sight greeted us right in the middle of the aisle at Walmart.

We all stopped to admire it, and just basically say, "Ahhhh...spring."

There is hope.

Then, and most embarrassingly, I was serenaded by a group of waiters at our

favorite Mexican restaurant in honor of my birthday.  They placed this giant, and

VERY HEAVY sombrero on my head, while serving me/us the most delicious

sopapillas and ice cream!  It was wonderful!

It was good to get out of the house, because we probably won't for awhile.  Sigh.

But heck, if we can survive the second largest snowfall in Lincoln history, AND the lowest

continual temps in 85 years, then I'd say we can survive anything weather-wise.

But............tornado season is right around the corner.

Isaac the Organizer

This young man has a gift.  

He loves to organize things, and he's really good at it!

His future wife will thank me.

I was making a big pot of chicken noddle soup today, and he asked if he could

organize this cabinet.  After this one was done, he just kept going!

Thank you, Isaac!

 

Next, he moved to the wall pantry!

 

Thanks, Isaac, for your great work!  I appreciate it so much!

And to your future wife, whoever that may be, you're welcome!

Sunshine Today!

You never know what another day will bring .

Yesterday was Hoar Frost, and we are still reeling from the 12" of snow we got last week.

But today was beautiful!!  Sunshine, no wind, and moderate temperatures.

Isaac and Joshua pose by "Mount Krause", the largest snow pile by the driveway.

We're wondering how long it will take to melt once the temperatures warm up.

After some typical-boy-shenanigans with snow, mostly by Joshua, they decided

to play some basketball.

And yes, Joshua nailed Isaac........who was not so appreciative!

Isaac makes a shot!

So does Joshua!

We had a great day of school, enjoyed some lovely weather outside, and the

boys went to Wednesday night youth group.

But............more ice, snow, and wind is headed our way tonight, and over

the next several days.

But the sunshine of today reminded us that spring will be here before we know it!

Hoar Frost

 Hoar Frost - a white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapor, (many times from fog), formed

on vegetation, fences, etc.

Absolutely stunning!

Looking forward to spring!

This has been a fun, and snowy, winter to experience, but I think we've had enough.

Eleven Years!

It's been eleven years today that Isaac has been part of our family!

He started out as such a worried little boy, but lots of  family and love quickly

brought him around.

I love this picture of Isaac snuggling with Joe.

Such relaxation.........and trust.

Happy Gotcha Day #11, Isaac!

You are becoming quite the young man!  We are so proud of you!