Love: It's What's for Breakfast

Hubby was out of town, so I set the alarm on my phone for 6:30. We rarely set an alarm when he's home because he just wakes up early.  I don't.  If I want to be up before the boys, and I do, then I need a wake-up call. The cell phone is a much quieter, kinder way to start the day than the obnoxious honking of our digital alarm clock!

I heard the drawer slide shut in their bedroom. I heard the cupboard door close in the kitchen and the sound of cereal dumping into a bowl. The refrigerator opened and closed. I looked over at Samuel who had crawled in with me during the night. He was sleeping at an angle across the bed with one leg outside the covers and one across my lower back. Did I shut the alarm off in my sleep?! I reached over to the phone and checked the time: 6:24. Nope. Joshua was just up extra early. I turned the alarm off.

He walked into the bedroom with his usual morning greeting, "Love you to infinity and beyond! I win!" He had a smile on his face, and in his hands he carried a cookie-sheet tray which had on it a plate of toast, a bowl of heart-shaped cheerios, a glass of milk for me and Samuel's cup with milk in it for him. "I've got breakfast ready for you."

It's not my birthday. Mother's Day is still a ways off. I've not been sick.

Wow.

He set the tray in my lap, went back down to the kitchen and returned with another tray-a glass brownie pan-which held Samuel's breakfast. Samuel was just waking up,  a little groggy yet, and didn't want to have his cereal and peanut butter toast in his lap. He rolled out of bed and Josh followed him back downstairs to the kitchen. I heard their friendly chatter as they ate their breakfast together.

As I was enjoying buttery toast in bed, my cell phone jingled a few happy notes letting me know I had a text message. From my Hubby: "Have a good day. Love you."

Love for breakfast! Is there anything better??

April Showers...

...For The Bride-to-Be

 The day before Easter, we ladies from the Hunter side, along with the groom-to-be's mom, joined in celebration with fun games and good eats in anticipation of the upcoming June wedding!

...That Water the Earth

And so we drove home after church on a Sunday afternoon behind the windshield wipers. After lesson planning and checkbook figuring and a good game of Phase 10, we snuggled under blankets on the couch downstairs to watch my favorite, Pride and Prejudice. Again.  :o)

...Turned White Overnight

That prepared a canvas of white for an early morning glimpse of wildlife we may have otherwise missed!

One of the coyotes we hear in the night!

 A sandhill crane flew in low from the north and landed not far from our house, slowly making its way back north toward the water. It stayed long on the edge of our property, I think making sure of a safe return!

...Soon to Bring May Flowers 

Just as He Said

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene

and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down

from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His

appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know
that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen,
just as he said."
Matthew 28:1-6a

"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders,
chief priests and teachers of the law, and He
must be killed and on the third day
be raised to life."
Luke 9:22

"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted."
Matthew 5:4

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy.
Matthew 28:8

He Is Risen!
Have a blessed Easter!

On a Friday

"But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5

April? Already??

It's hard to believe that March is gone. In like a lamb and... out like a lamb.  Usually, I rather dread the whole month of March and its teasing, impulsive weather. But this year, when March was getting close, I reminded myself of what a wonderfully mild winter we'd had and decided that no matter what happened, I was not going to complain about the weather. And who could?

It's been a busy but quiet 31 days. We've been recovering lost schedules and daily routines and doing some catching up. And it's been good. Since it all slipped by so quickly, I thought I would take a little bit of time and give the short- story, picture-book version of March at the Hunters'.

On the 2nd, we helped Hannah to load some things and get moved to her new place.



We were sure the boys would be relieved to have their own "space" again.  But the next morning over breakfast Samuel wondered why Anthony had to move when there were plenty of toys here and Anthony and Thomas had their own room and Hannah had her own room?  And a couple days later, Anthony asked his mom why he had to go to daycare and why couldn't he just go to Grandma's?

That does make me smile.
Shortly after the big move, Hannah and Erin had the 'Grand Opening' for their new business--Lash Out!

Who knew eyelashes would be so high-fashion! AND-- one of Erin's first clients was none other than Minnesota's own Chris Winkleman--Babe Winkleman's wife!!

We got out the school books again and got down to some serious work.

Grandma King drove up one afternoon and extended Valentine's Day by bringing sweet treats and silly faces.

We enjoyed some early spring weather.

The Park Rapids School of Tae Kwon Do held an invitational tournament. That was an exciting day for everyone. Grandpa and Grandma Wilmes drove all the way up to watch the competition and Ryan and Ivy and the kids also joined us. It was fun to see Hubby's NEC Seminars and the girls' Lash Out sponsorships on some of the trophies, as well as Ryan's Build It Right ad in the tournament program!

Later that same week, my sweet sister drove up from the cities to visit and to go to the Chris Tomlin concert with me in Bemidji! It was awesome. I took my camera along. Brought it in. They said cameras were not allowed and sent me back out. Bummer. We made our way back through the line and after we were directed from the wrong way in to the right way in, and after we were told to leave the wrong seats and found our right seats, we had a really good time. We sang loud. Praised God. Talked a lot in the car going and coming. And then, because younger sisters always do what their older sisters want to do and because she loves me, she stayed up really late with me after we got back home and watched Pride and Prejudice. It doesn't get much better. (No Pics!!!! I was too busy enjoying myself!)

There was more beautiful weather to be enjoyed.

The first thunderstorm.

The boys and I took the day off and drove two hours to visit a sweet friend that we hadn't seen in a long while. It was a wonderful, much needed day of  'mom time' friendship for me and fun for the boys as well. It didn't last nearly long enough! We did make tentative plans to get together again soon when all of our boys--there are two little guys and a nearly- grown guy in their family--can run and play outside! ( And I did take a few pictures, but I couldn't get my settings right and they just wouldn't show well here. I really must become a better student of my camera!)

The last Friday of March and the Hubby and I made spur of the moment plans to get a babysitter and go out for the evening. Well, the spur of the moment babysitter just lives down the road and around the corner and it was no problem for her to come over. BUT, with such short notice the "plans" we tried to make just didn't work out, so, we called her back and said thanks but not tonight. The boys were highly disappointed.  So much so that they couldn't even enjoy a rowdy game of tackle football in the front yard.

Not.

That's my boys!!!

Whew.

And that's March. 

And that's a wrap.