Spring is in the air.

Spring has finally come to the Ohio Valley.  It has been slowing making an appearance all month, but today I can finally show you the wonderful blooms.  My gardening friends (okay, I only have one -Deb- but it sounded good, right?) will appreciate today's pictures.

The lilac bush is beautiful. Wish you could smell it.  {achoo!}

My favorite flower.  It's my favorite because it came from my parent's farm.
...and because I've never seen this particular Iris anywhere else.  It grew wild on the farm.

The Hostas have finally made an appearance after their long winter nap.

The neighbor's Parrot tulips were beautiful this year. Sadly, I didn't make it out there to snap a pic in the morning, when they're most spectacular.

The pink Dogwood at church is blooming
...but not the white one.

The Azaleas are looking marvelous this year.

 

Even the Dandelions are a welcome sight.
  After a winter of seeing so much white, the colors of Spring are all welcome.

Of course, all this changes and the Dandelions will be a weed again starting next month.

Just sayin.

Once upon a time a woman started a blog...

the end.

Not really...but lately it looks that way, doesn't it?

I went to a Bridal Shower this weekend.  In the past year, several of the kids at our church have gotten married off.  Well, they aren't kids...but they WERE when we moved here and started attending this church.

So one of these use-to-be-a-kid is getting married in June. Her name is Jill, and I went to her Bridal Shower yesterday. It was very nice. She got a boatload of gifts.  I found out from her mother that they put a bid in on a house last week.  Jill refuses to get too excited about it just yet.  She's a smart girl.
I'm not one of these bloggers who carries her camera everywhere she goes and snaps pictures and tells interesting tales about the people she meets or places she goes.  Unlucky you.

No, I'm the kind of blogger who tells you that the table was decorated with a pale purple tablecloth and chocolate kisses wrapped in shiny purple and blue foil were sprinkled down the center.  These kept us somewhat entertained (and hyped up on sugar and caffeine) while Jill opened a boatload of presents.  Until 3-year-old Ben came running over to my table with a half-empty bottle of water and announced, "Fight wiff me!"  No, folks, I'm the kind of blogger who tells you that I snatched up my empty water bottle and had a sword fight with a 3-yr-old. 

He won. 

Ahem.

Moving along.  Is this a good time to mention that I won one of the Bridal Shower games?  My prize was a bottle of Avon shower gel and a scrubbie.   To which I announced that it was the PERFECT day for such a gift and since it was pouring down the rain I was going outside to try it out.

I just can't understand why nobody wants to sit beside me at these things.

Life is full of disappointments...and other lessons a mother must dish out.

Last week I realized that Easter was nearly upon us and I hadn't done any shopping for said event.

Uh-oh.

So off to the store we went, me and my brood (sans daughter, who was working).   I carted the boys down the candy aisle of the nearest mart store and made them pick out candy.  It was torture, just ask them.  {snicker}  I think it was the biggest haul they've ever made.

While they were busy planning a massive sugar overload, I asked them what *else* they wanted in their baskets.  Normally they get a little bit of candy and one or more non-candy items--some, if not all, will point to the reason for this celebration.  We don't emphasize the basket in our house, but use it as a bit of fun.

Anyway, this is where I back up and mention that I really *had* thought about Easter weeks before the event. I *had* asked the kids what they wanted back then and only one of them came up with an answer.  The 17-year-old wanted a laser pen.  Like the red pointing lasers...only this one was violet. 

So when I asked them at the store what I could got them for their baskets, he bulked.  He had already told me what he wanted and it wasn't at the mart store.  So he pouted instead of telling me what *else* I could buy. 

Then, just 3 days before the event he came to me with ideas.  Mind you, we live in a small town. Shopping choices are the grocery store, the gas station and a dollar store.  So when he said he wanted a new flashlight--a **GOOD** one--I asked, "can I get that at the dollar store?"  No, I could not--and it wasn't looking like we were going out of town before Easter.  Poor child.

So on Easter morning as he dug through his basket he found.....a violet laser pen.  It was at this moment that I pointed out to him that life is full of disappointments--but today wasn't one of them.

Ahhh, life is good.  Thank you, Jesus.

The FINAL chapter of 15 Random Things You Never Needed to Know About Me

....because it's Saturday and tomorrow is Easter and I have a MOUNTAIN of work to do--so naturally I think it's time to work on the blog.  Got it?

31. Sprite or 7-UP?  
Whichever is in the house when I'm sick.  Did your mom do that? --give you 7Up when you had an upset tummy?  Do people drink it any other time?


32. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work?
Nope...I've never had that formal of a job or education.  Dh has always had to wear a uniform, though.  We're night and day, my man and I.


33. Last thing you bought at Walgreens?
We don't have a Walgreens in the area, so I only visit one when I'm on vacation. It's been a year, but I think I bought folders the last time I was there.  Not just any folders, mind you...these had gross versions of food wrappers on them....reminding of the garbage pail kids cards I used to collect when I was a kid.

34. Ever thrown up in public?
I have NO idea why this question is here.  Let's ignore it and move on, k?

35. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love?
All the money in the world won't get you through the tough times--gimme my true love.

36. Do you believe in love at first sight?
That's a toughy.  I believe in lust at first sight. Love is something that grows and develops with care if you work on it. 


37. Spongebob or Jimmy Neutron?
Who? 


38. Did you have long hair as a young kid?
Sometimes....until I wouldn't brush it and it would get all tangled and mom would take me to the hairdresser and have it all cut off.  It always grew back.  Fast.

39. What message is on your voicemail machine?
"HI, thanks for calling the McL's.  We're not answering the phone right now, so leave a message."  BEEEEP
I'm. so. creative. 
When my oldest son was 3 I changed it to, "I can't come to the phone because I'm cleaning up yet another mess, so leave a message and I'll call you back if I can." It was a very frustrating time for me.  He's 17 now and cleans up after himself most days.

40. Where would you like to go right now?
ha-ha-ha...you've got to be kidding.  I *need* to go to the kitchen and start working on Easter dinner. But instead I'm doing exactly what I want to do...so I'm content and I'm not dreaming of Hawaii or some other far-away place.  Not that I'd turn down a free trip to Hawaii, mind you.


41. What's the name of your pet?
Mimi.  She's a retired racing Greyhound and was named when we got her.  Her race name was "Come By Me", but they never call them by their race name so that they won't become distracted by people shouting their names during a race.

42. What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it?
I have a clearance backpack that I purchased new...oh...3 years ago for a couple of bucks.  It's light green and silver and black. It still looks new. There is nothing in it right now.  It's my vacation backpack.  I'm obviously not on vacation. ...in Hawaii or anywhere else.  Not that I'm bitter....  Moving on:


43. What kind of tennis shoes do you have?
I just bought my first pair of Easy Spirit shoes.  I have a narrow heal, so it's hard to find shoes that I don't walk right out of. I'm also hard on shoes and they don't last long.  So far so good.

44. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
Hmmmm....probably my daughter.  Before that it was my Mom to tell her we'd be visiting her and dad today. Another reason that I really shouldn't be working on my blog instead of working on tomorrow's dinner.


45. Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunny?
Bugs Bunny.  I can't stand that shrill voice of the mouse.  And in all the years that we've been to Florida visiting my snowbird parents, we've never taken our children to see the Mouse in it's Florida habitat.  Even though we were 30 minutes away from Disney.  Shamu, on the other hand, we visited.  That's just how we roll.

Have a blessed Easter, dear friends and family.  I love you all.  Please remember our Savior each and every day...not just when reindeer and bunnies are in the stores.  HE's alive. HE has risen.