I’m not hiding though. My Bible is filling will little blue slips of torn paper that mark every scripture that God is using to encourage me in the midst of this heat wave. The little blues give me pause to reckon that I must have needed this.

Though I’ve had moments of holding a few breaths to keep down the nausea, I am feeling good about this fight. It’s always hard to do the right thing and it may cost a lot.   Yet, if one never loses anything, they’re probably not trying to gain anything either. My gain isn’t a personal gain, but a gain of awareness for a family that isn’t tied by genetics.

“We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5

Me, as a toy:

S Cop Eh Mommio

My Jeff, as a toy:

J Bop Daddio

Make your own here and even print out a box.

Just in case you’re looking for a great way to vacation in the time frame between August 15- October 2, I wanted to give you a head’s up that Disney opened up their Free Dining  promotion this morning!

If you stay at a Value Resort, you’ll get the Quick Service plan for free, which includes 2 snacks, 2 counter service meals per person per day. For $10/adult and $2/children aged 3-9 per day you can upgrade to the Regular Dining Plan.
Moderate and Deluxe Resorts give you the Regular Dining Plan for free, which includes 1 snack, 1 counter service meal, and 1 table service meal per person per day.

For more information check their site, here.

It’s a great deal and free food makes things pretty relaxing!  There are a wide variety of snacks in all shapes and sizes and lunch/ dinner include entree, dessert, and drink -unless you’re a child in which case you get an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink.

The girl was sad. For a long time. The world was less grapey without grape Pop Tarts. Then one day, long after the little girl had grown up, she was browsing. She was browsing her local Kroger breakfast aisle. And there, as she bent down to pick up the inferior cherry Pop Tarts, she saw them. Her bestest Pop Tart friends. The mythical, grape Pop Tarts! Only they weren’t just grape. They were Wild Grape. They had strange frosting. She bought them anyway.

With a crazy smile, she took them home. Would they be the same? Would they be some wild overly sugary and sour attempt at a past goodness?

Oh happy day. They are just as she remembered.

If Ringling Brothers and  Barnum and Bailey, roll their FUNUNDRUM into your town, you should check it out. The show hosts a wide variety of acts and is seriously loaded with acrobatics.

The Pirate troupe was fantastic. I really wanted to be one of them. Yup. I did.  The motorcycles rounded up seven and sped around inside of a giant metal ball, simultaneously. It was awesomely dangerous and so cool.

These beauties were my favorite. I could watch them all day. Mainly, because they seemed to be having such a great time.

They weren’t the only ones. My whole family left the show ready to sign up and travel along. Thanks Ringling Brothers!

This bunny had no pupils! The black outer part of the eye was there and then a white inner part…but no pupil. He looked completely soulless. Partycake made it quite clear that she had no desire to sit upon his fluffy knees. Freaky fuzzball.

Of course, Easter commercialism is a little freaky and more than a little soulless. Why is it that some companies (Hershey, I’m looking at you) find it quaint to market chocolate crosses?  Chocolate bunnies, I have no qualms with, but don’t ask me to eat a chocolate replication of the very foundation of my faith.  The cross is where my Savior defeated death and abolished my debt.

We may not push the Easter bunny at our house, but Partycake does get a filled Easter basket, we dye eggs, and had little fluffy toy chicks hanging out around the house (until the cat hid them/ate them..) We do focus this season on making sure that she knows why we have Easter and why we celebrate it in the spring. Namely, new life. Our theme has been, Jesus makes all things new. He does. I am new. I am not the same person I was ten years ago. I am not the same person I was yesterday. Continually, He makes me new.

Bunnies, chicks, eggs, and other natural themes may have roots in pagan rituals, but I don’t think it necessary to condemn their presence. Afterall, God created all these natural things. They are His beautiful design and Christ was right there from the very beginning. We just have to give them the right meaning. A new meaning.

I hope you have an awesome Easter filled with beautiful weather and a filled tummy. I hope, despite the commercialistic, soullessness of some marketing strategy’s, enjoy chocolate and  jellybeans. We have to find joy in Easter, in a risen Savior, Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

(Ain’t no joy greater than that.)

Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;  but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Yesterday was a really good day. It just was. Partycake was exceptionally well behaved. Everything was smooth. Everything had a tinge of sweetness.  And LOST, well, perhaps that was the only downer to the day because it was so short of an episode.  Really, though, I found myself thinking throughout the day that there were certain qualities present that just aren’t always there. Rather, they are, but I’m not.

I’m not at all a fan of self-promotion-feel good- you are your own god books, but I do think the outlook you give to any given day, does help.

Yesterday easily could’ve been mundane. Grocery shopping. Laundry. Cooking. All that jazz. But waking up and giving it a,  let’s do this right, kind of mentality was really worthwhile. I love my family and am trying really hard to have a gentle and quiet spirit, the kind pleasing to God, on a daily basis. This is tough for me, but not as tough as it once was. Having this goal has really strengthened relationships. Quiet doesn’t mean that I let Partycake get away with whatever and that if I disagree with my beloved that I don’t tell him. It just means that I don’t freak and talk crazy smack. I suppose Gentle is the real key word.

Anyways, yesterday was a good day. Today was too. Tomorrow is yet to be seen, but the forecast is nice anyway.

I cannot refrain from saying within and without;

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty

Who Was and IS and IS to come!”

Revelation 4:8