HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DICK!

Today is Dick's 56th birthday. Ten years ago today he found out, after many different diagnostic procedures, that he would need a biopsy. I so clearly remember that as we ate at Garfields that evening to celebrate his birthday, I kept trying not to cry. I kept thinking that it might be his last birthday. But PRAISE GOD, 10 years and 2 bouts with cancer later, we are celebrating birthday number 56!! And he can still beat the pants off the young guys on the basketball court!

Now where did that dog get to? 

I came to see you, Grandma Sharyn! 

What did you find, Sophie? 

Beautiful mother and daughter. 

A really nice day

This was a day unlike any I can remember in ages. We had off from school and Destiny had stayed at Enid's overnight, so I was home alone in the morning. Amazing. Later I went to pick her up, because Enid had to go to work. I took a nap this afternoon, got some stuff done around the house, worked on music for church on Sunday... all at a nice, unstressful pace. Now I'll look forward to summer vacation.

Tomorrow reality will set back in. I'll be taking the MCDS Worship Team to Rossmere Mennonite Church in Lancaster this coming Sunday morning. There are only a few weeks left till the Jr. High Choral festival, and two weeks after that the big Spring program at our school. There's still lots to do.

Lisa sent pictures of Sophie in her Easter dress. By the time you read this, I will probably have them posted above this. I just wish I could give her a big hug and a kiss on her fat little cheeks. I think her hair is getting so beautiful too.

A Picture perfect weekend

Yesterday was an absolutely picture perfect day. The weather was sunny, in the seventies, no humidity - the kind you would like to have all year round. Our guys all got here by 2:00 and we ate first. I had cooked a ham with pineapples and sliced it. We had hot ham, Swiss, and pineapple sandwiches in Kaiser rolls, yam pudding, veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, pie, and ice cream. Then I cooked the eggs and we had such a fun time painting eggs. It's the first time we've done it since our children are all grown up. In fact, our boys who only came to us as teenagers did not ever remember doing it before. Then the adults hid the eggs and later gave hints to J'von and Destiny as they searched for them. Frank got the cutest Easter eggs baskets for them. J'von's looked like a basketball and Destiny's like a soccer ball.

Later we had fun just sitting on the porch, talking, and laughing at J'von's antics. He is totally obsessed with football. He just loves to walk around with a football under his arm. And he can really throw it too. He's not even two years old yet!

In the evening Anthony and Lori went to Home Depot to use up a $500 reward from their American Express card. They got me a beautiful hanging planter for the porch.

Destiny and I went to Penneys to get her Easter dress. Everything was 50% off, and then there were scatch-off cards for additional discounts. I got a 30%!! So I got two dresses, gloves, a purse, and hair accesories for less than the cost of one dress!

Later we watched the movie "What About Bob?" and I finished up my music prep for Easter Sunday morning. Anthony and Lori stayed overnight, but left at 7:30 for their own church in State College. Lori was in charge of a children's Easter program.

We had a glorious Easter worship service. It's hard to beat ressurection music and messages. After church we took Destiny to Enid's, came home, ate, slept, and lazed around. Now we're getting ready to go to my sister Mary Ellen's for the evening.

Our children in Florida were going to George's mom Sharyn for Easter dinner today. I'm sure they were well fed. She is a superb cook.

Miki called from Sweden this afternoon and we chatted for a while. Maybe someday all our children will be able to come visit us at the same time. That would be a houseful, but I would love it.

Anthony and Lori show Destiny how to do it. She ended up with dye all over her hands, but it came off later during her long bath. 

Grandpa and J'von each tried to paint, but soon decided to go outside to throw football. 

Sam tries his skills. 

J'von already has a good football arm! 

The result of our "labor". 

Looking cool in Lori's sunglasses! 

Father and son, the Collazo football players. 

Now that's what you call a pony tail! 

My Easter eggs are almost as pretty as my outfit! 

I found one, Daddy! 

One, two, three, four, five....... 

The Easter baskets are getting heavier. 

There's an egg over there, J'von.