Fun Times

We took a break yesterday and went to a park called Sherando Lake. Complete with campsites, trails and a swimming area, this place will be a dream--especially on those hot summer days. Isn't every summer day a hot one? I guess we will be spending a lot of time at the lake. John helped Annelise walk in the sand and put her feet in the cool water. Then she enjoyed walking on the nice grass for a while. Her day ended with a nice helping of dandelions for a snack. It has been a rough week for her (and us) so it was nice to have a long afternoon of happy baby. There are more pictures of her at the park in the photo album at the top of the blue section on the right.

We enrolled Annelise in a swim class in January. It finished at the end of March. Although it was good for her to see and be around other babies, it really wasn't a very fun experience. The class was right after church and Annelise was usually tired and we were always in a rush. We are thankful that it is over, but did get a few good lessons from it.

A Sad Time

It is hard to be so close to something so terrible. I don't know anyone at Virginia Tech nor have I seen the campus. So many people here in Charlottesville have connections to that university. It is hard to understand a situation like this. It seems as though it is a movie, not reality.

There was a young man on tv who survived the columbine shooting, but lost his sister in it. He commented that the media always makes tragedies into a record. This tragedy is the worst shooting in the US or something like that. The young man said, "Records can be broken". Sadly, this one will be broken some day. It almost encourages others to want that title or record.

More focus should be placed on the victims. MSNBC has victims stories, but on the right column, photos of the shooter pointing his gun at the camera. How insensitive can the media get? Who cares about morals or ethics-- just make it a good story.

Easter Sunday

We just celebrated Annelise's first Easter. We woke early to attend the early service at church. Annelise enjoyed herself as she ate cheerios during the sermon. This worked wonderfully as quiet entertainment. After church we returned home where we prepared for our first annual Easter Party. It wasn't a big event, but I expect it to get better every year. This year's celebration consisted of a nice meal, dancing, homemade chex mix, and ice cream. It was a short party, but the four of us enjoyed it (yes, Jesus was there too!)

Yesterday (Monday) we went shopping for half price candy and found more than enough to satisfy us for quite a while. We took turns hiding the foil eggs for the other person to find. It was a fun evening as well. Then the most amazing thing happened. We sat down to watch a show but John got up and went upstairs. I assumed he was getting on the computer so I called for him to come back. After a few minutes he came downstairs carrying my game table and a puzzle! It was a dream come true. I ask all the time but he never wants to do a puzzle with me. This was a really happy time. Ah the simple joys in life...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Praise the Lord for the blessings He has given us. We do not serve a dead god. Our Lord is alive and He has made a way for us to be with Him. Believe in Him.

House Photos and a Trip to the Toy Store

Hello again folks. My mother has been in town and I have not been on the computer much. Sorry for the delay. Here are the much anticipated pictures of our soon to be house (Lord willing). I included captions to help. The best way to see it is to come visit us, of course. So, when are you coming?
To see the photos, click on the photo album on top of the blue sidebar.

On Sunday, we took Annelise to a toy store. She had never been to one before (besides Toys R Us). She had a blast. She oooohed and aaaahed at everything. I don't think she was silent the entire time we were in there. She was very excited. Wouldn't it be nice to be excited about such little things? We got her a small purple ball. It wasn't her favorite toy, but it was something we could afford and something she will learn to enjoy. Every baby needs a ball.