I Love Spring and Joseph!

I promised myself I would keep up with this every week, so here I am...

Emma is home today because the elementary school has the day off for parent teacher conferences! It's pretty fun having her around. She does the funniest things and is so creative I can't believe it. She's already created three different games to play today, practiced with her hula hoop, made the cutest card to give her teacher when we go for her conference, and is now video taping herself giving messages for her dad! She definitely inspires me to be more productive. There's just something magical about spring and the accompanying urge to do something new!

I am loving the blossoms that have popped out on so many trees this past weekend! All of those white and pink fluffy flowers are so sweet. My mom and I got to go to the temple on Friday in D.C. and it was wonderful, of course. Unbelievably peaceful... When you are driving west on the Beltway, you come around a curve and suddenly straight ahead is this breathtaking sight of the temple towering over the freeway. This time it was gleaming white in the sunshine and was amazing. Just seeing it gave me the overpowering feeling of awe and wonder at the blessing of being able to enter Heaven on Earth. As we walked to the entrance we were overcome with the scent from hundreds of tulips around us. It was a wonderful day!

Last Monday night we had a really unique experience. Our family home evening group of five families meets once a month and this time we were privileged to have it hosted by our awesome neighbors who were raised Jewish and both converted to Mormonism later in life. They married each other after their children were raised and after both had lost their spouses. They are the best! They explained all about the Passover and how the Jewish people celebrate it. We got to watch and take part in it! It was really fascinating! They both speak Jewish (we found out that is different from Hebrew) and they gave us a very personal look into what makes them who they are and their deep feelings of reverence toward the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and how it relates to their Jewish blood. It made me reflect back a few weeks to the musical that Elizabeth was able to participate in, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and the truly miraculous story. If you've seen the Donny Osmond version, you may not have loved the costuming of the Broadway production. The high school did such a great job with everything- of course our daughter was in it, so that really helped...! Being able to see it several times really made it a part of our family and gave us many opportunities to ponder the scriptural account and appreciate the meaning of it! (Thank you, Emma who is reading this over my shoulder and giving me words to say!) Beautiful Elizabeth glowed on that stage and radiated the inner beauty of a happy young woman who loves music and doing what's right.

Here are some pictures!

New Blog!

I've been wanting to create this for awhile, but with a really cold Pennsylvania winter and our computer in the equally cold (and windowless) basement, I've been procrastinating... I have an aversion to cold (and dungeon-like) surroundings! So, we just moved the computer to our nice warm, sunny living room and I have a new lease on life!!! It just takes a little change to motivate me. I'm calling this Simple Life because "simplify" has always been my motto, and with the craziness all around us in the world I have an even greater desire to live it. Living on the edge of Amish country, I am frequently reminded of the dedication of a religious community to take this idea to a complete way of life. Actually, our favorite bread of all time comes from the local Amish Market just a few miles down the road! I can taste it now...

Just last week we had the privilege to sit at home all weekend and watch General Conference as a family. Our kids know that the first weekend of April and October we clear our calendars and expect everyone to be at home and ready to listen to our church leaders. President Monson's closing remarks were the ultimate in simplifying (and inspiration)... Our future is as bright as our faith. It can't get much clearer then that.

This past weekend we had some time off (Conan and kids), so we took a day to go "somewhere"! We hopped in the car and drove a few hours south to visit the historic home of one of the great founding fathers. George Washington's Mt. Vernon. Wow! It was incredible! The drive between Alexandria, VA and Mt. Vernon (about 13 miles) is unbelievable! Bordering the Potomac and lined with blossoming trees, it is absolutely breathtaking, as is the entire setting of the estate. It had a sacred feeling to it. Emma and Elizabeth especially loved touring the mansion and observing the sheep with their new lambs scurrying behind. That was pretty sweet! We finished off the day by getting to know the freeways around D.C.- Conan was amazing with that map... and we found P.F. Changs in Arlington! That was my birthday dinner!

Our Easter Sunday was lovely as well... So nice to be able to share my birthday with Easter! I got some beautiful hand made cards and gifts and an amazing necklace from my mom-a unique handmade silver rectangle with four rows of stones, three in each row that she acquired in Israel a few years back. It represents the 12 tribes of Israel and is a priceless gift. Just as priceless are the sweet cards and presents crafted by my children and husband and given in love! The happy birthday wishes from family and friends are treasured as well! The amazing dinner prepared by Conan, with help from all, our traditional Passover food and family favorites let us all cherish the day reserved for our celebration of our Father in Heaven's ultimate gift to us, our Savior and Redeemer. I am so grateful; for the gifts of Easter, the blessings of life and renewal, and the love of family.