Easter (not Christmas) Adventures...
Well, if you watched the video in my previous blog, you know that we were expecting a "White Easter." As you can see from the picture to the left, we were not disappointed. This picture was taken not long after the snow started. We headed out of town before it had been going too long, but we were still surprised how long it took us to get to Mom and Dad Renfrow's for Easter! We felt so much like we were driving home for Christmas on those nasty roads! The weather did get better when we got further east though, and good thing!

Yup, you see it right. The needle is actually laying well below the "E". Who knew you could push it that far....we do now! Mike was certain we could make it to Beaverdam, where the gas prices are always significantly better. I prodded him a couple times to pull off and just get a couple of gallons, but only one stop is allowed, and he wanted to make up some of the time we had lost in the snow!
He finally did decide to pull over. The car slowing and sputtering may have had something to do with that. He managed to coast halfway up an exit ramp, where there was a Shell station around the corner. Halfway wasn't as far as would have been ideal, however. A Mazda 6 is heavy. So heavy, in fact, that it takes a daddy and a mommy to push one uphill. Is it worth mentioning the fact that there was a lake to the left and the kids screamed and cried for most of their passive uphill journey? They were quite certain that, even though we'd kept them safe their entire young lives, we were actually pushing the car, with them inside it, into the lake (albeit by our own ignorance). No matter how many times we reassured them, they still found our actions to be both heartless and terrifying.

At any rate, we did manage it make it up the hill, at which time I hopped in the car cranked the wheel and let Mike give me a final push so I could coast downhill to the gas station (which closed in four minutes!)

Ahhhhh.....such a beautiful sight. Isn't it?

Our beautiful children....who are pretty much traumatized at this point.

Us....totally triumphant at this point! (Madeline and Timothy later informed us that we were superheros.....that seems pretty accurate to me.) The kiddos did finally manage to settle in and get some rest that night. Could they be any sweeter all snuggled together?????
What an adventure.....and then we found this on our tire....oh my.....

After a night of restful sleep, the kids had some fun coloring Easter eggs with Grandma. Here they are artistic and full of stories as ever.

Here they are after finding all their Easter eggs and their Easter baskets. They appear to be pleased with the bounty. And here they are on Easter Sunday. Can I say that Easter is my favorite holiday? I LOVE it! I love Christmas too, but without Easter there would be no Christmas, because Easter is the whole reason Jesus came. What a sacrifice, what a triumph, and what a blessed assurance! The creator of the universe took on human flesh, came to earth, gave his life, and conquered death...for us. All because of His love and His desire to be in a genuine relationship with us. He loves us that much, on even our most unlovable days. THAT is something worth celebrating.
Finding treasures from Sunday School class.
Mike and me.....not as cute as the kids, I know.
Out in the parking lot with their buddies from Grandma and Poppy's church.
We made it home and through another week, and guess what Mike found? That's right! My sewing machine!!!! The kids finally have curtains. Here's Madeline proudly showcasing hers. (She likes to close all the curtains during the day, giving her room a pinkish orange glow.)
Timothy's room with his new curtains. He was slightly less excited than Madeline. He did later tell me that they were "awesome".
Last weekend the kids went to Ohio for their spring break. We spent the evening before they left playing their favorite game--Disney DVD Scene It. They love this game, and usually do pretty well with it. Although, I will admit we are working with Timothy on appreciating the joy of playing a game regardless of its outcome. =)
I am actually heading out tonight to go get the kiddos, so I am looking forward to seeing them again, and I have been promised some pictures from Grandma (who has been dubbed "Grammy" by Timothy this week. Will it stick?) eventually I'll blog about those....I say eventually, because I am being honest about it!

Have a blessed weekend!

-shannon