606

I woke up at 6:06 a.m. For ones growing up in the Mennonite tradition, 606 is the number in the hymn book of the "new" version of "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." I think extra sheets were physically taped into the current hymnbooks after the last song, 605. I can't be sure, because this was from the General Conference, and I grew up in the Mennonite Brethern, so we had different hymnbooks. But I digress. . .

So when I woke up at 6:06 a.m., I immediately thought, "Praise God, from whom all Blessings flow."
So I am praising God for my home that Dave and I returned to after 26 days away.
I am praising God for David Franklin, my husband, my travel planner, driver, and companion.
I am praising God for his amazing might in creating the mountains, gargantuan boulders, endless ocean waters, impossibly tall redwoods, and sandy beaches.
I am praising God that I live in a country where we can so easily drive to see these amazing places, and drive through these amazing places. (Some of the roads along the coast were crazy, but they all were in pretty good shape, and the mudslide damage from two years ago is repaired).
I am praising God that we were able to see dear family members that we hadn't seen for far too long.
And I am praising God that I get to spend the day with my granddaughter Rose today, I have missed her sweet face.

An Easter like no other

12 days until an Easter like no other.
I saw on Monday that my mom, Rosella Epp, has a cross right by her door. Jesus's sacrifice for our sins and then his rising from the grave is the reason we always have Easter.
This year will not be an Easter for getting new shoes and dress clothes for the family. This year we will not have huge Easter egg hunts and Easter SunRuns.
This is an Easter for listening.
"Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

Mother's Day Parade

I had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday, and the absolute best part was the surprise parade that my husband, Dave, and daughter, Laurel, planned for me.

A while after we'd nearly finished a panful of grilled shrimp, chicken, and veggies (that looked like this--yum!)

the mothers were told to congregate on the front porch to wait for a surprise, so June, her mom, my mom, and I went to the porch. This is what we saw:

And this is what we heard:

So we joined them!

It was such a beautiful day for a walk. Our streets were resurfaced last week, so the asphalt was nice and smooth. The music that Dave had on his Bluetooth speaker tucked in the wagon lent a festive air. The two dozen cans strung together rattled behind the wagon, and if they didn't make enough noise, someone was ringing a cowbell. (Because, if you know me, you know I like to ring cowbells!)

And Rose loved it! She was grinning from ear to ear, and moving to the music. She knew this was really a Rose parade. Occasionally she would grab a balloon and try to bite it, I was hoping it wouldn't explode in her face, but it didn't.

As we walked through Benjamin Hills, we waved to people who were wondering what the commotion was about. We saw our friend Angie (not pictured, darn it) and wished her a happy Mother's Day and marveled at her son Indy's amazing flips on his trampoline. Then we stopped to deliver a handmade sign for another favorite mom and mom-to-be:

So all-in-all, it was a great idea and so much fun. I think we'll have to do it next year too!