Saturday, March 21, 2009

Spring is Springing - and Snow is Coming - Maybe??









It is officially spring and I love watching the colorful offerings of our Creator. It is supposed to be one of those perfect early spring days - we're watering because we haven't had much moisture this winter. That is supposed to change this next week, but we'll see! As soon as the sun is fully on the patio, I am going to go out and clean up all of the baby equipment - car seats, bases, stroller - fun times!

It was spring break this week - for everyone except Kristen and her cyber classmates - their professors continued to pour on the assignments. Not fair! So I had the girlies - all 4 - more than she or I expected.







Care Bear, first grader, is quite the artist and writer. She writes a book about every other day. In fact, she wrote one for St. Patrick's Day which her teacher read to the class. This day she was really in the Easter mood. My neighbor is de-cluttering (and, believe me, she has a lot of clutter - she hoardes and is now de-hoarding) and brought me 4 bunnies she'd acquired years ago whose price tags had never been removed. Just enough for the 4 girls. Care Bear found them before I planned to give them, but I'm glad she did, because it kept them occupied all afternoon. She spent the afternoon creating an original Easter basket, complete with directions.



Then she began writing a book - here is my favorite page.



I ordered tickets for Kristen and the two bigger ones to go to Disney on Ice Thursday night. I decided to keep the babes instead of going with them so that they could probably enjoy it more. The twins went to sleep at 7:30 and slept 12 hours. And Kristen and the big girls got to sleep in until 8:30 the next morning. Good for everyone. There is nothing more fun to me than seeing their smiling faces first thing in the morning.








DC is on his way up to the mountains above Denver where he and the other three members of his long-running quartet will record the next 3 songs on their first and most likely only CD. These guys have sung together for 25 years and have many favorite songs. They sing mostly southern gospel, but are often asked to sing at the funerals of the wonderful saints of our church. It's hard on DC to do that, but I understand why their families honor their desires for these churchmen to sing. We are really excited to hear the end result, which will have 10 of their favorites. I now totally understand why CDs cost so much - the amount of work that goes into producing one is incredible.

Today is a very special day for one of my nephews, David. He is a cadet in his junior year at West Point. David began planning his career at West Point and beyond when he was in 7th grade. He is an amazing young man.

David is an extreme runner - meaning that his running career has expanded from doing it for exercise in his neighborhood to coming up here to run the Bolder Boulder every Memorial Day, to marathons, to 50 mile runs in Central Park, to a 100 mile run while he was home for Christmas in Oklahoma. I thought of David when I read this quote in Rick Warren's devotional one day this week:

"In the film Chariots of Fire, Olympic runner Eric Liddell says, 'I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure." Later he says, 'To give up running would be to hold him in contempt.'

There are no unspiritual abilities, just misused ones. Start using yours for God's pleasure."

David has become involved in the Wounded Warrior Project. He has such a heart for soldiers who are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-changing injuries. Today's challenge began as a dream back during Christmas break when he ran that 100 miles, and is being carried out today.

The event itself actually began yesterday afternoon at 5:00 and will end today at 5:00. He is running around his high school track in Yukon, Oklahoma for 24 hours, which he computed to be 135 miles. David's story has been featured in newspaper, on radio, and on t.v. in the last two weeks or so. Here are two videos from Channel 9 in Oklahoma City - very short and informative. I have to say I had tears in my eyes as I watched them. Please go
here and here to see what is going on. His goal was $10,000, but last I heard from my brother, it has exceeded $19,000 as of 1:00 this morning.

I wish I could be there and walk a few laps with him. I am a very proud aunt.

UPDATE: David is on his way back to New York and West Point, to begin classes again tomorrow morning. He is, of course, very tired. He ran 107 miles in the 24 hours, after having a rough time early yesterday morning. But he persevered and finished the course. The amount raised has risen to $25,000.

17 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Fantastic photos my dear Dawn!!! And the flowers are so bright and Colorful.

The kids' photos....well, they just always melt my heart.

Susie said...

Hi Dawn,
Sounds like another busy week at your house.
The girls will love Disney on Ice! Such a treat for them.
I can see why you'd be proud of that nephew. Great cause :)
xo

Unknown said...

What a FUN post! Everybody's busy!!

I love Care Bear's gift for writing and drawing. She is quite clever and smart.

A Hint of Home said...

Glad you're back and sounds like you had a great time catching up with family members. What fun that can be.
God does give us many pleasures in nature, especially at Spring time.

Sherry said...

cute little book:)

LOVE the flowers and the fact that it's finally warming up little by little. though I know the weather has been great for you guys!

Susan said...

Wonderful about your nephew!! I don't know how you do it with the girls but admire you for it.
Susan

Anonymous said...

Ps....I have more on Colorado today. Even a photo of the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Anonymous said...

Potato Brumbaugh's? No...I never and still don't care for Greeley. LOLOLOL

Anonymous said...

Guess who? rofl

Okay, here is a site that tells you some of the film locations for Centennial

Centennial Mini Series

Needled Mom said...

David sounds like an incredible assest to the military. Thank heavens we have good, dedicated young men like that.

The gilies look so cute in their cribs. It is fun to see such faces in the morning.

Glad that spring has sprung for you. I do believe that you will be getting our storm that just passed. It was a wild, yet quick one.

I do believe that you will have an author in the family. Keep encouraging her.

Good for DC. I'll bet the CD will be wonderful and exciting to have completed.

Have a great week. xox

Laurie in Ca. said...

Just look at those adorable girlies!! I just love the sleepovers and how aware we are that we have the biggest treasures to protect over night. You must be one proud aunt with David. What a dream come true for him and wonderful amount raised. Gives me goosebumps. I love you Dawn and hope your week is a great one.

Love and Hugs, Laurie

groovyoldlady said...

I was a little late, but I donated to the wounded warrior cause. Your nephew is AMAZING!

I know what you mean about the CD costs. I got a quote of $500+ to make a 3 song demo! Sheesh!

Mimi said...

Such beautiful flowers for early spring!!!
and the girls are getting so very grown up... I love the story and pictures done by Care Bear...
You are a very lucky woman to get to spend so much time with your grand children...you seem to enjoy it so much too...

Loved the pictures of the little ones standing watching the older ones as they create!!!!!

Robin said...

I just LOVE spring flowers. We just got back from a road trip to Oregon and Oh The Daffodil's!! It was so amazing to see such yellow flowers on such bright green grass!
Your grands are so fun! I love how they are creative and make up their own fun!
Good for your nephew! I can't even imagine how tired and sore he must be!

Nadine said...

So much going here Dawn. I love the first flowers of spring. The twins are very cute anytime. I think it's wonderful your other one likes to write books and draw. A CD - Wow - how exciting.

Christa said...

Sounds like a busy week for you. Our spring break starts the week before Easter and the day after. The flowers look beautiful. I always loved the crocus when we lived in the Sierra's.
Your nephew sounds amazing. Cure pictures of the girls.
God Bless

Shawna said...

Great pics, Dawn, and congratulations on an incredible nephew!