The boys are back in town.

Summer break means kids home from college.

And the age old question:

How long has it been since you washed these sheets?

Happy Easter!

Our Savior is risen!

And I would be remiss if I failed to mention

 POSITIVE FACT #1 about living  so far south.

No matter if it's Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas;

we can still eat out on the porch.

Alex was unable to get away from school to join us:-(

But otherwise, we're all here.

And don't think I didn't notice Kevin bombing the picture with a frown.

I'm pretty sure he doesn't have indigestion.

Eggs and Rubber boots

You might wonder what eggs and rubber boots have in common.

Well, on our small farm, they do.

About this time of year, every year, we have a bounty of eggs.

It's spring time and close to Easter and the hens are all laying.

Profusely.

Also at this time of year on our small farm,

we are preparing for the rainy season.

We know that all summer it will rain like a hurricane,

and we might have to wade out to the chicken coop

in our rubber boots.

We know that at some point every summer

we will have to tiptoe slowly through the back pasture

so the water doesn't slosh over the top of our boots

and get our toes wet. 

Well.

If you look closely at Sarah's pink rubber boots

you will notice that they are torn.

In other words, not water tight.

So new rubber boots are in order.

In fact they are necessary equipment for gathering eggs in summer.

Not to mention a great defense against fire ants and animal poop:-)

Cotillion

Tonight was the last Cotillion of the year.

There will be dinner and dancing.

There will be manners and high heels.

And then goodbye until next year.

(But hopefully not goodbye to the manners.)

Ballerina had twins ! ! !

While we were away watching Alex at the National Mock Trial Competition

our doe, Ballerina, decided to have twins.  

Ranae was home and gave us the news and did a great job handling it.

This is Sarah holding the firstborn doe, Elsa.

And this is her sister Eli-Anna.

~ ~ ~

Elsa and Anna.

We are a little "Frozen" crazy over here.

Mock Trial

Alex's (second from right) Yale team was invited and competed in the

National Mock Trial Competition held in Orlando.

He has spent a lot of free time the last three years doing this "for fun".

Brian and I got to go watch the proceedings.

Sarah came to, but she mainly watched my Ipad:-)

I was so struck by the whole event.

The "reverence" displayed in the courtroom 

and the "honor" given to the judge

seemed to suggest holy ground.

The silence imposed on everyone in the room was respectful and fearful.

The way they stood for the judge suggested his extreme power.

150 years ago I would have thought I was in church,

and the pope was present!

I realize that up to today my experience in a courtroom was nil.

This was my first time. 

(And that's a good thing, right?)

But I wonder..........

If we are not in church and the Bible isn't our law, 

then the law of the land alone governs our life.

And the courtroom is our "church" and the judge our "king".

Is this where our only hope for justice resides?

Is this our only sanctuary?

I respect our court system in America.

I'm so thankful for it.

I don't believe it's better anywhere else in the world.

In fact, if I ever have to be on trial, I hope and pray it's in America.

And if I get to pick my counsel, I want it to be one of these kids.

But I will bring my bible.

The hope in its pages fill my heart like nothing else.   

Class Presentation

Today was Sarah's class presentation.

Each child constructed a home and place of business.

And each child gave a short speech about their occupation.

The career Sarah picked was baker.

Her home had an interior garden

complete with a palm tree.

Her Bakery Shop had a "OPEN" sign 

hanging from the front door.

She loved constructing her buildings.

It was all I could do to get her to go to bed at night.

She just wanted to keep working on her project.

She was also adamant about putting a restroom in her store.

And was very clever about constructing a toilet and sink.

Maybe she should have picked architect?

Howdy

Got treats?

Prom

This is Ranae's first year at a new school,

and her first year in high school.

And this is her first prom.

She already has made some great friends.

And we couldn't be happier.