Did you ever stop and listen to creation's praise for our magnificent creator? In spring it is so much easy to hear than in winter. I love to hear the first spring peepers, watch the flowers poke their heads up for the first time as the sun beats down on them warming the soil, and feel the warmth of the sun as I clear gardens and plant seeds.

     Spring is absolutely my most favorite time of the year. It brings hope to see new growth after the long, snowy winter. It just reminds me that no matter how bad things look, there is always a seed of hope beneath the cold infertile soils of the trials and tribulations that face us daily and attempt to defeat us.

     I've had a few of those trials and tribulations over the last few months and at times have been so self absorbed that I've left God out of the picture. But through it all, He has continued to send me those seeds of hope.

Apr 1 ~ friends surprised us by bringing us dinner at home with some yummy deserts for kids
Apr 2 ~ Awana derby races, fun, first night out since being sick
Apr 3 ~ ds17 had successful week at TeenPact, elected representative, gave nice speech, celebrating my 43rd birthday, two nice emails from friends, calls from my four brothers and a very special friend
Apr 4 ~ ds17 had a successful public speaking class at the state house, celebrated with dinner out afterwards
Apr 5 ~ Family celebration of my dad's 73rd birthday, birthday call from ds20.
Apr 6 ~ one more day of rest, but finally feeling much better, able to get kitchen mostly cleaned up
Apr 7 ~ a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my sweet husband, email update and prayer requests from a special friend, caught up on some laundry, nice homeschool support group meeting, ds12 got an Amazon gift card offer for participating in homeschool language study
Apr 8 ~ my dear husband prolonging my birthday celebration yet another day with a beautiful picture frame full of pictures and a sweet card, finding out the insurance company will pay us $20 an hour for clean-up of the shop roof mess
Apr 9 ~ new leaves on my rosebush,
Apr 10 ~ sunshine, warm weather, even mud to prove that spring is finally here
Apr 11 ~ girls movie and craft night, decorating pillowcases with the dd8,
Apr 12 ~ lots cleaning done, visit from my sister-in-law
Apr 13 ~ back to church for the first time in several weeks, two new students in my class,my parents 54th wedding anniversary
Apr 14 ~ finding buds on a rose bush
Apr 15 ~ contract finalized and paychecks beginning to come in again, having money in savings to cover the deficit in the meantime
Apr 16 ~ hearing the spring peepers and knowing spring is finally here
Apr 17 ~ nice lunch with mother-in-law and ds12, nice visit at playground with mom
Apr 18 ~ ds12 got a $25 amazon gift card in the mail for participating in an online Spanish study
Apr 19 ~ family movie night,catching up on laundry, sunny day at the playground, ds5 patient while waiting almost an hour for his turn at a haircut
Apr 20 ~ preschool - 1st grade Sunday School class has doubled in size
Apr 21 ~ my dear husband sent me to the playground with the kids while he stayed home and washed dishes
Apr 22 ~ fabulous walk through the woods, unexpectedly meeting friends at the playground,
Apr 23 ~ dd9 and ds12 good time at Good News Club Rally, dd5, daddy and mommy nice picnic lunch at playground
Apr 24 ~ planting peas and onions with dd9 and ds5
Apr 25 ~ fun trip to the circus, feeding five of us two meals out for under $20
Apr 26 ~ dd's 9th birthday, family party with Nana
Apr 27 ~ forgot half ss material at home but able to improvise and still keep kids attention
Apr 28 ~ hearing from distant relative who is working on a family geneology
Apr 29 ~ calling to make appointment for routine physical and getting in the next day
Apr 30 ~ chance to work for three days to help pay down debt