Tuscaloosa was hit by an incredible Tornado yesterday. The city is nearly leveled from the area of the university through Alberta via 15th Street, one mile wide. Please continue to pray for those affected. Our home, miraculously, escaped with little to no damage. We live about 2 miles north of these photos. Our hearts are broken for our hometown. God's hand is on them.

Easter Eggs: A "How-To" Guide ;)

How to boil 'em!

How to dye ;) Happy Easter! Don't miss the pics below!

Happy Easter, everyone! I'm so sorry I've been bad about updating the blog. With Lance coming and going, LJ starting school, and us just finding our bearings, it's been a little crazy. Good, just busy. Today, LJ and I went to church for Easter and even shared communion together. I have a video of him explaining to me the whole "Easter Story", and I will post it on here soon. Also, I have a "how-to-dye-eggs" marathon picture show for you...I know you can't wait :) I wanted, at least, to share these so you'd have them on Easter morning. We are so blessed! Oh, and a special shout-out to Me-Maw - it's her birthday! the big 5-0 ;) !!! Happy Easter! He is Risen!!

So handsome. P.S. This "3-piece suit" was $19.99 @Wal Mart. Twenty bucks never looked so good!

Whirly Bird!!!!

Just what do you want me to do?!

Over it. But still handsome :)

I had to share these - my new mission on the road is to get LJ's pic in the away stadiums, (and the home one, too), because I know he'll love to have these as he gets older. You know, when he's showing his middle school friends, "Yeah, that's me at Petco Park, taking BP..." Excuse me! Hahaha! I can see it now! So, this is for LJ's future bragging rights memories.

So, enjoy :) We sure did!! And, I know LJ will love having these in the future! I look at these and know my dad would love to see them. He wouldn't believe how big LJ is and the strong, fun personality he has - "a chip off the ol' block", he'd say ;) Today would have been his 61st birthday, and he's missed as much today as ever. Happy Birthday, Daddy!

With all his might!

I love that he's under Lance's legs!

San Diego Zoo

While in San Diego, we decided we needed to go to the zoo. LJ watches this "bedtime show" On Demand at home, and it's baby animals from the San Diego zoo. We always said that if we made it to San Diego, we'd go see where they made the "zoo show", and we did! Oh, it was better than we hoped! Look below for some highlights, (the 1st is BY FAR my favorite )!

Meet Janey. She is a 48 year-old orangutan, and she has stolen my heart! When we arrived, a couple was "visiting with her" by the glass. They told me they come a few times a week, and that she comes to them each time. She was raised by humans, so she has a special human attachment.

After they left, I stayed on the floor face-to-face with her for a long time. I stayed still and we just kind of stared at each other and I talked to her, (though I know she couldn't hear). Begrudgingly, (I was with my family after all), I left the exhibit to see the rest of the zoo. Lance promised me if I left the orangutans, we'd come back before he headed out.

So, we did the zoo, (some more highlights below), and I almost RAN back to the orangutan exhibit to see her one last time. When we got there, she was sitting out in the grass, so I just sat in front of the glass to watch her. You won't believe this, but she saw me. When she did, she walked over slowly (they say she's on celebrex for her arthritis), and sat down DIRECTLY in front of me. Then, she put her hand up to the glass. I'm not making this up! Lance was there, you have to ask him! The other people there were shocked and asked, "Do you know her???" I was like, I do now! I sat with her, watching as she chewed the rest of the grass she was eating. When we were sitting there, she looked at me, opened her mouth and showed me a HUGE wad of grass, evidently an offer to share. I've made a friend :)

It was like nothing I've ever seen. I can't explain what it feels to connect with something on that level. It blew me away, and it blessed my socks off! If you want to read more about Janey, google her, or you can click here for a little info. She is an artist, by the way, and you can buy some of her work here.

Above, is LJ's Cheetah! So cool! It raced back and forth with kids as they ran, like a large dog would, in play. Good thing, though, there was a fence between them, though - I'm sure he would have done more than just run if not. It was amazing to see him seek the kids out with his eyes, then run into a sprint as the kids ran. Fun for everyone!

Of course we had to include a picture of our favorite elephant. Big Al!!!! Can you believe those tusks? They were almost squares in shape at the bottom, and I saw inside his trunk...it has nostrils, like our noses do! I always thought it was just one big hole :)

More pics to come!!! We went to the field and played today, so I have a lot more to share!

I had to share - Hopefully the first of many play times on Dodger Field.

We went to the game today, and everyone was SO hospitable!! From the family room where LJ loved playing, to the ticket-taker, to the parking guy, to the elevator operators...I am SO thankful! To be in Los Angeles, so far from home, after such a crazy week, that was unexpected and such a blessing. I promise, more photos to come!

LA, it is!

After much drama, we are here! We're even settled in our apartment! The Dodgers made it interesting towards the end, but Lance stood his ground on the negotiations, and they put him on the team under HIS terms. Amazing. That so rarely happens :) We found out Monday morning, and he had to be in LA late Monday afternoon. That didn't give us much time to pack, but we'll take it! We were packed and out, headed on our 6 hour drive to LA within 2 hours. Lance was at the game that night, and LJ & I were seeking out an apartment.

Then, there was some apartment drama. I found a great 2 bedroom apartment, was going to have it corporately furnished, and the girl on the other end didn't follow through. By not following through, I mean she was in NO HURRY whatsoever to do her job well. Sorry, but it's the truth. I about lost my religion in a conversation with her that went something like, "You WILL have someone higher up call my phone within 30 minutes or I break my lease with you before it starts. Do you understand?"...horrible. Never had to do that in my life. With anyone. So, I ended up breaking the lease, setting up everything in my name, finding a way to furnish, utilitate (is that a word? set up utilities), get renter's insurance, and move us in...eventually saving us hundreds of dollars a month because I, essentially, did her job. Glad it worked out this way, but I wouldn't want to go through that again. Meanwhile, LJ was THE model child, and I bought his forgiveness for this crazy week with a lightening McQueen toy, a spiderman mask, and the tastiest popsicles you've ever had. He feels like we're even, so I'll take it :)

So, we're settled. Tupperwares unpacked, lines in the carpet, San Pellegrino in the fridge, picture frames up and Wal-Mart candle lit. Welcome to Pasadena! I"ll keep you posted! Hopefully this week is equally blessed and slightly less dramatic. Thank you, Lord for our huge blessings! Everything comes through your hands and it's all amazing! :)