Happy Birthday Melody!

Mel had a good birthday - celebrated a day late because we were both so busy we couldn't get around to it on Friday. We went out to Applebee's for dinner (thanks to a thoughtful gift). She received calls from all of the kids, and lots of Facebook  greetings from lots of friends and relatives.

I always like getting her funny cards, but I was outdone this year  by others. Below are some of the best ones:

My personal favorite, on the inside it says: Just What You Needed, Another Cheesy Birthday Card

And on the inside of this one: The Person Your Age Sees It As Bed Time

This one is just funny. I'm not sure why.

That Easter Morn

For years I have have wanted to go to the Easter Sunrise Service at the cross in the Sutter Buttes that is put on by local churches in the town of Sutter. I've been up to the cross on many occasions, but never at sunrise on Easter morning. This is mostly because I'm usually too lazy to get up that early, or have had Church meetings that take precedence. But today was different. The gate opened at 5am and my two friends and I arrived just after 6:00. They squeeze the cars in up there bumper to bumper, so you're there for the whole program, whether you like it or or not. I saw several of my students, a couple of less active members who live in Sutter, and a really lovely sunrise, which I've tried to share in the 5 photos below.

Now, I'm not crazy about rock-n-roll music at worship services - especially when played in the background while someone prays, as happened his morning. But the scripture recitation was quite good (Mark 15-16, from the KJV no less, uncommon among Christian churches now days). And the "spoken word" if you will, was similar to what we might hear or give at a ward youth fireside.

I took pictures of the lighted cross, but don't include them here. One of my friends pondered what people might wear as a symbol of Christ if he had been executed by say, the "rack" from medieval times, or a modern firearm. Hmm, I can't quite picture people wearing a miniature uzi or even little rack around their neck - but it does make one think about what we are really focused on.

As for me, I only know that Christ lived on earth and was the only begotten son of our Heavenly Father in the flesh. I know that he suffered the atonement in Gethsemane and completed it at Golgotha. I know that he rose again on the third day, quite literally with "healing in his wings" and that because of his incomparable gift, all of us will rise after death also. Then we will happily receive the glory we have chosen to receive (because we have proven ourselves worthy of it) and live forever. This Easter reaffirms these truths in my heart and in my mind.

Giants v. the Snakes

This morning (our first day of Easter Vacation from school), Mel & I started what will be this year's major project - giving the backyard a complete makeover. We moved all of the "firewood" (the stuff we use when we roast hot dogs and marshmellows over an open fire on the patio) out behind the back fence. Later, I moved everything off the patio in preparation for taking it out. Melody will move her rose bushes next, and I will weed-whack, the spray, and after it all dies, I'll rip it up and level it.

And, apparently in honor of the SF Giants opening-day game against the AZ Diamondbacks, we found a very lethargic (it was a cold morning) garter snake napping in our wood pile. Here you see his head tucked down, but when I picked him up, he managed to slowly turn around and look at me. I don't actually know if it was male or female, but it was about 2.5' - 3' long, and maybe a couple of inches in diameter, so it must have been eating well. Which makes me happy that I left it near our back fence - he should help keep the vermin population down.

I Can See Clearly Now

I had a little time this afternoon to ride my bike (actually, I've had time twice in the last 3 days, but had a flat tire - I fixed it yesterday), so I rode down to Boyd Pump. It was beautiful. The view below was taken from the top of the levee and looking at the familiar site of the Buttes.

I especially like the bare orchard with the new grass growing underneath. What looks like rain clouds in the distance were being blown closer and closer to me by a strong west wind on my ride home. It got pretty dark by the time I got there. Below is the river side of the levee just north of the boat ramp. All the purple wildflowers look really nice too.

And lastly, a picture for all my manly grandsons. The county is doing some work just above the falls that requires all kinds of heavy equipment. So here's a classic "Big Trucks" photo for Grant, Ian, Atticus, Emmett, and Henry.