Grossnickle or Davidson

There has been much discussion on whether Joann looks most like my family or Devin's. People in Kentucky say she looks just like Devin, and I almost believe them, except for that she looks just like my baby pictures. What's your vote?
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You're a Boutique

In explanation of the new video in my YouTube video bar, Devin taught Joann to say boutique and she started calling us boutiques. And she's very excited about her pudding.

Writing to Liz about Easter

I've awkwardly been recording pieces of my life on this blog, and I've envied the ease with which others (Quincy, Liz P., Danelle) record and share their important thoughts publicly. After finishing a long email to my dear Elizabeth Pinborough, I realized I can write on my blog like I write to her, as if the reader unconditionally accepts me and understands me. I will treat all my readers as the dearest of friends.



Easter was wonderful. I was so touched that I cried while I was singing in the choir (not the greatest coincidence of events). We had two other student families over for an amazing dinner, and we sat outside in the sun and talked about Easter traditions. I read the Gospels a lot this week, and received a new appreciation for the perfect way the events of Christ's life were arranged. I love the way every thing that was said and done was connected in imagery and meaning--everything comes back full circle. (It makes sense because it was all fulfilling prophecy.) Anyway, I suppose all life is like that to someone paying attention. It's that quality of connectedness that makes some literature great for me.

The bishop gave a talk on grace, and he said what I've heard so many times before and thought I knew--that the Atonement isn't just for sins, but also for pain, trials, suffering. This time it made a connection in me. That means that I can lean on the Lord for everything I'm struggling with. I can pray in my mind to Jesus and Father for help at each moment these issues confront me, and immediately feel like They are listening and helping me. I have never "used" the Atonement like this.
This "instant prayer" process is something I've been working on for awhile, but I never connected it to Christ's suffering until Easter. I used to pray for help because I knew God would help me, but I didn't think of Christ suffering for each experience in the Garden. When I think, "Please help me," and then remember the great love the Lord had as He suffered for me--that changes me.

Precocious Child

Here are a couple recent conversations we had with Joann:

(In the car on the way home from church.)
Me: Joann, Jesus was resurrected today.
Joann: Jesus was resurrected. Thank you Jesus!

(She was pretending to fall out of her highchair.)
Joann: I fall!
Devin: Don't fall; it would make me sad.
Joann: I don't fall. Make Jesus sad.

$100 Goes a Long Way

I don't have a real "before" picture, but you can see the bedroom needed help. The paint was dingy white and the room had become the dumping place for everything random.


The cans of paint cost $29 each (we got the expensive kind that you only have do one coat with), the fabric for the curtains cost $6, the curtain rod and rings cost $24, and the lamp cost $2 at a garage sale, and the picture was $3.99.





We're planning on making a headboard with the pressboard in our garage and the rest of the curtain fabric. That will add less than $10 to the total. A wonderful and talented lady in our ward came over and went through every room of our house and gave us decorating ideas. She said to change the gold light fixtures to bronze with black and gold paint, and told us to center furniture in the space to make a harmonious look. It was so fun and satisfying to improve our bedroom for so cheap. I'm excited to for the next project--Joann's room.

The paint is more grayish than it looks in the pictures.

Natural Bridge

We tried to go camping, but it rains a lot in the spring in Kentucky, if you didn't know. So we settled for taking a hike to the Natural Bridge. The day was gorgeous and Joann had fun on "dada shoulder." She even got down and did some hiking herself.

The Real Easter

I have never felt like my celebration of Easter was enough, or even relevant, even though my dad boycotted all Pagan throwbacks like Easter baskets and bunnies. Somehow my mom prevailed and we went to the big hunt at the park. (Thank you Mom. I have wonderful memories.) But Mormons don't celebrate Holy Week in general. We have lovely music on Sunday, but we don't stop and think of the events of the last week of the Savior's life. Why do you think that is? Are we Catho-phobic? We do, however, celebrate the death and Atonement of Christ every week in Sacrament meeting. But why not lay a few palms, have a Seder, remember Good Friday? Devin and I have decided to do a little more. The point of Holy Week and Easter is that we remember Christ, so we came up with a few traditions, with the help of an article in the April Ensign to help us do that. We'll see how it goes.

Look at this Guy

Devin has been obsessed with hardwood flooring for the last few weeks. He talks about it constantly, shows me new pictures on the internet of the new most beautiful floor, and stops at flooring stores on the way home from school. The great thing is, I know something wonderful will come of all this. Hooray for the project man! Stay posted in June for pictures of my gorgeous new floor.

Amber Came to Visit

Amber came for the weekend from Boise. We had a blast. Joann misses her now that she's gone. After we dropped her off at the airport, Joann said, "Jo go Boise too?"

That Face!

Devin caught this jewel while we were in the backyard planting seeds.