Okay, so I don’t coin myself a baker, but this good stuff folks!  Home made Artisan Bread that is EASY and delicious!!!!  (Thanks to Tawnya I checked this lil book out from the library this winter when I was craving cozy carbs.  After renewing it multiple times, I bought it and have loaned it to others.)  So this is my lil plug for Artisan Bread in Five Min. A Day.  If there are any faithful blog readers out there, you are worthy of my sharing this nugget of crusty bread goodness.  Check out the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFJZPm-_2-M  or http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/ 
Enjoy!

(seriously…we never have left overs….)


(We even tried home-made bagels, thanks to April’s recommendation!)

(...makes our morning with ham, egg, and cheese!)

Eggs…this Easter.  It was unique for us to simply stay put this spring as we celebrated Easter at home.  Thankful for the time to simply be here, rest from sicknesses, and get projects done around the house, we were glad to reflect on God’s continual grace. 

I sat on the couch reading the familiar scripture, thinking on how we can so easily be Peter—fervent in one breath, and denying Him in another.  Then, broken by our sinfulness, and brought back to the cross of justice and redemption of grace.  It is impossible to fully wrap my head and heart around, yet I desire to know my amazing Savior deeper!

Easter came as a day of celebration and we found ourselves with staff friends.  We were elected to stuff and hide the eggs for the kids—250 eggs!  It was so fun to watch them all search!  We also spent time decorating Easter egg cookies with Yeung Gi, who is visiting for a few months from Korea to volunteer and learn more about camp.  We laughed at our crazy American egg traditions, but savored the icing from the cookies! 

Later Easter Sunday, Larry and I headed to Harvest Home Farm where we watched a baby lamb being born….ironic, the significance of that on Easter….lamb of sacrifice….new life….hmmmm….anyway, they decided to name the new lil lamb, “Holmes” in honor of Larry.  It was sweet to see and spend time with Mike and Becky and their family!

Yup, that’s right—-I turned 30 on April 11th.  I am not one of those people who gets really bummed out by getting older.  I am excited to be 30, I have never been 30 before and I get a whole year to try and be good at being the age 30.  I had the best birthday celebration ever.  My best friend Garrett was here for 5 days.  We celebrated all 5 days!!!  It was awesome.  I am so blessed to have such a good friend like Garrett who would fly from Los Angeles for my birthday.  The morning of my birthday I woke up to about 25 birthday cards spread all over the counter and a wonderful breakfast made by Garrett.  The birthday cards were full of encouraging notes for me.  Sometimes it is difficult for me to accept encouragement from others, but on Sunday I was overwhelmed with the encouragement.  Thank you to all who sent cards.  After breakfast we headed to church and then on to Wausau to eat at the Texas Roadhouse.  Did you know that you have to sit on a saddle when it is your birthday at the Texas Roadhouse?  A little warning, you do!!!  After eating lunch/dinner we said our good-byes to Garrett at the airport and then headed to small group, where there was cake and ice cream waiting for me.  My wife made my birthday celebration special by organizing Garrett’s trip here and getting everyone to write me cards.  Once we got home from our long day out our home had been broken into and decorated and still more cards and gifts. 

So far 30 is not so bad.

Birthday Cards full of encouraging notes…what else can one ask for to start their day???

Birthday Breakfast!!!  Thanks Laura and Garrett.

Best Friends at the Texas Roadhouse!!!

Surprise Decorations!!!  Thanks Reanna.

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Okay….Laura here….breaking in to add more pics that Larry didn’t include….Like some of the goods that his mother sent him from his childhood.  That’s right, she was cleaning the attic and thought that now that he is 30 he needed some tangible childhood memories.  Like his first Eagles shirt and his first pinstripe pants.  And his favorite he-man belt.

Te belt up close, in case you missed it.  (Still fits when he’s 30!)

Small group b-day celebration….

Gotta love him…..

This winter I had the opportunity to go winter camping with some good friends Seth and Paul.  We cross-country skied out to a cabin (maple syrup sugar shack) in the woods.  It was a beautiful March winter day with the temperatures in the mid 30’s.  We put on our skis, strapped our sleds on, and set off for a 4km ski.  Sounds very easy, except for the fact that you have this dead weight that you are pulling uphill (no I don’t mean the dead weight around my waist).  This weight on sled also pushed you down the hill, which was quite the ride.  Once we got the sugar-shack we settled in and then shoveled the roof off which was our payment for staying the night.  Being that this shack was an actual maple-syrup shack it is only tin wall and roof and the shack was made NOT to hold any heat.  Great when making maple-syrup, but not so good when sleeping in 15 degree weather.  We made a fire in the shack and prepared our dinner.  We talked the evening away.  I decided that I only get to do this once in a while, so I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to sleep under the stars, to my luck there was a picnic table which became my bed.  I stayed nice and warm in my bag and it was a beautiful night.  In the morning we made breakfast and headed on our way for home.  On our trip back I took to nice falls because of being off balance with my dead weight sled.  I didn’t think my falls were that bad, but when we got back to the car I realized that my ski had taken the worst of the falls.  My ski was cracked in half and I skied 3km and had not idea that my ski was broken.  Oh well, all in a days work.  It was a blast.  Here are some pictures of our time at the shack.

The boys…Paul, Seth, and myself!!!!

A view of the sugar shack and me pulling the sled of gear.  AKA-dead weight!!

Paul and I at the highest point on the Birkie trail!!!

Peacefully sleeping on the picnic table in 15 degree weather!!

Is seems as though March came and went, and though it was filled with much, I have few pictures that capture our days…. A weekend of family fun with Laura’s family, CCCA conference at Lake Geneva, Missionary Staff Retreat, time with friends, house projects…..um, well, honestly….I was sick for most of the month.  So below are a few pics the represent a weekend.  They may look silly to you, but it was our weekend in review:  Larry and Dad worked on house projects: a fan in the bathroom (we are very thankful for that with no window or ventilation, it was a great improvement!), a light in the entryway (so we can see people when they come), and lights on our garage (ideal for the dark cold nights).  I must admit, I have felt a few steps behind the world….and have struggled with slowing myself down thinking of all that “should” be done.  Finally, my sustenance throughout much of the month….cold medicine and Oreos.

Okay, so we had a great time when my friend Kate and her man, Jason, came to visit.  Jason was my downhill ski student….he did incredible!  We also had a blast tubing, snowshoeing, xc skiing…let’s just say all were a bit sore at the end of the day!    Hot Chocolate cures anything, right!  Thanks to Jason and Kate for your friendship….we appreciate you guys….it was great to simply laugh and talk about life.  Um, and congratulations…..we can’t wait till the wedding!  yay!!!!!!!!