Before I share what our March 2012 was like, I have to say how sad I am for those who lost their children and loved ones in Connecticut yesterday.  I cannot imagine the pain that they are all going through.  I have thoughts about the why's and how's, but those are best left for another time when the grief is not so fresh.  I pray that they would all find hope and comfort during this sorrowful time.

Also, a quick review of The Hobbit......Wonderful!  Probably not as epic as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but fun, thought-provoking, and challenging just the same.  Peter Jackson's ability to make Middle Earth come to life is simply astounding!  It's probably a bit too much for younger kids, especially on the big screen where everything is so "right in your face", so to speak!  Now I need to finish my re-read of The Hobbit!

So, March 2012.........

L & S chose the first weekend of March to dedicate our little E to the Lord.  I can't begin to describe, as a mom, how wonderful it is to see your children choose to follow hard after God and to make the decision to raise their children to do the same.

Our family-saying "Yes" to being alongside of them as they raise their children, dedicated to Elohim!

Five generations on Grandpa's side!

Four generations on Grandma's side!

The very next day we spent at the Iowa State Capitol.  There were honoring the sailors from Iowa who had been aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis.  Most people don't know that my paternal grandfather went down with the ship, July 29, 1945.  They had just delivered the atomic bomb to Tinian and were on their way home when they were torpedoed by a Japanese submarine.  The story was made into a movie, Mission of the Sharks, and many books have been written about it.  Iowa had never honored those aboard and we were honored to be able to take part.

Sitting in the Speaker of the Iowa House chair with our local Representative, Dan Kelly

My grandfather

March also brought the joy of my sister telling us she and her husband were expecting their 3rd child. March also brought late spring temperatures!  It was crazy just how warm it was. We were able to celebrate Pops birthday outside!

In mid-March, we got the news that our pastor of 19 years (20 for the church) had decided to step down.  It came as quite a shock, but a part of me knew that the time was right. It was hard to say "good-bye" to him in that capacity, but he's never more than an e-mail away when I have those off-the-wall questions!

The end of the month brought a fun trip to the Science Center in Des Moines.  They were featuring an Egyptian exhibit.  S finally got to see a "real live dead mummy".  It was quite moving, actually, to stand so near that mummified girl and wonder what her life was like so very long ago...........

Baby E is tucked in there for her first camel "ride"!