On Tuesday, we went to the Lisbon Zoo. It’s a very old zoo and right in town. I (Anna) enjoyed the spring blossoms everywhere and the kids enjoyed all the animals. The highlights were the bird show and the dolphin show … despite the fact that we didn’t understand most of what was said!

We don't know if this structure is old or just looks old ...

As you can see, the girls are getting big. Shyanna is 9, Ezri just turned 11, and Isaac will be 18 in September!!

We also went to Sintra, which is a beautiful old town with a castle and two palaces. We couldn’t find parking near the palace, and we were under a bit of a time constraint because of a birthday party, so we went to the toy museum instead. We’re going to do the palace on a different day when we have time to take the shuttle bus from town …

Ooouuch.

What did you/will you do for spring break?

“My family loves

each other like birds

                   flying together

and

                   singing together,

playing together

                           and

munching together.

              I hope it

         goes on forever.”

                                   Ezri Ana

Has there ever been anything cuter than my twin baby neices?

Wait, did I forget to mention the garden is off limits?

A good time was had by all.

I was pretty sure I was living in Narnia where it’s always winter and never Christmas

On Thursday

It was 56 degrees and I had to spend the whole day in the car (which is a completely different blog post).

Today it was 45 and cloudy and we’re supposed to get rain mixed with snow showers.

I wonder what the first week of spring has in store for us.

Well, it certainly wasn’t my agenda, but from a kid’s perspective it really has been a perfect day for a snow day.

Deuteronomy 6 says, “Impress them [God's commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. “ 

Recently I was gathering the girls up for our nightly story when I got a good lesson in why God asked us to talk about his word constantly. 

Reading the title of our next story about Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, I said, “Let’s see, ‘The Fiery Furnace.’  Do either of you know this story?”

Shyanna said, in her best of-course-I-do-what-am-I-stupid? attitude, “Yeah, yeah, Jesus burns the bush.”

I said, “No, not quite.”

Somewhat taken back, Shyanna said, “Oh,” and after a short pause, not really sure now how to answer, “The stick turns into a thing?”

The conversation was comical, but the lesson for me was strong.  Our minds are so feeble.  We need to hear God’s truth over and over again.  With regard to my kids he gave me the responsibility to tell it and tell it and tell it…

“Veneece La-di-dah, everybody!”
                                            – Shyanna

“An anniversary is when people get married, and then they have big children, and then, a little bit later, they have an anniversary.”    – Ezri (8)

I never want to become a person who doesn’t stop to wonder at the sky at sunset.