Yes, it did!  You'd think after living in WI for more than a decade now, that I'd get used to the idea that we generally can't expect spring weather and easter dresses on that holiday.  Well, one year we DID hunt for easter eggs in the backyard....must have been a late easter that year.  Anyway, there were FLURRIES as we bundled out to Sunday School on Sunday morning.  Leah did wear one of Anna's previous Easter dresses and was very cute....I just have to make sure they have sweaters to wear.  Alas, no pictures. 

Does that mean I have to say something substantial?  There's really not much to say.  We are gearing up for our annual staff retreat....a wonderful break once we get there, but an incredible stress in the week leading up.  We have a couple coming here to watch the girls [read: clean entire house so they don't know how messy we really are] and the boys are going down to Matt's moms house.  I feel like there is a giant clock ticking nonstop....steadily ticking down to Monday.

We're trying to accomplish schoolwork as well.  Anna is almost done with her work for the year.  She is reading SO well!  She sounds out just about anything now.  The boys just learned how to borrow and are starting multiplication next week.  (they've been introduced to it before, but this is SECOND grade multiplication)  They are adding thousands now too with carrying.

And our mommy dove has finally laid her eggs after several weeks of poking around the nest.  Cool!

What am I reading these days?  I haven't been doing alot of recreational reading....other than an occasional readers digest or News magazine.  I'm really enjoying "The Big Picture" by Tommy Nelson.  Matt's been listening to Tommy's podcasts from Denton Bible Church in TX for awhile now.  He specializes in Church and Biblical History, and I'm enjoying the book. 

I have only three more days in the book of Daniel with Beth Moore!  I know, it's taken me forever.  But you know, I've done 2 of her studies on my own, and about 4 with a group.  And I get so much more out of the ones I do on my own simply b/c I'm not tempted to rush through a chapter to keep up with the group schedule.  Do I ever return to those quickly scribbled chapters or missed audio sessions?  Historically....no.  So, I feel like doing the indepth study and audio sessions on my own has been very fruitful for me even though it does take me a bit longer.  And I think Daniel is my new favorite book of the Bible!  So much we can learn from his life, and then there's all that detailed prophecy about things that didn't happen for hundreds of years....so AMAZING!   

I'm really excited about the Amazon order I placed the other day.  A few years ago, when our wives study did Jesus: the One and Only, I remembered really wanting to study further on Jewish feasts and customs.  Beth had mentioned something in an audio session about some great books that have helped her with that, and I attempted to track down those titles via e-mail from her ministry.  No luck, and I forgot about it.  Now after studying Daniel, I was again impressed with the desire to know more about the feasts and celebrations/traditions of ancient Jewish culture.  I feel like it would help me so much with context and Bible study.  So, this time I called Living Proof.  The lady I spoke with was very sweet, and told me that if I could remember about what lesson Beth mentioned the books....that there are footnotes at the end of each chapter in the study book that list all her reference material.  Duh. 

I remembered that it was her in depth look at the Last Supper that had so wowed me.  Talking about the 4 cups, singing the Hallel and how significant all of that was to Jesus that night....how He was the very fulfillment of all of it.  I'd never read the account of the Last Supper with such understanding.  So, I looked at the footnotes of that lesson and sure enough, two titles......both of which I ordered from Amazon (one for only $3 used!)  "The Feasts of the Lord:  God's prophetic calendar to calvary" by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal and "Manners and Customs of Bible Lands" by Fred Wight.  They are coming!  Yay!  I also ordered the next study I want to do with Beth....."Stepping Up: Psalms of the Ascent".  I can't wait!