Chronicles of Marnia

It's good crying. Good because this weekend affirmed blessings we are so grateful for...and a special season is winding down to an end, but not without a wonderful new season beginning.

The tiny little sweetheart is Averi...Peyton's buddy from treatment. Averi is actually a little bit older than Peyton, but unfortunately, her level of treatment required a bone marrow transplant when she was younger, and it has affected Averi's growth. What she lacks in height, she more than makes up for in spunk!

Peyton and former Dallas Cowboy, Daryl "Moose" Johnston. He was such a sweet man and took lots of pictures and gave lots of autographs to the kids.

This weekend also got the best of my emotions because I took Lindsay to visit a college she wants to attend. And I don't know how I'm supposed to prepare her for college when in my mind, she's still 6 years old...

Dane and I are proud alumni of Tarleton State University in Stephenville TX and for about a year now, Lindsay has been making noise about going there as well. Well, her bff in the whole wide world, Colton, got accepted a few weeks ago, so that sealed the deal for her, and now she REALLY wants to go. On Saturday, Tarleton hosted an event for potential students, so Lindsay, Colton, and Lindsay's friend PJ (also a potential student) and I went down for the event. I know Lindsay still has another year of high school left and I have some time to adjust to her leaving, but it was surreal being on campus with her and talking to her about what dorm she'd want to live in, what her major will be, etc. We had a great time and even though I'm sad and freaked out ;) I'm blessed to see her start getting her wings...

PJ, Lindsay and Colton. I told Colton not to act bad in this picture because it was going on my blog...he did it anyway....

Colton was a little tired after all the walking we did that day ;)

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We had a wonderful Spring Break and Easter weekend! We headed out Thursday morning for Lake Granbury to spend a few days with Granny and Rocky (Dane's parents). Our good friends, the Stanley's met us out there. Jerry Stanley and Dane have been friends since they were in Jr. High. Jerry and his wife Sherri brought their kids Jacob and Sara. We had a ball doing things like:


Keeping up with March Madness...
Heely-ing in Granny's loooooong drivewayTaking the boat out for some fishing (although the water was so brown and gross from the recent floods, not much was biting)Chillin in the hammock (Lindsay and Aunt Stephanie)Catching a 6lb catfishMore chillin' in the hammock (Peyton and Sara)Catching big fish we couldn't keep...cause drum are gross! (Jake)Hanging around outside by the firepitAnd roasting some marshmallowsOn Sunday, we went to Jerry's parents house in Glen Rose for their annual Easter egg hunt. The guys played washers (Dane, Jerry and Jerry's dad Ed) while the other grown-ups hid 477 (that's right 477!) easter eggs. Ed and Linda have 8 acres, so we had plenty of places to hide them :)Peyton hunting eggs
Dane relaxing after the hunt was over The girls going through their eggs. All in all they received 3 big bags of candy and about $50 (Ed and Linda put money in their easter eggs!)

The whole family! When Peyton first ended her treatment, we took the girls out to Ed and Linda's. To celebrate Peyton ending treatment, Ed took her on a four-wheeler ride. She loved it! And she won't let him forget it either. So while we were there on Easter, she and Ed took another four-wheeler drive together. Ed said this ride was better because Peyton had hair again and she's healthy. Amen to that!

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Although it's been out for quite some time, I've never had the opportunity to read Next Door Savior by Max Lucado. Frankly, Mr. Lucado cranks out books so often, I find it hard to keep up with his latest book. But I stumbled on this one and I'm in love with how he portays my Jesus in this book. Here is my favorite excerpt...so far.

Sometime ago I was asked to play a game of golf. The foursome included two preachers, a church leader, and a “Matthew, B.C.” The thought of four hours with three Christians, two of whom were pulpiteers, did not appeal to him. His best friend, a Christ follower and his boss, insisted, so he agreed. I’m happy to report that he proclaimed the experience painless. On the ninth hole he turned to one of us and said, smiling, “I’m so glad you guys are normal.” I think he meant this: “I’m glad you didn’t get in my face or club me with a King James driver. Thanks for laughing at my jokes and telling a few yourself. Thanks for being normal.” We didn’t lower standards. But neither did we saddle a high horse. We were nice. Normal and nice. Discipleship is sometimes defined by being normal. A woman in a small Arkansas community was a single mom with a frail baby. Her neighbor would stop by every few days and keep the child so she could shop. After some weeks her neighbor shared more than time; she shared her faith, and the woman did what Matthew did. She followed Christ.The friends of the young mother objected. “Do you know what those people teach?” they contested. “Here is what I know,” she told them. “They held my baby.”I think Jesus likes that kind of answer, don’t you?

Happy Resurrection Day. He is risen, indeed!!

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Melissa, Colton and Lindsay (Colton's team won!)

On Sunday, we had an awesome day worshipping with the Church Under the Bridge folks. This is a wonderful church in Waco that literally meets under the I-35 bridge near the Baylor University campus. This church is about 16 years old and came to be as a result of some people wanting to bring church and the gospel of Jesus to the homeless of that city.

Lindsay, Peyton, Joey and I met up with Scottie and Britney along with Paige, Cheyenne and Paige's friend Courtney.

Joey, Lindsay, Paige, Cheyenne and Courtney

Scottie and Britney

Guest speaker, Pastor Shane Claiborne

The PK dancers from Dallas. They hip-hop danced to AWESOME praise music!

Finishing out our fun and busy weekend at our usual Sunday eating place ;)

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