Spring Break!

These were taken earlier this week on Bethany's six month birthday! 

Today is my first official day of spring break.  I'm so excited!  With ten days off, the possibilities seem endless.  Yesterday was an extraordinarily good day and it just made the lead into today that much better.

Great things about yesterday:

A former student brought me chocolate pastries as a way to say thank you for letting her come in to grade papers.  Yes, you read that correctly.  (She emailed earlier this week asking if she could come help me.  I almost squealed in gratitude when I read it, especially since grades were due!)    She is an incredibly intelligent, gracious, thoughtful, and generous young lady.  She is one of those kids who have absolutely nothing to hide from her mom and dad - and she openly says she has no desire to hide anything from them.  She and her family are very close because they spend a lot of time together, openly talk about everything, and her parents are genuinely interested in her and her siblings.  Her parents are wonderful people.  I always tell her mother that I am willing to pay her to take a class on parenting from her because her four children are such great kids.  I have her brother as a student this year and he is also an outstanding young man.  Thanks to his sister, finishing report cards was a breeze!

My husband and I had a nice little date night at home.  To kick off spring break, we had pizza and watched Tangled after Bethany went to sleep.  The movie was super cute, although, the witch was very creepy and the mental abuse she dished out on Rapunzel was just NOT okay.  It made me sad to think of the cruelty that exists in our world and how trapped people can feel by it.  The best part of the movie is that Rapunzel really does save herself and that our dashing out-law orphan hero who-just-needs-a-second-chance actually sacrifices of himself to win her heart . . . he doesn't just slay a dragon. 

Marcus and I got to Skype with Bobby and Katie.  It was great getting to see their faces and talk to them for a little bit.  I miss them so much and am so inspired by their love for God.  They take their calling so seriously and they are some of the most selfless people I know.  Great things are happening around them and even greater things are yet to come for them, indeed!

I had a nice chat on the phone with Sara.  Marcus and I are planning our first big family trip to visit Sara and her husband this summer in Denver!  She and I can't stop talking about it. 

My friends, Robyn and Doug brought their daughter into the world!!!  Taylor Brynn was born right on her due date and I can't wait to visit them today!

. . . . As you can see, my lead into today was a great one.   Right now, I'm loving this morning at home, watching my baby girl sleep, and going over my check-list of goals for the week ahead.  It is a beautiful day!