I last posted a picture of raindrops in January and now that seems like a long time ago! As usual, my days have been filled with people and things that I love and things that interest me. Right before going back to work in January I went out to North Hollywood to visit Gretchen, Anders and Lars. She took me to a park they enjoy, where we had a picnic lunch. This was before Lars was really walking and it was fun to see him push his doggy all around the park.

From the park we went to the Americana Mall, which is beautiful! 

This is the scary view out of the parking deck before going down the elevator to the mall.

  

The landscaping reminds me of Disneyland. This huge fountain and pond were so interesting to sit next to as the fountain kept changing. There was music playing in the background, too! Anders enjoyed watching the fountain.

Gretchen and Lars... enjoying the day.

This is a shot of our 3rd - 5th grade Sunday School class... this school year we're teaching every other month, so that's September, November, January, March, and May.

On Friday nights (except the last Friday of the month) we have a small group at our house where we discuss the previous week's sermon. To celebrate the end of the wonderful series going through Proverbs, I thawed the big extra turkey I'd gotten at Christmas and we had a feast!

February is the month that David has his birthday and we like to try for a long weekend golf getaway, somewhere in the desert so he can golf and I can ride along. This is a shot of that pretty mountainous section of the 60 freeway as we headed for the 10.

Lots and lots of windmills pop up all along the 10 freeway, before Palm Springs.

At the place we stayed in Palm Desert we enjoyed sitting outside to eat our breakfast and were joined by a very comfortable roadrunner!

It's so pretty in the desert in the winter. You can't beat the views!

Both times David golfed we met many people from Canada. It almost seems like all of Palm Springs is Canadian in the winter!

Look at that snow!

But David's wearing shorts.

I rode along for one of the golf games.

We're total wood scroungers, so it was exciting to be invited by Tom Tiedmanson to come collect wood at their condo! David worked very hard to fill the back of the truck, then he ferried the wood up to our woodpile while I stacked it, and we finished everything after dark. We love to have a fire in the fireplace!

March 9th Mom turned 85! We celebrated by going out to tea in Seal Beach. Sister Gretchen organized everything and last Saturday Mom, Gretchen, our Gretchen, Abigail, Heather and I had a lovely afternoon together.

Mom enjoyed everything and so did we all. 

Each person got their own teapot of tea and the lunch was very nice!

Afterwards we all went next door to a small nursery with lots of unique plants. 

Here's GG at the nursery...

Each year we have been able to go to Texas to visit Heidi's family during their Spring Break. This year was no exception and we just got home last Thursday night!

We really love flying on Virgin America... I hop right into the seat and start putting together my playlist for the trip and it's about as comfortable as a coach flight can be!

Madeline plays the violin and was practicing for a project while we were there.

Abby and Heidi in the kitchen...

Sam, climbin' the walls!

Sunday church service was good and it was nice to see Madeline playing with the music team and Abby being part of the dance/flag team.

Upstairs in the kid's department you see Heidi and David picking up Sam. The kids enter and leave their classroom area through this cabinet built into the wall.

Heidi and I in the High School area after church.

On Monday we went to the Grapevine Mills Mall! We were looking for shoes for the kids and I had a chance to do some clothes shopping too.

On Tuesday Heidi needed to work so David and I had fun taking the kids to McDonald's.

Grandpa and Madeline

Grandma, Abigail and Sam

After lunch we headed to Walmart to do a little grocery shopping for dinner that night! I made polynesian pile on, an old family favorite.

We got there before spring really sprung, but the redbud trees had just started, as well as the blossoms on the ornamental pears, so things were beginning to look pretty.

Since it was Spring Break, Heidi was involved in sponsoring a big train trip into Dallas for the kids ministry at church on Wednesday and I got to go. Here she is buying all the tickets for the 16 kids and 5 or 6 adults before the train came. 

It was a little nerve wracking being in charge of the trip, counting noses, figuring out 

when to change trains, where the park was that we were walking to, etc., 

but it all turned out well and everyone had a great time.

Sam with his buddies, Samuel and Ryder, in the train.

When we got off the train we knew there was a big new park very close by. Heidi used the GPS on her phone to get us all to the park, which turned out to be about 4 long blocks away from the train stop. This whole space, plus the actual park to the left, is built on top of a freeway overpass. On the right you can see one of the 5 food trucks that was parked there. To the immediate left is a huge grassy area covered with bright green small tables and chairs. Beyond that is an enclosed children's area with big water features, hills and toys to play on. The kids all loved it and most got soaking wet. We had all brought sack lunches so they dried off somewhat while we ate, then it was time to go catch the train for home! Short and sweet.

By Thursday, it was already time to head home! But first we had our couples golf outing at Bridlewood near where Erin and Jim used to live, which includes Heidi and I heading to the Bridlewood restaurant for lunch before the round ends. We all had a great time.

Here's Heidi on the phone, managing some upcoming dental appointments.

William and Heidi, after the game

And before we left for the airport I lined the kids up on the porch for a picture. 

Yes, they're as sweet as they look! 

Thank you Lord for our precious grandkids! Thank you for their parents, 

who love them and guide them day in and day out. Thank you for watching over them all, 

teaching them and blessing them in so many ways. 

Thank you that we're able to be part of their lives, 

even though some of them live a long ways from us. Amen.