Good Books

I have become a fan of Biblical Fiction books.

I mean, I have been for a while, but now, I really really really am.

These books open your mind and heart to stories you've known for your whole life. You start to see and feel the events of the Bible in ways that you don't by just reading the story about Mary Magdalene, or Moses. These books make you think on the Bible more, not less. They make you understand God better, or realize that you really don't understand Him at all, and that He is unbelievably gracious to you in the first place.

Our television has been in the closet since the middle of December. (except for 1 hockey game during the Olympics.) Those close to us know that we greatly enjoy television entertainment, whether it be a close baseball game or our revered West Wing or Star Trek dvds. In December when the tv started living in the closet, we found we really enjoyed the "freedom" that came from not having it sitting there looking at us all the time. The Sunday afternoon lure and evening desire for it faded, and we have found ourselves thankful for plenty of other things to do, or the sleep that comes just a bit easier when not tempted to stay up to "find out what happens next."

Anyway, this relates because I have found myself reading a good deal more than before (which isn't a ton between the kids, OneWay, a growing love for "domesticity", and various other personal goals), and I remember why I used to read for hours at a time.

So for anyone out there who is looking for some great books to read, here's a list of my favorites. Just google them and you can find a synopsis if you want more.

Biblical Fiction:

By Francine Rivers:

5 quick and easy novellas about women of the Bible, now all in The Lineage of Grace, separately as

Unafraid, Unashamed, Unshaken, Unspoken, Unveiled

5 quick and easy novellas about men of the Bible:

The Priest, The Prince, The Prophet, The Scribe, The Warrior

The Chronicles of the Kings series by Lynn Austin:

Gods & Kings

Song of Redemption

The Strength of His Hand

Faith of My Fathers

Among the Gods

The Shadow Women by Angela Hunt

Magdalene by Angela Hunt

Michal by Jill Eileen Smith

Christian Fiction:

Riven by Jerry B. Jenkins (amazing! amazing!)

Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

Hidden Places by Lynn Austin

Wings of Refuge by Lynn Austin

The Turkey, Garbage Truck, and Pool

Our final spring break extravaganza was going to Phillips Park Zoo as a family. The wagon was a hit (except Anna wanted to pull it most of the time, not ride) and so was the turkey! It (he? she? - I won't ask how you can tell the difference in turkeys) seemed to take a liking to the girls and followed their wagon as far as it could. Anna was sure it would "hurt" her, yet we talked about how Daddy would keep her safe.

A relaxed father-daughter moment at the zoo playground. Becky chewed on a water bottle most of the time.

Moving on to the garbage truck...

Thursday mornings are a special time at the Willie household - the garbage and recycle trucks come around at 6:15 and 6:30am. WELL, it's a good thing Anna wakes up nice and early, otherwise should she would miss out on the absolute JOY of seeing the trucks do their thing. Watching them go by is a hobby of hers, and it is a frequent topic of conversation throughout the week.

Finally, this past weekend we went to Dubuque to see Steve's Dad's brothers and uncle. It was a wonderful retreat, and the hotel had a waterpark inside, so we made full use of the pool in their new (used) suits! What big girls!

And yes, Anna and I found ourselves as two of the lucky swimmers under the 350 gallon bucket of water dumped every eight minutes! She may have mourned for a moment (it was cold and quite a surprise), but it has become an event to relive and discuss many times each day! She will remind me of the incident: "bucket fall" "head cry". To see the big bucket, click here.

We had yummy dinner and breakfast with the rest of the family. Here Steve and Anna have a serious conversation.

Easter Day

Jesus is risen! My rock and my salvation, my fortress that will not be shaken.

After celebrating at church, we went to my parents' house where Anna went on her first "official" egg hunt. It's a 3 step process:

The finding...

the collecting...

the showing!

My sisters and I with the girls...

Our family!

Easter Preparation

In preparation for Easter, we

1) read through the Good Friday and Easter Vigil services in the Book of Common Prayer - there are amazing Bible readings in there that give immense perspective. Highly recommended. Click here to read them - once you get to the pages, search for "Page 276" and "Page 285" for the 2 services.

2) Anna dyed Easter eggs in her raincoat.

The taking the egg out of the cup:

The putting it into the "box" as she called it:

Letting the eggs dry, while more concerned with her pigtail.

Finally, spending 35 minutes putting multiple tiny stickers on each egg.

3) Anna and I made a bunny cake.

This was significant in many ways, as

a) my college roommate had us make a bunny cake for Easter 12 years ago, which was Steve and Katie's first Easter together.

b) I tried yet another new domestic project in making a new kind of bunny cake.

c) Anna put two words together for the first time to say "bunny cake." This led to many two word phrases on the way to Easter with the broader family and back. "Green shirt" "Big truck" "Mommy's backpack" - we practiced a lot!

A Girl and Her Wagon

Steve calls this one "Who needs the beach when you got a wagon?"

The substitute for a wagon on rainy days...

Cosley Zoo Adventures

We went to the zoo today with our good friends the Posts!

On the way we talked about seeing the "anmals",

and the double stroller is always handy!

We saw a lamb that had been born about an hour beforehand!

Anna and Aidan ran around - the best part of the zoo was lots of space to run,

...oh yes, and to look at animals...

...and to sit and people-watch!

The Post/Willemssen ranks!

Park Fun

So, all is not spiritual striving this spring break (see post below), as we've enjoyed the outside a great deal already!

Anna and Bethy enjoyed their first sister swing experience, backwards in the swings due to the sun.

Bethy didn't seem overly enthused, but tolerated it fine.

Aunt Kim and Anna did some digging.

And Anna rode on a yellow worm...like...thing.

Yay for spring break!