The van

It happened. Chris and I officially became "adults." We traded in the Rumble Bee and the G6 for a Chrysler 300c and a Chrysler Town & Country minivan. That's right, a van.

I love it. So. Much. Not only is it a really pretty color (officially, its color is called Clearwater Blue Pearl), but also it is super comfy and fun to drive.

The van was actually traded for the Rumble Bee, which was to be getting its new vanity plate next month. The vanity plate I ordered a super long time ago for the Rumble Bee? BIG BEE. That's right. Now the van will sport said vanity plate. Silly.

But at least I'll be comfortable as I drive around town.

Easter preparations

Today was Emma's last day of school this week, since they will have Good Friday off. I guess they watched a movie about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection as a way of explaining why we celebrate Easter. I know no other information than what Emma told me when I picked her up: which was that they watched a movie about how Jesus died. I told her that's what Easter is all about; and she said it's important that people know about Jesus. My heart swelled.

This evening we ate dinner with my parents and my grandpa, who lives in Florida and has been visiting at their house for a few days. It was really nice to see him, and I was so glad he and Emma got a chance to play together. After dinner Emma was so excited to color Easter eggs, which is what she, my mom and I did.

Our eggs turned out beautifully.

We ended up with 3 cartons of colored eggs (minus the one Emma and I ate). My mom gave Emma the choice of which ones she wanted to take. She wanted to take them all. So we came home with 3 cartons of colored eggs (minus the one Emma and I ate). Looks like deviled egg- and egg salad-making time at the Heacock house.

We even made a few special eggs:

Emma colored all over the last several she did with the crayon before she dyed them. They are so cute.

Here is a photo of Emma and her great-grandpa. (Neither he nor my dad colored eggs with us, but they watched and encouraged us.) My mom was taking their picture at the same time, which is why they were looking at her when I snapped this photo.

On our way home from my parents' house, Emma said, "I didn't like the part of the movie where they whipped Jesus. Or the crown of thorns."

I said, "It's sad what they did to Him, isn't it?" She agreed. I told her the really sad part was that He hadn't done anything wrong when they did that to Him. But, I said, it was good that He did that, because He did it for us because He loves us. She agreed again and said it was good that He did that so we can go to heaven. And again, my heart swelled.

I really enjoy talking about Jesus with Emma. I'm so glad she gets to learn about Him in Sunday school and at her preschool. Even for a 5 year old, she seems to really understand. I only hope and pray that I can continue to encourage her and help her learn and understand more.

I'm so glad that, even though she knows the Easter Bunny is coming, Emma understands that Easter is more important and more special than that.

Faith like a child

Chris is working a men's Kairos weekend starting today in Plainfield, IN. Kairos is a prison ministry where people go into the prison to teach incarcerated individuals about Christ's love and forgiveness. This is the third Kairos weekend of which Chris has been a part.

Last night Emma and I were driving home, and I told her that Daddy wouldn't be around much for the next few days because he was going to the prison. Emma asked, "Is he going to get locked up?" After giggling, I told Emma that Daddy was not going to "get locked up." I told her he was going to there to teach the prisoners about Jesus.

I asked Emma if she knew what Jesus did for us, and she said, "He died." I asked her why He died, and her answer was, "So we can go to heaven."

Jesus said so in Matthew 18:3, "And he said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" It's simple. It's faith.

10 years

Today is mine and Chris's 10th wedding anniversary! Ten years ago today we got married at First Christian Church in Martinsville, Indiana. Dr. Larry Kuntz, the pastor I'd known pretty much my whole life, performed the ceremony. My dress was gorgeous, and Chris looked so handsome in a white tuxedo. (I currently don't have any of our wedding photos scanned onto my computer. I'll get to it sometime.)

We had lots of family and friends around us that day. Most of them are in our lives still: some have left this world to be with Jesus, some have left because that happens sometimes, and some are even closer to us today than they were back then. No matter what the case may be now, each and every person who was there made our special day perfect.

We've been through a lot in these past 10 years. We've had lots of laughs and great times, and we've also had our share of hard and trying times; all of it has brought us to where we are today. I can't wait to see what the next 10, 20, 30, 40+ years bring!

Live theater etiquette

After attending two live shows at Butler University's Clowes Hall this week, I feel it necessary to go over a few basic rules for proper etiquette while attending a live theater production.

1. Arrive EARLY at the show to give yourself enough time to find your seats, go to the restroom, and/or get situated BEFORE the show starts. You would not believe how many people I witnessed at just two live events arriving after the show started, thus making the ushers shine their flashlights all over and everyone get up so the latecomers could skooch slowly by to their seats.

2. If you have to get up to use the restroom, go before the show, during a scene break, in between songs (at a concert), or at intermission. The same goes for going to the lobby to buy show souvenirs. Then you won't have to walk in front of people as they are trying to see the show; nor will you have to interrupt people by saying, "Sorry, excuse me!" to everyone you pass, thus causing them to not be able to hear what's happening on stage.

3. Emergencies happen, but when they happen 5 times during one show they are no longer "emergencies" and are "normal behavior." Consider this when ordering tickets for younger children. For heaven's sake, people, you know how your kids behave (or don't) when they are forced to stay in one place for a certain amount of time. Just because they are going to a show that will feature their favorite performer does NOT mean that their behavior will miraculously change.

/stepping off soapbox