SPRING: EASTER, MARSHALL'S 40TH, MOTHERS DAY AND END OF SCHOOL

SPRING ON THE BELL FARM

Lots of special occassions this Spring --Easter, Marshall's 40th, Mother's day . . .end of the school year celebrations. 

 For Pawpaw and me any time we're with the family -- it's a big deal!  

Charlie and Pawpaw conferencing about HEAVEN. Charlie wanted to make sure he and Calvin were going there. 

 KATIE PLANNED A SCOTSDALE TRIP FOR MARSHALL'S 40TH  BIRTHDAY AND THE 3 C'S JOIN US IN TULSA

The kids earned coins for all their good choices and earned a trip to DollarTree.  

I had promised a trip to the school playground -- it was closed -- so we found Lafortune Park even more fun. . . wrappy it up with QT slushies!

These kids were the very best!!!  I love it when we all go to services together!

😊Spring was a busy time for the Bells and the Goods --

With sports, school activities and trips both our families were always on the go.  Aunt Katie and Uncle Marshall showed up at one of Campbell's LaCrosse games in OKC. 

Everyone played LaCrosse and Sydney added soccer, and Campbell and Jack added tennis and Jack even played golf.   Whew!!!  Bethany and Mat found their weekends full of games and tournaments.

Campbell played a LaCrosse Tournament in Dallas June 5

Sydney modeled for Dillards Spring Fashion Show.

MOTHER'S DAY - Just like Easter, Marshall and Mat had to be on call.  We had a wonderful brunch at Cedar Ridge and posed for our annual pictures --

All six of our grands have had the best school year!  From Calvin's nursery school to Campbells completion of 5th grade -- they all received special recognition for their hard work and even more than that their character and concern for others.  From helpfulness to leadership to kindness our special six take notice of others and work to make their classroom a better place.  Sydney has enjoyed the Chinese curriculum for two years -- 

Jack's celebration of learning. . . 

 

Sydney's Invention Convention and celebration of learning . . . 

Charlie's preschool graduation

WRAPPING UP THE SCHOOL YEAR . . .  the last day of school finally came!!!

WHICH TOMB???

 Twenty-four years ago when we traveled to Israel just a week after Easter - we were able to visit all of the important sites.  We visited the Church of the Nativity, saw what was probably the Upper Room,  walked the Via Del Rosa, and came to two locations both believed to be the possible tomb of Jesus.

One had a cathedral erected on it -- 

The other was a garden tomb.  Gordon's tomb.  I connected with it because it gave time to pause and reflect on that pivotal Resurrection morning.

Could one of these possibly be the site where Jesus was buried???   I'm not sure it really matters ---

Both were EMPTY!!!!  What we know from the Sacred Word -- is it was EMPTY!

And that MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!!

Going Green

 Ever since we visited Ireland in 2001 and met the jovial countrymen, traveling the backroads through the lush green meadows, I have been drawn to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  I love to make corned beef, we've found some great Irish soda bread on the market and everything about this day is worth celebrating-- maybe its because against the backdrop of winter gray -- the bright green is a welcome sight. 

But more than that --I think it is because Charles Artie Bell II was born just hours before March 17th!

 We  kicked off the week with a family dinner of corned beef and cabbage Sunday night with the whole Good clan as Jim and Jan were in town.  Sydney asked to sleep over on Wednesday night and invited Jack to come along.

 Bethany and I had visited the Greenwood Rising Museum earlier on Wednesday and it was inspiring and convicting at the same time.  Sydney and Jack wanted to sleep over and as she dropped us off both kids had plans for what we could do next.   Sydney wanted a scavenger hunt --Jack wanted to make a Leprachun trap.  He asked if I'd ever caught one -- I had to confess I hadn't and had never made a trap.

He worked for over an hour and made the perfect one.  He said there had to be coins to entice him.

Seeing that he sincerely thought he could catch one -- I decided to plant one in his trap after he'd gone to sleep that I had bought as we were leaving Ireland.   

Jack woke us up yesterday morning so excited that he'd caught a leprauchan!  He was being cautious because he was afraid that it would vanish.  I assured him it wouldn't.  Since he was upside down - Sydney thought we should put ice on his head.  When he examined it closer -- he could see that it was only a stuffed toy. The look of disappointment on his face was gut-wrenching.  He said quietly,  "I prayed for one last night".  Way to go, Nana!

Yesterday afternoon we got to celebrate Charlie's 5th  birthday with a cousin birthday party.  

Last night we enjoyed corned beef and cabbage at Bethany and Mat's and loved watching all 6 romp and play for hours.  The older Goodlett's each look after the 3 little Bells so well oftentimes pairing up one-on-one.  Campbell looked after Calvin and swung him on the swing for hours.  He was definitely taken with her.  Jack dressed them all up in super hero capes.  Yes, they truly are OUR superheroes!!

This verse from Psalms 103 spoke to my heart today:

But from everlasting to everlasting
    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
    and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant
    and remember to obey his precepts.