It's hard not to fall behind, so many of these pictures--most--are from the last week in March.
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| Old snow...new snow drops on the way to Lake Acotink |
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| So fresh -- snow drops |
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Scenes from story time with 2nd graders
The little girl in the front row with the lighter pink dress is named Talia. She's a twin of Isaac (different class) and has always reminded me of Lena a little in looks. So she's one of my faves! |
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| Fourth graders doing some research on databases |
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| I started the 2013 taxes. I knew this day was coming, but it is still rather poignant, even sad, to think that we can claim no dependents any more. Plus it means paying a lot more taxes! Ugh! |
Actually, now two Sundays ago, Steve and I decided to go to the National Gallery after worship (March 23). We had gone to the later worship service in order to see a young friend confirmed, at his invitation. He had been a fellow at McLean Presbyterian a few years ago and one of Steve's students. His name is Garrett, and he is the young man whose uncle owns Noah's Ark, the river rafting business in Buena Vista, Colorado. Last summer he took us on a half day of rafting as a treat. It was so much fun!
Anyway, there were probably close to 70 people being confirmed, which makes the service long. However, the bishop of our diocese (even though I still have a hard time with the idea of "bishops" and all) lays his hands on the head of each one and prays:
Strengthen, O Lord, your servant Garrett with your Holy Spirit;
empower him for your service; and sustain him by your grace
all the days of his life. Amen
I love that prayer and felt I needed it for myself with each time he laid hands on another confirmant (I think they're called).
After the service we headed to the National Gallery, first to the cafeteria for a cup of tea and a salad.
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| Wall of water! |
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| Garden Area |
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| Thank you, Vincent Van Gogh! |
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| Azaeleas in the main rotunda |
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There was an interesting, though very small, exhibit of the real artifacts of the Monument Men. This is a horrible picture. It was under glass and then I made myself a shadow over it taking the picture! In my mind I contrasted this with the amazing museum quality pictures Becca takes and posts on her blog :/.
Since some of the family were in Florence at the time I took this picture, I thought it was interesting. This is a booklet given to servicemen to help them in their search for information about valuable art that needs to be protected or "liberated."
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| Table set for a friend coming to dinner. She brought the daffodils below. |
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The hope of spring! Pansies on the table and store-bought daffodils in a vase. Note the snow covering everything outside the window.
(Now our yard is absolutely filled with blooming daffodils, but two weeks ago it was not.) |
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| Last snow...first daffodils |
On Friday, March 28, Steve spoke at the "Blue" conference put on by Fairfax Community Church. It's called Blue because it's for the people in their congregation who sit in the "blue" theater seats in this auditorium week in and week out. It was a conference on vocation and calling--the second annual. It's amazing how we can live so close to this church and not have known much about it at all. Yet it is large and vital and doing stuff like the Blue conference! I went Friday evening and snapped this picture the evening with Amena Brown and DJ OPDiggy in a live poetry performance.
