GOOD THINGS

Today our son, Taylor, who thinks he is sixteen years old and that jumping down EIGHT stairs won't be hurtful, had surgery on his broken ankle. The doctor put two screws--that look like they are three inches long--in his bone to hold it together. The good news: His ankle is going to be fine. The bad news, he can't walk on it for six weeks. Get well and heal soon, son. We love you.

PS Being sixteen years old is overrated.This is our neighbor, Boyd who is also our home teacher. The little porcupine is his eight-month old grandson who has had hair like this since the day he was born.

And how nice is it that Boyd came to share his grandson with us. Who else would do such a thing? Boyd would, who is the best kind of a friend. We love him and his little porcupine, too.

This is the amaryllis Boyd gave us for Christmas. It bloomed in early February. Now, in March it is blooming again. So far it has two flowers but two more are on the way. What a faithful flower it is. The first bloom is busy making seeds. The last good thing is that I've found a new fingernail polish that I love. It's called China Glaze and is way superior to O. P. I. I bought a red and it lasted five days before I had to redo it. Then I bought a pink and it lasted a week and four days before it needed redoing. The index fingernail had to have a quick redo after day six, not because it chipped but because it wore off the edge from constant dish washing and my repotting the geraniums that I had stored in the basement. Really, this is the best fingernail polish I've ever used. You should buy some. Unless you are a boy and then you should buy some for your favorite girl.

I hope you had some good things in your life today, too. If not, they are a comin', I just know it.

IF SPRING WON'T COME, BORROW SOME

Spring seems to be further away than ever today. So, thanks to our home teacher, here is a little bloom in anticipation of the real thing.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

Our home teacher, Boyd, who has been our home teacher for five years--lucky us, we hope his is our home teacher forever--has brought us an Amaryllis bulb for Christmas every year for five years. Three years ago I forgot to bring them inside before the frost and so lost those bulbs. These three are from this year and two years before.

I started watering them in January. They grew almost daily.



Look at this. They are so anxious for the sunlight they stretch toward the window. When I see this I turn them.

This clock does not work. It's a reproduction from 1776.

This clock does not work either. I have four clocks in the house that do not work but I I keep them all. I keep everything--some of you know that. (Even if you don't want to be my friend anymore I won't give you up. I'm stubborn, that way.) Actually one these clocks would work if I'd wind it. Two need new mechanisms. One runs fast for three days, right on time for one to two days and slow for three days. It belonged to Grandfather Rasmussen and I love it. I think it just needs a new spring but I don't know where to get one.

This red bud is pretty, don't you think?

This is my favorite photo. The bloom in front is from the three year old bulb--I think-- and I don't know if its going to bloom at all. It's been at this stage for days but its so beautiful I don't care if it doesn't bloom, I think its simply perfect, just as a bud.

This is from this year's bulb (2007).

Thank you, Boyd, greatest home teacher in the world, for the wonderful blooms.

PS Remember how the blooms stretched toward the sun? That's what I want to do too--only it is spelled "Son." I want to stretch toward the Light of Christ and be bathed in his goodness. Then my growth will be just like the Amaryllis. Even if I don't bloom, like that one might not, it will be worth it. I will be better, more complete, at peace.