Bits and Pieces

Mike's knee is healing well after the surgery. He is continuing with physical therapy. He is still having some issues with swelling, and there is some fluid build-up on the knee. The doctor said this is normal and he can come back into the office to have the fluid drawn off. So far, he is waiting on that; he said the last time he had a needle in that knee it was excruciatingly painful.

I'm still having alot of pain in my foot. The plantar fasciitis is not getting any better. Of course, I'm not doing the exercises for it like I'm supposed to be doing, either. Who has the time?? And I'm not wearing the splint at night as much either. It is terribly uncomfortable, and extremely bulky. However, the pain is getting to the point that I am now ready to buckle down and make time to do the exercises! The next step in the treatment plan is to have a cortisone-steroid injection, and I'm really hoping to evade that step.

We are on the road a good bit now with softball games. (We just roll from one sport right into the next around here!) Kate, of course, is our avid sports fanatic and we just finished up basketball season, and have moved into her all time favorite sport, softball. She plays 3rd base, and is the second string pitcher. By the way, I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but Mike played 3rd base and pitcher for his high school baseball team! How neat is that?!?

We started our Easter reading. I usually don't start early enough to finish on time, so hopefully we'll be able to stay on schedule this year :) We are reading The Final Week of Jesus by Max Lucado.

We try to read one chapter each night, try to imagine the events that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus, try to imagine His choosing to take our (my) sin onto His own body...

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride

See from His head, His hands, His feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down

Did ever such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Oh the wonderful cross, oh the wonderful cross

Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live

Oh the wonderful cross, oh the wonderful cross

All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were an offering far too small

Love so amazing, so divine

Demands my soul, my life, my all

                                                                                                ...The Wonderful Cross, by Matt Redman

I ordered the book Amon's Adventure, by Arnold Ytreeide, today. I've been seeing it mentioned on a few different blogs I read, so I thought I'd check into it. We read Jotham's Journey for Christmas Advent a few years ago, so when I read that Amon is (a now grown) Jotham's son, I thought, "How neat is that?" I don't know if we'll be able to read this story for Easter this year, but we'll see.

While I was searching for Amon's Adventure on christianbook.com,  I found a few good dvds to put in my children's Easter baskets... the newest Chronicles of Narnia dvd (due to be released on April 8th) for my oldest son... My Friend, Flicka for my daughter (I remember reading that book when I was in elementary school)... and Greatest Heroes and Legends of the Bible dvd for my youngest son. I remember when they were little (I seem to be so fond of doing that lately) I loved giving them VeggieTales in their Easter baskets. Now they've outgrown VeggieTales. But we will on occasion, pull one out and watch it together.

I truly love this time of the year, anticipating all the ways we celebrate this most holy of seasons, reflecting on the cross, reflecting on Christ's love for a sinner like me.