April 30th: "A Gift Given, Made, Sacrificed"

#359  Lucy's gifts for the family---cut from the newspaper

            (Joel's bike, my swimsuit, Jack's golden heart, and Ella's "Barbie")

#360  The Twins' Mother's Day invitations for preschool.

#361  Joel's time with Jack at soccer practice

April 29th: "Three Gifts In Dirt"

Author's Note:  Not only did we not play in dirt on this day, I didn't take a single picture.  Hence, the gifts listed are from Saturday, when my Daddy---who LOVES to play in dirt, was visiting.  And while they are not necessarily in "dirt"....it IS outside....and dirt is underfoot.

#356  Little boy feet in soccer socks and cleats

#357  Togetherness at the soccer field

#358  Art in the outdoors  (Thank you, Art on Elm Avenue!!)

April 28th: "Three Gifts Orange"

#353  Lucy's butterfly wings...and she flits and floats

#354  The "Adventure Bag"....always at the ready

#355  Jack's life jacket....ready for another summer

April 27th: "Three Gifts 'Ugly Beautiful'"

#350  Popsicle faces

#351  Mosquito bites while playing restaurant

#352  Awful spelling on a sweet note from the precious Eldest

April 26th: "Three Gifts Moving"

#347  Trains that move at the push of a button...always the 1st stop in the museum.

#348  Four-year-old boys in the transportation room

#349  Sibling fruit bats playing nicely together

April 25th: "A Gift Cloth, Steel, Wood"

#344  Colors of Capture the Flag...how bandanas can create bonds

#345  Wedding gift patio set...14 years going strong

#346  Completed projects...and Papa's wood-burning tool

April 24th: "Three Gifts Fragile"

#341  Plastic salt shakers (apparently) when dropped from the counter...

                ...thankful it wasn't glass that shatters...

#342  Old salt shakers that are new to us  

               (thanks to Mom & Dad's New Orleans trip with Uncle Darrel & Aunt Judy)

#343  The children's new penny jars

April 23rd: "Three Gifts Reflecting"

#338  Ella in the van mirrors...our alone time after school.

#339  Lucy at ballet....lost in the mirror

#340  Reflecting on weekend reflections....splendid.

April 22nd: "Three Gifts Close"

#335  The ceiling at Poppa Rollo's....sitting upstairs in one of the best booths....the five packed in cozy.

#336  Sisters  (watching the activity below)

#337  Jack and The Little Rascals

April 21st: "Three Gifts Found In Christ"

(Happy Birthday, Tante...)

Had John 15 on the brain today as we worked outside in the yard....

#332  Being pruned....

"I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener.  

He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, 

and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, 

so that it will be clean and bear more fruit."

John 15: 1-2

#333  Bearing fruit....

"I am the vine, and you are the branches. 

Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; 

for you can do nothing without me."

John 15: 5

#334  Joy...

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you 

and that your joy may be complete."

 John 15: 11

April 20th: "A Gift Stacked, Stashed, Stilled"

#329  Calendar, Bible, Journal....stacked in no particular order

#330  Church bag and "Adventure" backpack...stashed under my computer

#331  Four-Year-Olds...stilled by The Land Before Time

April 19th: "Three Gifts Square"

Author's Note:  Last night, I was given the gift of unhurried, unplanned time downtown with my camera in hand.  No kids with me, no place to be, no obligations---just capturing what I saw.  Followed by a splendid girls' time with some friends and frozen yogurt.  {sigh}  Here's what I have to show for it:

#326  A trellis in a garden....and support for growth

#327  Windows on the Hilton...and quiet retreats

#328  Glass blocks...and letting light in

April 18th: "Three Gifts Inherited"

Author's Note:  This would have been my grandmother's 100th birthday....there's no Google Doodle to celebrate that, but I just pause to acknowledge the life of Pauline Elizabeth Cornelison.  If you didn't know my Mema, may you have known someone almost as wonderful.  What an appropriate theme for today....

#323  Mema's Fostoria:  Sweet & Dainty but Practical & Strong

#324  Mom's smile, giving nature, and habit of serving...

#325  Dad's "meaty" chin, cuddle tendencies, and sense of humor...

April 17th: "Three Gifts Woven Together"

#320  The sweater that made her look so grown up...

#321  Our family picnic quilt...

#322  The Butterfly Keeper and the bonds that come from working together...

April 16th: "Three Hard Eucharisteos"

#317  Not as much time like this, and more time that's burdened and hurried...

#318  Friends in seasons of pain and loneliness...

#319  My husband on a "date" with another "woman"....  

         (What was that about time passing hurried?)

April 15th: "A Gift in a Bag, in a Box, in a Book"

#314  My art journal in my church bag...visualizing God's love

#315  My sewing tools in my Mother's sewing box...ready for mending and tending

#316  My memories and images of special places in my free bi-annual Shutterfly photo book

April 14th: "Three Gifts Found Looking Up"

#311  Evidence of some crepe-myrtle-lovin' insect....I like to imagine a caterpillar of some kind.

#312  A giant cotton ball floating by as soon as I looked up

#313  Our lovely and abundant trees...the shade, the sound