Pilgrim provides

This was the dinner a church member brought over for us last night - ham, boiled potatoes, salad and Milano cookies. It's so nice to not have to worry about what to plan for dinner. They brought dinner last night and will bring it next Monday, Wednesday and Friday. After that, I think we'll be ready to be on our own.

Flower power

Not long after I got home yesterday (after surgery on Wednesday), we got a delivery of these blue and white flowers from Rob in Andy's office. The card said I should "Put Andy to work around the house." A couple hours later, this bouquet was delivered from Andy's entire office. And a woman from church dropped off a roasted chicken for dinner and buttery mashed potatoes.

Nevermind me

Muffles is trying to blend in with L's Confirmation cards because he knows he's not supposed to be sitting on the mantle.

Where's E?

This was the spring 2016 initiation picture posted on Facebook by E's sorority. Can you find her? She's in a blue dress and she's in the Epsilon.

Bestie box

Another surprise arrived in the mail, though I should have known something was up when she asked me recently what my favorite color was. My surprise was a box of goodies from my bestie forever, Darla. She sent me a soft blanket with sweet sayings on it like, "Lots of love," "Warm hugs," and "Good wishes" and a box full of too many items to mention - lip balm, warm socks, lotions, a book, scarf (that was blue!), tissues, tea and, of course, candy! The little picture is the front of the card she sent along. So sweet.

Care package

Look what came in the mail today - a care package from Cindy with some pajamas and lots of candy, including M&Ms. It's almost like she knew B had three friends over this weekend and they emptied my M&M jar. Allison went to the store for me and bought a wedge pillow and mom-in-law sent over more chocolate! I'm all set.

Flowers for me

Our neighbor, S, dropped off these pretty flowers for me today, at the start of what's going to be a pretty challenging week.

Happy girl

The boyfriend sent E her birthday present. Part of it was this "Star Wars" shirt. She also passed her most recent karate test and has earned her green belt!

Blooming

This bush was planted last summer by our landscaper. I'm not sure what it is, but it's blooming and it's pretty, and just in time to celebrate Earth Day today.

Cheap lunch

So E sent me this photo of her eating a Jimmy John's sandwich. It was the company's Customer Appreciation Day and they were selling sandwiches for $1. She also took a picture of the line. Apparently, a lot of college students like cheap lunches.

Lone survivor

Years ago I had several tulips in my yard. After the landscaping work we had done last summer, and the fact that I don't dig up the bulbs each fall, it looks like this year we're only going to have one tulip bloom.

ISU pride

Andy's latest golf accessory.

L's mustache

Because you have to wear the paper mustache from the Screamin' Sicilian box when you're reading how to heat the company's new stromboli.

L's Confirmation

L and her Confirmation mentor, K.

K had some lovely words to say about L during the service: "I can't say I remember the first day I met L but I do know she was one of the first people I got to know at Pilgrim. Always creative in her style of dress, always up for adventure and always willing to be a friend, L has a love for life and energy that is contagious. L wants to be a teacher, plays the flute and loves to bake. She has a beautiful voice and loves 'Dr. Who.' She's grateful for her family's support though she hasn't always liked being the youngest. She's happy to have her godparents, Julie and Kevin, here today as well as her Aunt Allison. Whether it's during children's moment, at camp, on retreats or in Sunday School, L challenges the status quo. She has such a creative mind and a sense of fairness. She will never let Pilgrim be content with the phrase, 'That's how we have always one it' and she will always want to know the why. I feel blessed to have spent time with L, watch her grow up before my eyes, watch her be a champion for those less able than herself. For all these reasons and many more, Pilgrim is blessed to have L as part o our church family and L will always be a part of my family."

The laying on of hands as L's confirmed by the pastor, her mentor and three Confirmation teachers.

Six students went through the Confirmation classes and four decided to be confirmed.

All of the church's ministries gave the confirmands gifts. Here, L gets a doughnut shirt. She also received silver cross earrings, a confirmation coin, work gloves, a UCC mug, water bottle, musics CDs, a Pilgrim hat and her mentor gave her a wooden keepsake box.

L with Aunt Allison, Aunt Julie and Uncle Kevin after the service.

The church hosted a potluck luncheon after the service with lots of food ...

... and a celebratory chocolate cake!

Andy's new toy

Look what arrived in the mail - a new voice-activated TV remote.

Birthday girl

I asked E to send me a photo of herself on her birthday, but she said she was too busy. However, she surprised me this morning and sent me a picture of herself. Does she look older? She certainly looks happy for being headed to a 9 a.m. class. Maybe she's smiling because the sun is shining.

Classy

One of the problems of parking on the street is that occasionally, your mirror gets hit. Since mine was already compromised by my eldest, who, of course, had no idea why she came back from the mall with the mirror jiggled out of position, this hit was enough to make it so I can't possibly adjust it to see with it. I threw a couple of rubberbands around it hoping it will keep the mirror from falling and breaking before Andy has a chance to try to get it fixed this weekend. I certainly don't need seven years of bad luck.

No thanks

Not sure why this ended up in my email, but I'm not that old (at least I don't think I am) and I'm not in the market.

Japanese Honor Society

A few pictures from B's induction into the school's Japanese Honor Society this afternoon:

Bowing to sensei after receiving his membership certificate.

B was chosen to read at the ceremony, maybe because he was standing closest to sensei?

After he was done reading, he tried to pass the paper to the girl next to him, but sensei wanted it back. The reading was over. I love the look on his face.

And here's the whole gang with their certificates before heading to the reception to celebrate all the foreign language honor societies.

Curtain cat

Last Confirmation class

L had her last Confirmation class yesterday. Next Sunday is the Confirmation service. I'm not sure what they were doing with the balloons in these pictures, but they look like they were having a lot of fun.

And more snow

This is what we woke up to this morning. Isn't this supposed to be April?

Navy Pier and snow

L couldn't resist making herself a Build-a-Bear today while her class was visiting Navy Pier for a Shakespeare play. The kids had a couple hours to be "on their own" so she and a friend headed straight to the store.

And, yes, that's snow (really big flakes) on April 8.

Lucky lady

L has been playing Jewel's promotional Monopoly game because I've long since given up on ever winning. I told her whatever she wins, she gets to keep. Well, she won a $25 Jewel gift card but doesn't want to claim her prize because she'd have to turn in the whole board. She'd rather wait till the game is over and try to win more things.

Yay, B!

We received a letter in the mail today inviting B to be initiated into the school's Japanese Honor Society, Nihongo Yutoseikai, on Tuesday. He's done really well in Japanese this year and L is thrilled she'll have a well-qualified, in-home tutor for when she starts taking Japanese in the fall.

Cat gymnastics

... with some help from L.

B's perch

I kind of like when B comes to the living room, sits on his "perch" and talks to me.

Visitors

Mom and Cindy had a fun day yesterday with the kids while we were at ISU. They went with L to LaGrange to look at an antique mall and a couple of stores and B drove them to Lou Malnati's for a pizza dinner that night. I managed to get a picture of mom, but didn't get one of Cindy and it was her birthday today. They cleaned my kitchen while we were gone and brought me a bag full of button-down shirts, a pair of button-down pajamas and some souvenirs from their Panama trip.

Back to ISU

Mom and Cindy came up for the weekend and gave me and Andy the opportunity to drive to ISU where our friend, Jeff, was being inducted into the Vidette Hall of Fame. After a crazy windy drive that knocked more than a few vehicles off the interstate, we were back at ISU!

We drove around a little bit to see what's changed and were surprised to find a parking space in the lot at Pub II. That's were we met up with Jeff and his wife and our friend Kathy for a beer and some cheeseballs (of course) before heading to the dinner and ceremony.

Andy and I nominated Jeff for the award and here's Andy introducing him.

Jeff gave a speech and then posed for pictures with Andy and the Vidette manager with his award. Below is a picture of me and Kathy, now and in 1988 at the Vidette's centennial celebration. We've hardly changed, right?

After the ceremony, we all walked over to the Vidette to have a look around. Kathy and I were surprised to see how clean it was. When we were at the Vidette, we were in a building that was a "temporary" coal shed from the World War II era. The current building, which we all consider new still, was constructed in the early 1990s I think.

Andy and Jeff couldn't resist looking through the various universities' newspapers that were set out on the table. Andy and I drove back and got home around 11:30 p.m.