Pomp and Circumstance

Miss M graduated from preschool on Friday. They had a precious little ceremony and she felt so accomplished--and is so excited to be headed to kindergarten in the fall. After the ceremony, she went upstairs to where Daddy B was videoing in the balcony and, as she approached, called out "Daddy, here comes your Little Graduator!". Here's our video re-cap of the event:

(Please scroll down and pause (II) the background music before playing the video)

Orange and Blue Weekend

This past weekend was our beloved alma mater's annual alumni weekend, highlighted by the Alumni BBQ and the Orange and Blue Game--our football team's pre-season scrimmage. We have a tradition of driving up Friday afternoon, stopping to visit my dear friend MB and her family in Ocala for dinner, then on to Gainesville for a weekend of talking football, reminiscing about our college years, eating at our favorite local restaurants, watching alligators and turtles in Lake Alice, swimming in the hotel pool, and visiting the Natural History Museum and Butterfly Rainforest. We had a teriffic time reconnecting with old friends and hanging out with our girls and we are so pumped up about next football season. Our team is looking good! Go Gators!

At the Alumni BBQ:

We had great seats in the front row of the North End Zone for the game:
A newspaper photographer from the Gainesville Sun took this picture of Miss M (with Daddy B's hat proudly perched atop her hairbow) throwing a field goal ball back onto the field during pre-game practice. What a treat it was for her to see her picture and her name in print on Sunday!
Here's what it looked like through my lens (Daddy B was impressed with her follow-through):
Our girls are as excited about our mascots, Albert and Alberta, as they are any characters at Disney:

This sweet cheerleader cheered right in front of our seats all last season. We always thought she resembled what Miss M might look like in 15 years:
Too much excitement for Little Miss A:
Gator Beauties:

The Game:
One of Lakeland's hometown heroes and starting running back Chris Rainey winning the fastest student contest:

He Is Risen!

It's Not About the Eggs:

Or the Bunny:
Or the Baskets:
Or Wearing New Clothes to Church:
Or the Brunch Afterward:

It's About The Greatest Act of Love in History:

(Please scroll down and pause (II) the background music before playing the video)

While baskets, candy, egg hunts and new dresses are a fun and festive way to celebrate spring and new life, let us not forget that Easter is about a sinless savior who was mocked, tortured and crucified on a rugged wooden cross, so that we might have a relationship with God His Father and live eternally in Heaven. He gave His life as a sacrifice to bridge the gap between mankind and God. But the story didn't end there.

THE TOMB IS EMPTY! OUR REDEEMER LIVES! HAPPY EASTER!