Really.

So I've taken to listening to a classic rock station in the car lately. Classic meaning 1980s, which both offends me and comforts me. I'm offended that I'm already to the age where the music I grew up on is considered "classic" and yet I'm comforted by listening to all that familiar music.

Anyhow, music sticks in my head long after I'm done listening to it. I'm sure that happens to you guys, too, right? Sometimes I don't even have to hear something to get a song stuck in my head ~ last night when I went to bed I had a song from my old Disco Mickey Mouse cassette circa 1979 stuck in my head - "Welcome to Rio."

Welcome, welcome to Rio!

Welcome, welcome to Ri-i-o!

Welcome, welcome to Rio!

The tropical hotspot, saludos amigos!

I could go on. But I won't.

So I was humming, singing softly, be-bopping around the kitchen the other day to the tune of "Don't Need Nothing But a Good Time" and Josh was watching me. That, of course, made me break into full voice:

Don't need nothing but a good time

How can I resist?

Ain't lookin for nothin but a good time...

and then I scooted up to Josh, shook my hips in a totally cornball way, and with great drama and a Vanna-esque showcasing of my body, I finished off

And it don't get better than this!

And Josh looked me up and down, looked straight in my eyes, and said somewhat sadly, "Really?"

UPR, by Joshua

INTRODUCTION

UPR* is an acronym for “Unconditional Positive Regard.” Remember that now.

THE BORING MIDDLE BIT

Wouldn’t you hate it if you were auditioning for The President, only everyone was too
busy texting, dancing, screaming like a girl, or drowning to notice a thing you said? Well, that’s what happens day-to-day, and where UPR comes in to save the day. YAY FOR SUPER UPR!!!!

But seriously, UPR is a way to revolutionize the hairy, disruptive, brutal thing we know
as “society” (play scary and/or dramatic music here). Unconditional Positive Regard, the very
subtle and utterly unnoticeable extended bit of UPR, means that we should have positive regard towards anything and everything, no matter what the condition may be. This would be helpful, seeing as a lot of my classmates have little to no regard, positive or not, towards anything.

Quite unfortunately, it is little known, and very limited, even though the current state of
the world is desperate for something of the like. It could balance the long lost balance of power, restore the world to its unity as once before. UPR is a fun word for kids, and one with meaning to adults.

THE MORAL OF THIS STORY

Moral: UPR= GOOD. Not UPR=BAD.

Original essay by Josh Wiggins
Proofread by his dad
*UPR is pronounced Ooper in this case. It would be “Super Ooper”

He is Risen!

He is risen, indeed!

I pray that as we celebrate this amazing day with family and friends today, our minds are fixed not on Easter bunnies and eggs, but on the most incredible event that ever occurred in the history of mankind!

Makes me wanna sing a song:

Everyone needs compassion

A love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Savior - He can move the mountains

Our God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in

Now I surrender

Savior - He can move the mountains

Our God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever, author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Have a blessed Easter!

Happy April!

I love jokes. I love to tease people and make them laugh, especially my kids. My favorite thing is to close the garage door on Christianne ~ it doesn't come near her but it makes her scream every time. But this morning, on April Fool's Day, I got nothin'. :(

I'm probably just overstimulated from the past several days. It's been kind of a whirlwind here with the kids and Ro on Spring Break.

On Monday night we took advantage of the mild weather and went to the drive-in. We saw How to Tame Your Dragon - cute! It was chilly but that meant no mosquitos. Kids had a blast and it was just a good time.

On Tuesday we took the kids to Fort Fun and had a great time, especially since the place was practically deserted. The kids did a huge slide over and over, raced go-carts, did laser tag, and more.

Chris actually did a great job, staying in her own lane. Josh - well, his face says it all, doesn't it?

Yesterday we got Pop to join us on our outing to the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. We had such a great day. And can't you just see how much he enjoyed it?

The kids fed the manta rays (nasty! That's Josh's hand below) - and Ro got bit. Chris tried to climb a coconut tree... but no coconuts were to be had for her. And Grace got her face painted. It was sure a fun day.

On today's agenda: Pop's doctor appointment, planting some seeds for our garden, swimming at the Chilson, and I have to do Pop's taxes.

Today is also Maundy Thursday, the day that commemorates the washing of the disciples' feet and the Last Supper, sometime after which He would be betrayed. Time to focus on these events, to understand what they mean to us thousands of years later, to consider His betrayal and suffering and death ~ to consider His love for us.

Easter is approaching ~ commemorating, to me, the most exciting day in history!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!