swing set

I'm looking for a wooden swing set for the kids. I have $130. I found one at walmart for $288. That seems to be the best deal I can find. But if anyone knows of a place that sells them for cheaper - or if you know someone who has one and wants to get rid of it, let me know. I'd like to get one by Memorial Day if possible. Any input would be much appreciated.

Life with Electricity

We lost our power this week. It's amazing how dependant we've become on light, heat, TV, white noise to help us sleep, hot water, music, hot stove, etc. At first it was somewhat exciting. Something new and different from the norm. But then night came and the house was cold, dark, and silent. It wasn't so fun anymore. In fact it was pretty depressing. We lit candles all over the house and bundled up in layers of clothing. Scott loved it! But as I sat on the couch trying to read my magazine by candlelight, and then woke up to Maren's elbows in my back throughout the night, I was ready to get the power back. We woke up the next morning feeling quite cold and realizing that there was no coffee, no hot shower, no morning cartoons for Maren. I took the kids outside (which was warmer than inside at the time), and we made hot chocolate on the camping stove. Then we packed up and went to our friends (Kurt and Shannon's) house. When we got home the power was back on. It's good to have 21st century luxuries back. Guess I'm spoiled :-)

Missio Dei

We had our first Easter service at The Grey Eagle in West Asheville. Things went great - though it was a small crowd. Please pray that we will not be discouraged by this - but that we would focus on the people we have built relationships with. Please also pray that we would be Christ to the people of Asheville - whether they join our church or not.

2 going on 30

At lunch today I was talking to Maren about the moon and about what an eclipse is. I told her that when the moon goes directly in front of the sun and blocks the sun from us, it is called an eclipse. Scott then stepped in and decided to show
Maren exactly how it works. He pointed at the plant on the table and said "Let's say this is the sun", and taking an apple said "and this is the earth". Then using a cork as the moon proceeded to rotate it around the apple and rotating both around the plant. During all of this rotating and explaining, Maren kept yelling out that the plant was NOT the sun. "The sun is in the sky Pappa!" And when Scott got to the part about the eclipse, Maren yelled out "No! Only girls where clips Pappa!" Scott finally gave up when Maren started trying to eat the earth.

When I was putting Mar down for a nap just now she bagan telling me this story of when she was a little girl and went on a hike with Pappa to a waterfall. She said that the waterfall was as big as a dragon, and that she and Pappa flew on the dragon back to the flowers... I love her imagination!