They aren't tulips...............

and I don't think there are many tulips blooming here in the desert but this prickly pear cactus is in bloom and there are many more buds getting ready to blossom! That's purple lantana in the background.

This is my little rose - a transplant from Mark and Linda's house in Vancouver, Washington. It's trying really hard to grow big and strong.
One of our newest additions to the front garden. Love that deep red!!!

Family Home Evening - Young Single Adult Style....

Once each month (usually the 4th Sunday) we have the Young Single Adults from our church over for Family Home Evening. Larry and I are the Maricopa Stake Young Single Adult Advisor Couple. Tonight was the last time we will see one of our own for a while as he is going into the Army on May 5th. Eddie is a lot of fun to be around and you can see from his smile (which is always there) that he enjoys life!
Here he is with McKay Monson our YSA Stake High Counselor.
Amy doesn't like to have her picture taken and Carissa is unaware!

We had baked potatoes with butter, chili, cheese, sour cream, and broccoli topped off by apple pie! Hunter is partaking of the later.

McKay, Melanie, Larry, & Carrisa.

Chad texting while Eddie and Ryan chat with Larry looking on.

No need to check your vision......

Duchess is mostly a blur these days. See what I mean???? She's seven months old and weighs in at 36 lbs. Hopefully she will stop gaining weight soon because she's only supposed to reach 40 lbs!!!!



Sometimes she slows down just a tad....I try to get her centered in the photo but it just doesn't seem to work!!!

Missed her completely this time....well, almost completely....

She loves her chews.

Here she is as the "two-legged dog".

Evil eye.

She's got that chew.....

And there she goes again.....

Easter in Arizona wouldn't be complete.....

........without going to the Easter Pageant - Jesus the Christ at the Mesa Arizona Temple. My pictures didn't turn out so I found these on the internet. The first one shows some of the cast as they are preparing for the production. The cast (except Jesus) mingle among the crowd prior to the production. It is a wonderful family event with people coming early and taking advantage of the beautiful green lawns to have picnic dinners on. We opted to eat sitting in our chairs! There were about 12 of us (among the thousands of others) that met to watch the story of Jesus the Christ.

Here are the ten virgins portrayed in song and dance. Wonderful, wonderful costumes and even better is the story being told of the Savior's life, death, and resurrection. That He paid the price we could not pay - His loving atonement for our sins allows us to return to our Father in Heaven. How humbling.

I don't think there was a dry eye as Christ was taken and crucified for us.

This photo is a little fuzzy but you get the idea - - Christ lives! He came to earth, suffered, bled, and died and then his body and soul were resurrected again! The message is so glorious! He is our Elder Brother and while we might be willing to die for Him, are we willing to LIVE for Him?

Come to Arizona next year and we'll go to the pageant together and you'll see how magnificent this portrayal is and how it only gives us a tiny glimpse of what price He paid for us.

The following is taken from one of my favorite hymns:

"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives who once was dead. He lives my everliving Head. He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need." (Words by Samuel Medley)