April 2016!

Hello again!! I hope you have time to see a lot of pictures, because I have a bunch to share with you! A lot happened in April, starting with pretty spring flowers!

Going on a walk with my sister...

... and parents.

Grape hyacinths

White hyacinths that smell soooo good!

Beautiful storm clouds

One evening Elizabeth and her friend Mary, and Joanna and I went to the lake for a walk.

It was chilly and windy, but we had a nice time!

Joanna and me - the first picture of our friendship was taken at this lake in December 2005, and we have special memories here together.

The CHESS concert was April 1st, but these pictures are a little out of order. The ensemble part of the concert went well. I really enjoyed being part of ensemble this semester.

Flowers on a walk

Sunday afternoon reading with Grandma Albertson

Jonathan and Grandma

Grandpa and Quil and Micah

We've had a beautiful spring with loaded blossoming trees!!

One last "real" picture with Joanna before she moves away.

Raindrops on buds

On April 15th, Daddy, Mother, and I traveled to Iowa, where we met my brother Jeffrey at a restaurant for supper. It was so good to see him again!

After that, he showed us different places around town. This is Jeffrey's church where he teaches Sunday school and preaches some of the time.

That night we went to Jeffrey's home, which we'd never been to before.

The next morning, we had breakfast early, then set off with Jeffrey...

... and Jeffrey's beloved blessing Lesa, who we picked up on the way to Missouri for my cousin's wedding.

We stopped by a neat Mennonite General Store on the way.

We went to my aunt Marlene's home where a lot of our relatives were for lunch. Here Mother was showing Jeffrey and Lesa the quilt that she made for their wedding in August. Everyone loved it!

My mother and Grandma Scoles matching.

Jeffrey and Lesa getting to know our new nephew Felix, who is 2 months old now!

Mother, Charissa, and Felix

The church where the wedding was held.

Jeffrey, Lesa, and my Grandpa Scoles

A couple rows of relatives before the wedding started.

The wedding of Michael Osborn and my cousin Amanda Scoles

Waiting outside afterwards - Jeffrey, Charissa, and Lesa

Jeffrey and Lesa entertaining some little girls while waiting for pictures to be done.

My cousins Leah (with Felix), Rebekah, and Blaire.

Me, Mother, and Grandpa

Holding my precious new nephew, who is already growing so fast!

On Sunday after church we went to Lesa's family's house for Sunday dinner.

After dinner and visiting with the McKays, we Albertsons went to the bridge where Jeffrey and Lesa put their lock when they got engaged.

Our group with the lock (between Lesa's and my shoulders). It was windy on the river.

My 4-year-old niece Charissa <3

Sunday evening we got to hear Jeffrey preach at church. God helped him to do well!

The next morning early, we got packed up and ready to head back to CO.

While passing through Des Moines, Iowa, we noticed these beautiful tulip beds, and had to stop to take some pictures.

This is a picture I've wanted to get for a long time, so on this trip, the timing worked out that we could stop for a quick picture. :)

April 22nd, Joanna and I drove to Cheyenne, WY, where we met my friend Ivanna, and went hiking with her at Hidden Falls. We had a really special time together! It was a beautiful day and wasn't very windy, which is pretty rare for Wyoming.

Almost to the falls...

Joanna and I at the falls

Ivanna and I along the trail

I am so thankful for these two dearest friends of mine, who I get to walk this journey with. We encourage each other to keep pressing on and to love God most of all!

April 24th, our friends the Lucases came up to Federal Heights for church and a meal afterwards. Here we girls are eating outside...

The adults inside...Joe, the blind man who comes to church, also stayed for dinner.

Jewelyn and me

We celebrated Jewelyn's 2nd birthday that Sunday. She is a precious and darling 2-year-old!

The last week of April, we were busy helping Randy and Joy as they got closer to their moving date. We babysat the kids a couple of days. Here Quil and Micah (not pictured) helped me put up the trampoline for the summer.

Jewelyn watching out the door.

Jonathan with our lilacs. We were about to cut some for a bouquet (thus the scissors in his hand).

Elizabeth playing farm with the boys

Supper with everyone one evening.

April 28th was BRIGHT Lights Bible Study, the last one that Joanna gets to go to. Here was our group that Thursday.

One day last week, we made some time to play some games with Joanna.

Pingpong time...

Joanna and me with our last Ticket to Ride game (before she moves). When it's just us two that play it, we pick two colors so that we have twice as many pieces to play with, which makes the game longer, so that's why the colors are all mixed up.

One evening we had our friends, Frank and Gayle Baxter over for supper, because they are about to move to Ecuador, and we needed to see them and say goodbye.

Dear, sweet friends of ours.

Saturday, April 30th, was packing-the-truck day at Federal Heights. This was the living room before we started loading.

Snow was gently falling, and it was kind of cold, but it was a pretty nice day for loading.

The empty living room after the loading was all done!

Trying to get the door shut! It was a tight fit!

Randy and Joy stayed at our house that weekend. This was the last Sunday with them here.

Sunday afternoon, we spent a little time over at the house. Jonathan and Jewelyn were seeing all the empty rooms for the first time, because they weren't there during the truck loading.

Since we needed to use some time, the kids played Hide-N-Seek. Jewelyn thought it was fun to hide in the empty cabinets.

Getting energy out.

Early Monday morning, May 2nd, Randy and Joy's family pulled out and headed for their new home in Mitchell, South Dakota!

Randy, Quil, and Micah rode in the U-haul with a van on a trailer behind, and Joy, Joanna, and Jon and Jewel were in the red van with the little trailer behind. They made it there safely on Monday night. Thank the Lord!

Goodbye!! How we will miss them living so near, but we are thankful that they are obeying the Lord's leading of being where He wants them to be.

A few last pictures of spring that I wanted to share.

Lilacs and a blue sky - isn't it beautiful?!

So many things are changing in my life right now. Sometimes it's really hard for me. But God is showing me through it all, that HE NEVER CHANGES. He is faithful, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!! I can depend on Him, even when it seems everything else around me is changing.

Well, thanks for getting through this whole post without falling asleep!
See you later for May's post!