Craft Stall...

First Choice Solutions, Candace's former employer, held its annual April Showers fundraising event on Saturday, 15th April. The weather was perfect for the event and there were lots of fun activities for the whole family. Candace and Riaan shared a craft stall, selling homemade bucket hats, fabric nappies/diapers for dolls, quilted items, and Riaan's bead creations. :)

Riaan and his amazing perler bead creations!

Candace's homemade crafts. I was so proud of both of them!

Sunset Drive...

A beautiful mid-April sunset in southern Indiana. :)

Easter 2023...

This year, our Easter was spent in the great outdoors at Brown County State Park. We enjoyed a lovely picnic lunch, followed by a small Easter egg hunt for the children at a nearby playground. We talked about the meaning of Easter and why we have Easter eggs - how eggs represent new life, just as Jesus gave us new life through his death and resurrection. 

After spending time playing at the playground, we packed up and headed off on Trail 4 down to Ogle Lake. (Pictured here.) It was a long hike, but all three kiddos did so well. They loved it - especially splashing in the creek in the valley far below. We ended the afternoon with a quick visit to the Nature Centre before driving home. It was so good to celebrate Easter outside!

The view from where we ate our picnic lunch.

Violets grow amongst the grass.

Easter egg hunt at the playground.

Heading off on our hike.

Our kiddos proudly sporting their bucket hats - made by Candace. :)

Running the last bit down to Ogle Lake.

Pretty flower growing in the shelter of a tree.

Zebra swallowtail butterfly.

Possibly an owl sleeping in a tree trunk.

Eliza and Riaan splash in the stream.

Woodland poppy.

Hiking back up towards the car.

Anya hiked the last bit, too.

We stopped at the West Lookout Tower on our way out of the park.

Easter Braai...

We enjoyed a lovely braai early on the Saturday before Easter. I braaied lamb ribs, chicken strips (marinated in Nando's Peri-Peri sauce), sarmies (toasted cheese, tomato, and onion sandwiches), as well as homegrown asparagus. It was a delicious lunch! :)

It's always nice to have another braai!

Spring Growth...

Our little red bud (pictured here) started blooming earlier this month, and our tulips have already flowered. With the unseasonable warmth this year, it's not really a surprise that spring has sprung quite early this year!

Flowering tulips.

Miller Family Easter 2023...

We celebrated Easter with Candace's family a week before the day itself - on Sunday, 2nd April. It was a lovely time sharing a meal together, painting eggs, and taking part in other Easter activities. The cousins enjoyed their Easter gifts!

The cousins opening their Easter gift bags.

Miller cousins group photo.

Candace's dad made amazing wooden quilt puzzles for each family.

Serving in Sullivan...

On Sunday, April 2nd, we drove up to Sullivan to serve lunch to first responders and to those who lost their homes during the tornado that rolled through during the night of Friday, 31st March. It was awful to see the devastation that the tornado wreaked on this small town in Southwest Indiana, but it was good to be out and serving and putting faith over fear.

Making hamburgers and hotdogs.

Trees devastated by the tornado.

Strips of roofing wrapped around a tree.

Overnight Asparagus...

Our asparagus plants in our raised garden boxes appeared quite suddenly one morning. I'm sure they weren't all there the night before. March was quite a wet month with lots of rain and mild temperatures, and those facts probably helped the asparagus make its overnight appearance. :)

Double Rainbow on a Stormy Day...

There were big storms that fired up on Friday, 31st March. They wreaked devastation throughout many surrounding states - and Indiana was not spared from these powerful storms. An incredibly dangerous night-time tornado, rated EF-3 (155 mph winds!), tracked through Sullivan County, less than an hour's drive to the northwest. 

Before the storms rolled through, I captured this double rainbow at my in-law's house. It was a timely reminder to look up and know that the Father holds the storms of life in his mighty hand. No matter how overwhelming and anxiety-inducing things may seem, I take heart in the fact that the Lord knows where every raindrop will fall.

Jasper Parklands with the Family...

Having visited Jasper Parklands on our anniversary on the 4th of March, we returned to this beautiful green belt with all of our children on the last Sunday in March (26th). We enjoyed quality family time together as we explored the trails. The children loved the tree fort, the outdoor music area, and the amazing rock climbing wall, which features "fossils" of dinosaurs jutting out from the rock. It was a lovely time out in God's creation!

Sweet siblings.

Heading towards the music area and the tree fort. Eliza loves her scooter!

Making music. :)

The fantastic tree fort.

Walk with purpose!

Interestingly shaped tree.

Eliza on top of a rock climbing section.

Riaan points out a skeleton!

Anya takes a turn climbing.

Red-eared slider.

Red-eared slider in foreground, with the pointy head of a spiny softshell turtle visible in the background.

It was a really warm day, which meant a lot of turtles were out basking in the sunshine.