Spring?

Hello and happy Friday to you all! We've had a busy few days just doing "stuff". Yesterday was warm in the low 60's, so we put the back seat down in the car and loaded the entire thing up with everything we had removed from the camper last fall, plus food and bathroom things. Zoey was so excited to be back in the camper. She ran right in and to the bedroom. She loves the bed in there. :-) So do we! Because...we're leaving on Monday for a month long camping trip. At least we plan to be gone a month. But with everything happening in the world you never know for sure and plans can change can't they?

Monday we'll drive as far as Joplin, MO where we have reservations and then Tuesday to Texarkana, TX. Our final destination will be Galveston Island, TX on Wednesday. We have reservations at a campground there for three weeks. It's supposed to be directly across the road from the gulf so we're looking forward to some beach walking and sitting. We have no plans yet for our trip home and will decide that when we're closer to leaving. I would really like to visit a friend in San Antonio, but it's a bit out of the way so we'll see. 

We're going to the tulip festival in Pella, IA at the beginning of May with our normal camping crew. The next week we'll be just outside of Salt Lake City at a resort for a camping meet up with a favorite YouTube channel. It sounds like a lot of fun and our first time participating in that kind of trip. 

This summer we hope to take Piper to Helena, MT to see her cousins that she hasn't seen for years. Then in September, another trip to Spokane is planned to visit our "family" there. In other words, if all goes well, there will be a LOT of miles put on our truck and 5th wheel this year. In addition there are several camping trips planned around here with our friends.

Of course, we're well aware that a lot of things can happen to change our plans but we're hopeful. This is what we wanted to do in the first part of retirement, but those plans changed quickly when we realized we needed to be here for Mom. Originally, we had planned to live full-time in our camper for at least 5 years and travel around the country. That has changed, but we can still go out and do trips like this.

The photo below is how I've decorated the mantel for Easter, although we will be gone for most, if not all, of the time leading up to it. The wooden tomb was made by Benton, my blog friend Pamela's son from "Closed Doors, Open Windows" on my sidebar. He does such beautiful work. I've showed it to you before right after I received it. The wooden "stone" can be moved from in front of the tomb. It is such a wonderful reminder of the sacrifice our Lord and Saviour made for us when He died on the cross. Pamela, please thank Benton for me again. I love the work he does.

Yesterday I made these easy overnight cinnamon rolls again. You can't get any easier than this.  

Put 15 frozen round dinner rolls in a bundt pan. In a bowl mix, 1/2 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. chopped walnuts OR pecans, 1 small box COOK & SERVE, **** NOT INSTANT****, dry vanilla pudding, 2 TBSP cinnamon.  Sprinkle over the top of rolls. Melt 1/2 cup butter and pour all over the top. 

Place in unheated oven overnight or around 8-10 hours.  Then bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Make a glaze of 2 cups powdered sugar, splash of vanilla and a little milk OR water. Pour just a little over the top of rolls. Turn onto a plate. Pour remainder of glaze onto the rolls.

These are SO good. And super easy. You'll thank me. Ha!

I finished the shawl for the hospital and began another one. I haven't washed or blocked this yet but I really like the way the colors work on the shawl. The next one will have similar colors but in a rectangular pattern instead.

I saw these baby blankets today online. This is NOT my photo or my blankets but aren't they so pretty and delicate? I need to find this pattern and make some. It looks like the Virus pattern to me so I need to do some research. My hands are itching to get started but I have to find the pattern first. Do any of you have it? Is it an easy pattern? 

***Edited to add: Cindy from "Delighted Hands" on my sidebar sent me the exact link to the blankets in the photo. Plus she rewrote and arranged the pattern to take out the ads and make it easier to read and emailed it to me. My blog friends are the greatest! Thank you Cindy!

This definitely fits this week. Or even today. It was sunny and 66F when we went to lunch. An hour later it was in the 40's and raining. Now it's 32F feels like 22F. Crazy. Possible tornadoes are predicted. A wintery mix could fall overnight. Just another day in Nebraska! :-)

 Our son is flying home tonight and since he usually goes through Quatar, he's been rerouted through Shanghai, China. Prayers there too please?

In great news, our friend Donna that I told you about last post will be able to go home tomorrow. Of course her four ribs are still broken, but therapy has taught her how to move around without damaging them further. Thank you for praying for her. She, and us, appreciate it very much.

Blessings and love.

Betsy

THERE IS A REDEEMER

Text & Music: Melody Green

Jesus, God's own son

Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Jesus my redeemer
Name above all names
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Oh, for sinners slain.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

When I stand in glory
I will see his face
And there I'll serve my king forever
In that holy place.

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.

There is a redeemer
Jesus, God's own son
Precious lamb of God, Messiah
Holy one

Thank you oh my father
For giving us your son
And leaving your spirit
'Til the work on earth is done.
And leaving your spirit
'Till the work on earth is done.