I love Nature, I really do.... just not this close! Last night we head into the garage and find a nasty scorpion! Have I mentioned I don't do scorpions? Have I mentioned I've been stung seven times by two of the little critters? Have I mentioned I really don't like scorpions! Needless to say, that specimen was quickly dispatched before he/she/it could produce other scorpions. So is that it, with the whole nature thing? Oh no.. it couldn't be that easy.....

My wonderful hubby comes in from work tonight and invites me outside to see what's in my flowers. A snake.... a big king snake... that's what's in my flowers. But wait... there's more. This king snake is dining on another snake. That means there WERE TWO SNAKES in my flowers! Thankfully there is only one now (that I know of) but that's still one to many in my flowers. Now, I understand they serve a purpose, but perhaps they can serve a purpose some place other than in my flower beds.

So after bravely snapping a picture of above said snake, I quickly retired inside for the rest of the evening. Yes, I've had a little too much nature for one day!

I am thrilled to announce that I have the opportunity to play the Cowardly Lion in our Community Theatre's production of "The Wizard of Oz"! Yes, we are having a girl lion, and yes, I can roar with the best of them! We had our first rehearsal last night and it was tons of fun! We did a read-through to get a feel for the script and we were already laughing upROARiously just from the read-through. (I can't help myself, there will be lots of lion puns for the next month or so!)

I have also discovered a life-saver in my quest onward and downward. Burger King has a Smoky Cheddar Steakhouse Burger that is really quite good! I take the bun off, (full of nasty carbs) and I'm in Burger heaven! Not many fast food burgers can stand on their own without the warm embrace of the bun, but this big guy can! Here's the good news, I am now 70 lbs thinner. Woo hoo! Doing the happy dance! Hakuna Matata! (Oh wait, that's another lion story... sorry!)

Now for the trials... it has been a rough couple of weeks for the Nielson clan. We've made a decision after much praying to follow a new path the Lord wants us on. Of course, once we started down this path we have been absolutely bombarded with trials and tribulations (I like the word, "tribulations". Don't like going through them, but they do have a great name! Ü) These tribulations have given me a heavy heart and have driven me to my knees. I guess, right where I should be. I am truly grateful for the Lord's hand in my life and truly grateful for the knowledge that He is always there for me. All I have to do is ask. I have much to be thankful for, and these bumps in the road are just that.... bumps, not obstacles, not barriers. Now, I just have to remember that, when I'm in the day-to-day trenches dealing with these trials and tribulations. Thank goodness for a great family, great friends, and the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father!

Well, it's off to bed since I have to be up in 5 hours. I ain't "lion"... get it? Get it? Okay, it's a stretch, I know.

So, I'm in Walmart alternately shopping and people-gawking, oops... I mean people watching (hey, sometimes you have to gawk at Walmart!) I hear an announcement over the loudspeaker asking us all to evacuate the store as a precaution. I'm thinking, "Okay, April Fools!" Nope, here comes a walmart employee making sure we leave the building. It turns out that they had a bat flying around inside the Walmart. At this point I'm sure it is an April Fools Joke so I'm smiling brightly for the candid cameras that I'm sure are filming this. Nope.... they are really evacuating the store because there is a bat inside.

So, what's the deal? Too many Twilight movies? Dracula on the brain? Rabid bats? We really had to evacuate for a bat. At this point, I'm worrying that the bat is going after my Easter chocolate (it's for the kids.... really!) I waited patiently outside, all the while humming the Batman Theme (na na na na na na na na, Batman, Batman, Batman). Holy Easter Bunny Batman! We'll she ever get her chocolate back?

Sadly I had to abandon my chocolate to the bat. I was out of time.

You've won this round, bat.....

So, yesterday I substituted in Primary for singing. The children needed to review the song, "Follow the Prophet". I decided to teach them the "Follow the Prophet Dance". It mainly consisted of rolling arms, and a few disco moves. I'm happy to report that lightning didn't strike me, and we had a wonderful time (and in the process the kids actually learned the song really quickly)!

So here's the part that made my day... a sweet little girl said the closing prayer which consisted of two things: "Please help us to get home safe" and "Thank you for Sister Nielson". Wow! My whole day was brighter! Good thing I was wearing my happy dress!

I love sunshine! I love blue skies! I love spring! Today is an incredibly beautiful day here in sunny Arizona. This is why I live here, we have amazing weather most of the year. It's just really nasty in the summer. I've been out doing some yard work today and that always makes me happy. Things are weeded, watered, pruned and planted! We planted two new fruit trees this winter, and every day I check to see if they are showing signs of life. No little blossoms yet, but I have hope! Maybe that's why I love spring.... it's such a symbol of hope!