No more you and me, no more they and we, just unity

We had a fun night with Bill, Tracy, and kids, Dan, his brother, Anthony, Beth, Taylor and Erin. We made fun creations with pipe cleaners, listened to Trevor Hall, Amos Lee, Miley Cyress, and Taylor Swift on the CD player, and watched the Saints win the Super Bowl. The kids were singing into spoons, TJ was calling Erin's cell phone, Erin was braiding everyone's hair, Chloe and Anthony were playing war and crazy eights, and Dan was playin guitar and drums. I caught a little cold and need to take some vitamins. I'm excited for the Trevor Hall show on Tuesday. The kids are going to spend the night at my mom's. We had fun at the movies last night. I spent a lot of money yesterday. Making memories with my nieces and nephews was worth it though. Our friend, Callie, is going to Haiti for a week in April, and I pray that she is safe and that she is able to help many people. I pray that the kids' school is able to give the community a God filled evening on Friday and that people leave feeling love and peace in their heart. I pray that I make time to go visit Dan and Beth at their home like they make it a priority to come visit ours on so many snowy nights. I pray that my ordering pizza for my student Klyne this coming Tuesday is the beginning of a new priority of recognizing excellence in my students. Beth and Dan left us a sweet little Valentine on our refrigerator, and I pray that I take time to write little notes to people as well. Such a smell gesture can mean so much. TJ vacuumed the bedrooms, and Chloe made cream puffs and chocolate covered strawberries, and Mara walked around with her hands on her hips, tossing her hair back waiting for compliments. She needs some serious training. There were two heart shaped potatoes in the beef stew. I love it that Porky couldn't cut them, cause they were just too cool. Seton came over for a while before he had to go to a meeting, and he was pretty distraught about not being a good father to a 15 year old daughter in Grinnell that he hasn't been there for. I pray that he gets a job, sets his priorities and does what he needs to do to keep his kids at the top of his list, and that he finds his own place and peace in his heart. I pray for Chad Stonewall, the soldier that I saw saluting the flag at Hy Vee, my Grandma Betty and Grandpa Bill, and for our country and the world and that it may feel the unity that we feel at our potlucks when people take an hour or two to come together and work as one. I pray that Anthony finds a job, that the homeless couple we saw on Washington St. find work and a place to stay, and that we all stand firm like a tree that always has leaves and fruit in season and because we follow God's laws and stick together with our brothers and sisters, we have success, strength, and happiness like a forest of Sequoia trees whose deep roots keep them united and strong.