It's always so nice to see the signs of Spring start to pop up around our yard. It makes me think of new life, especially with the new life we are expecting to add to our family in July. But with new life we are also reminded of death. It's a hard thing to grasp. My Grandma, Ellen Swanson, passed away in Chico at 10am on Saturday morning.

Here is a picture of Erica with Grandma at my baby shower in Chico three weeks ago. It had been almost a year since I had been home... and seen her. At the shower she gave me a bib that had been hers when she was a baby... an amazing gift that I will always treasure. I am so glad to have had that time. It's still hard to believe that we will not see her the next time we are in California. Grandma knew the Lord and is at home now. We will miss her dearly... but at the same time we have peace in knowing we will be with her again.