Befuddle

On our way home today, Ella, Natalie & I decided we needed to use the word 'befuddle' more.
It is truly a word that needs no explanation, but for the benefit of the blog we'll post the 'technical' definition for the word below, courtesy of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.

"befuddle: to muddle or stupefy with or as if with drink, 2) confuse, perplex; befuddlement, n"

Now, we didn't expect the definition to include "as if with drink", as we have plenty of moments full of befuddlement without the addition of drink - thank you very much - but ultimately deduced that as it is a collegiate dictionary, the use of the comparison to drink was probably a calculated move on the part of Merriam-Webster to 'relate' to the college aged reader. In any case, we love the word, and have vowed to use it more frequently in our conversations. (that being said, it is hard not to randomly yell 'stupefy!' right after hearing the word....yes, we are word geeks AND hard core Harry Potter fans! :-)

Our month has been a busy one, what with Craig having an out of town student trip in addition to his busy Easter season schedule, and Ella participating in her choir tour of Texas while Natalie, Grace & David continued in their weekly extra-curricular activities. The entire month was (truthfully) a blur, with a smattering of 'mental memories' made along the way...I never have my camera when I need it, or access to a pen & paper or a computer to log life as it happens. That being said, I'll share what I do remember, and add to it as I remember it...

* We had a chance to see the movie HOP in theatres on the week Dad was gone, and the added benefit of seeing it with only 6 other people at the show (it was the 4:45pm showing on a Monday). Fun was had by all, especially for mom who made the most of 'buy-1-get-1' coupons for already bargain priced tickets, in addition to using her stockpile of 'buy a drink get a med. popcorn free' coupons from the back of HEB receipts. The total cost for all 6 of us to see the show and enjoy a drink and a snack was only $30! Yea for bargains!!!

* David's t-ball team played their first 'dirty' team, and by the end of the game 5 of our players (including David) were pretty roughed up, with one additional player bloodied up. The worst part was seeing THEIR team, as they seemed to be competing with each other as well, and that the coaches and parents seemed to be supporting such UN-sportsman like behavior. We're praying this will be our LAST game against them...

* Our rotten finches hatched a new batch of birds which they promptly booted from their nest for us to care for. There were 3 hatch-lings, with one already deceased by the time we heard the cries of the remaining 2. (Our birds are on a wide ledge in an area by one of our windows in the living room. We can only access their cage by using a ladder, and do so twice weekly to change their water and add to their food.) After growing attached to the wee ones, and waking every two hours to feed them, they both died after 2 days. This happened on Good Friday, which also happened to be the day that...

* ...Our painted lady butterflies hatched. Grace had received a butterfly garden for Christmas this year, and we had to wait a while before we could send away for the caterpillars (weather related delay). She had been patiently waiting for them to hatch, to the point of (almost) forgetting about them. Once it happened, because of the day it happened, our kiddos immediately made the connection between the death and resurrection parallel in the life of Christ, and that it was all happening in our home on Easter weekend. It was so heartwarming to hear them comfort each other with the promise of eternal life in Heaven, even in the sadness of death! Grace released them all on Easter Sunday, in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

* We were blessed with an opportunity for Craig to have an evening off from church on Easter, and so got to thoroughly enjoy our visit with the Hopp family. It is a rare treat to have Dad home on Sunday night, and the kids and Mom milked it to their full advantage:-).

* There are oodles of other 'mental moments' (not as in 'you're driving me mental' but rather as 'take a picture of this moment mentally'), but I only have the energy to post these few tonight. I'll try to add to them as I recall them, (and have access to the computer), and I'll be updating the pics on the blog as my camera makes itself magically visible to me, as it is the one item I habitually misplace!

Love to you all,
The Meissler 7

"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all...All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name." Acts 10: 34-43