Birthdays and Branson

February has flown by and I can’t say that I am sad to see it go. I am a Spring loving girl and I eagerly await the new leaves that will grow on the bare limbs, the beautiful flowers that will push through earth, warm weather and Spring rain.

What I do love about February is all the birthdays! My dear friends and family who are born in this month make February worth the cold weather and the gray skies. My most favorite person of all just had his birthday on Saturday. Ben is now 26 years old and I am so thankful for his birth.

Our sweet niece Emma had her first birthday on the 10^th and I was able to photograph her first year photos. She is such a beautiful little girl and has wonderful parents who will raise her into a great person someday.  I love her so much, and I can’t believe she is already a year old!

I love birthdays. I love making the birthday person feel loved and special on their birthday. For Ben, I decided to make him breakfast in bed and to throw a party for him at our house with all his family (minus Lydia, Nicole, Joseph, and Nathan) and our friends. We had 18 people total crammed into our house with lots of noise and laughter and it was wonderful. I made tacos for his birthday dinner and a flourless cake so he can blow out candles on his birthday. We also ended up buying a new couch and recliner for a really, really great deal at Kroger (yes, Kroger!) and we went on a trip to Branson, MO for a night because I got a really good Groupon deal for a hotel there. 

 

 After swimming in the indoor pool!

    




Branson water tower.
















Branson was really fun. We visited the Titanic museum and got to see a lot of items that had been on the Titanic. They had lots of photos and information about those who had been aboard the Titanic and about those who survived the horrific event of that night. They had a container of water that was the same temperature of the water that those who did not make it into the boats had to endure (it was 28 degrees F). Ben and I both stuck our fingers in the water and when we pulled them out they ached. I felt so sad for those who died, and I am glad that the museum is around to remember them.

    

After the Titanic museum we went to the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, MO. There were only four of us on the tour group and it was a cold and rainy kind of day, but we both really enjoyed being driven underground through the cave. Our tour guide was very nice, and at one time he stopped us and turned off the lights in the cave showing us how incredibly dark it would be. Then he lit a small kerosene lantern and it illuminated the darkness with a surprising amount of light. It really makes me think of how Jesus talks about being a light in the world, and how one small light can brighten up even the darkest of places. 

The last place we went to before we left was Lambert’s, home of the throwed rolls. It was really tasty! The waiters will throw rolls to you if you want one, and Ben had wanted to show me the restaurant so we decided to go while we were up there. I’m glad we went, but I’m glad we left early because the weather was not very good driving back home. It sleeted and the roads were winding and hilly. Ben told me he was very nervous driving the whole way, which is unusual because he does not get scared easily. I prayed though, and so I, who is usually the scared one, was not afraid at all. I trusted Ben’s driving ability and was very calm. It was a really great weekend.