A Good Friday

We are having a good, Good Friday, and I hope you are as well! We're so very thankful for a beautiful, "warm," sunny day to enjoy, and even more thankful for a beautiful Savior who died in our place, even though it was us who deserved the punishment. We'd have no hope; but now we have Hope. We're so thankful.
But there are even more reasons we are having a good Friday!
Today we took our first trip of the season to Como Zoo & Conservatory. Our dear friends Brenda & Abigail accompanied us, and it was wonderful to see them. We love Como, and Rae was so excited to see all of the animals, especially the giraffes (her favorite), the sea lions, and the penguins.
Later in the day, my sister and her family showed up and we re-visited some of the exhibits with them before having to go home for naps.
The third reason we are having such a good Friday is because my brother Micah is home from his Special Forces selection course. For those of you who haven't heard, HE MADE IT! He was one of 120 men selected from more than 300 candidates to be one of the Army's best of the best, a green beret. We are so proud of him, and so happy to have him home and reunited with his family.Unfortunately his stay will be short. He only has a couple weeks to pack his family and belongings up and move them all down to North Carolina, where he will continue his Special Forces training. He will be trained as a medic and learn Arabic. Eventually they will assign him a country or region (he's hoping for Turkey) and that will determine where they will be based.
Right now, I'm just trying not to think about them moving so far away! (Today is GOOD Friday, right?) :) We already have plans for a road trip to visit them this summer.
And finally, to make your Friday even "gooder," here is my new favorite picture of our handsome nephew Vinnie. Can't help but smile...