April 2011

Greetings from the Douglas household. It has been gorgeous in Atlanta lately. The trees and flowers are in full bloom and the warm breezy days are magnificent—wow I’m starting to sound like Daddio (my father-in-law)!

Here is Taylor enjoying cousin Derek. She loved having so much company this month. Little Madi is doing really well. The doctors have significantly reduced her daily steroid dosage, and her body is handling the chemo/radiation well. She is in good spirits, and her parents remain optimistic and faithful. In fact, it was really special because President Monson, the current Prophet of our church, sent Madi a hand-written letter via mail. It is amazing to know that the leaders of the church truly care for and pray for the one even when there are millions of members out there. So we are grateful, and grateful for all of your prayers too—keep them coming!

The first week of April was spring break (a.k.a. Jackson didn’t have any baseball games). So my parents, the kids, and I loaded up a van and headed to Mexico Beach, FL—an undiscovered, un-commercialized, jewel on the Gulf of Mexico. Jackson received a lot of attention from the college girls on the beach as he would hit home run after home run. After he would cross home plate, he would whip off his cap (transforming into an umpire) and perform an exaggerated “SAFE” call. While Jackson played beach baseball hours on end, Taylor rolled around fearlessly and gleefully in the ocean. Every time a wave would knock her over she’d laugh and scream “That crazy ocean!” Unfortunately Scotty couldn’t join us, but we made sure to bring him home 60lbs of oysters!

Now before you start to feel too sorry for Scotty, take note that he did a little traveling himself….2 weeks in London to be exact. He says it was for work, but I’m skeptical. While he was “working” he managed to attend a futball game, visit Westminster Abbey, the Parliament, and even see the changing of the guards. One of the best parts was meeting up with a good friend, Mark Hendricks from business school. They had to out do us huh Natalie?? :)

While Scott was in London, the secular part of Easter was in full swing with multiple egg hunts. For a week after Easter, every time we’d go outside Taylor would ask: “Egg hunt?”

To the left—neighborhood kids

Below—church friends

The most memorable part of the month was the Atlanta Temple Rededication. Two weeks before the temple is set apart exclusively for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the public is allowed to take a tour through the temple. We were excited to bring 23 people through (13 on Friday night, and 10 on Saturday night). Those who went on the tour learned that the temple of a place of peace, love, kindness and learning. After departing from the temple Jackson said “I could feel the Spirit so strong in that heaven room (celestial room), I almost started to cry.” We can learn so much from the tender hearts of little ones…

And those are the main highlights. Lowlights include attending Jackson’s first Braves game! It started out great until the Phillies hit a grand slam. Jackson was SOBBING! Every one in the stands was turning around looking at us. We could not get him to stop crying! Even with a snow cone! A Brave’s employee ultimately saved the day when he informed Jackson that after the game he (along with a thousand other kids) would be allowed to run around the bases. So after 9 innings we got to stay another hour and a half to wait in line/run the bases. But it was worth it—at least to Jack Man.

And my sweet mom and dad came over and surprised us with their refurbished lawn mower—and even mowed the lawn!

I really don’t know how I did it before living close to parents. They come over at least once a week, watch Jack’s game, and just help out around the house. It has been a tremendous blessing, especially with Scott traveling so much.

And the yard work got done just in time for us to host our first larger get-together. The house is set up really well for entertaining; i.e. the kids have a lot of things they can do outside.

Check out the garden Scott and my Dad built; at a slant so the water can run out—ingenious!

Couldn’t resist putting a pictures of the rose bushes in—thank you previous owners! Love them! And love all of you. We feel blessed to have such great friends and family.

Cheers!