So another 2 weeks has flown by -- it's amazing how quickly time goes by while you are being distracted by numbers, graphs, papers, tax forms and emails flying across your computer screens. Both of us have zombie eyes from working hard these past few weeks pulling our hair out with programming code, running analyses, revising/writing manuscripts, proposals, etc.

Marc is still feeling under the weather, but we can't figure out what exactly is wrong with him. He got some blood work and other tests done at Student Health and nothing is coming up as obviously wrong. We know he doesn't have Mono (phew) or thyroid issues, but he has been feeling fatigued a lot, which has affected his running and ability to concentrate. Sleep might be the answer to the problems, but who has time for that?

It has been raining a decent amount here lately (at least once a week), which has helped pull us out of our drought a little -- but we are careful to still conserve. With the weather warming up as well, our garden is starting to take shape. In our small veggie patch around the back of the apartment, our kale and rosemary are getting bushier and we now have some buttercrunch lettuce, leeks, fennel, chives and cilantro planted. We will probably get some tomatoes in a couple of weeks. In the front of the apartment, our tulips have popped out and are simply beautiful!

We attended a Taize service yesterday, which was somber but also refreshing. Holy week brings about many emotions. I am grateful not only for what Christ did, but what so many others around me have done for me -- the sacrifices they have made and love they have showered on me. I also cannot help but feel sad during this time, when I think about the senselessness of some of our fights -- back in Jesus' time it was about the status quo's fear of losing power with the spread of Jesus' teachings, today it is about the fear of all things (religion, skin color, language, beliefs) different from our own and the fear of losing our possessions and position in the world. Why do we fear so much? How can we learn to trust? Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, one of my favorite times of the year. The idea of a re-birth is reassuring and brings about a wellspring of hope. It is apt that it happens in Spring (in the northern hemisphere at least).

~ Shuwen