I am not a basketball fan (I couldn't name a single Piston's player if a gun was held to my head). But I have to admit, I have gotten into this whole March Madness thing.

A pastor was talking about his brackets, how his four year old son wanted to pick a team, too. His son picked the team he thought had a doggie as a mascot (Loyola), because he liked doggies. Who would ever guess the "doggie's" team would make it to the final four? As much as I like rooting for underdogs, especial one featuring a precious, old nun who's been a faithful fan for decades--"Go, Blue!"

I am a football fan, as frustrating as that is. An apt Lion's joke: Two avid Lion' fans were sent to hell, but they weren't miserable, and the devil wanted to know why.

"We're from Michigan, we like the heat." So the devil made it ten times hotter. They still enjoyed it, so the devil made it freezing cold instead.

When he went to check on the fans they were exuberant...chest bumping and running all over the place. The devil was stunned, "How can you be happy with everything freezing over?"

Their answer? "Hell froze over, which can only mean one thing...the Lions won the Super Bowl!"

I'm a Tiger's fan, too. My son tells me he thinks they'll be the worst team in the MLB this year. Ugh.

All kidding aside, the greatest victory of all time is celebrated on this day, Good Friday. I used to wonder why it's referred to as "good." What could possibly be good about the brutal crucifixion of Jesus?

The goodness is in Jesus' final words, "It is finished." (John 19:30) The three most powerful and freeing words ever spoken. My Bible says the word "finished" is the same as "paid in full."

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Hallelujah!

Last week I had the sweet opportunity to fly to New York and fly back with Caitlin and our new grandson, Brooks.

Of course, being the ditz I am, I messed up right out of the gate. As I eagerly await to get my hands on my grand baby, Caitlin is waiting patiently in line in security. When she finally makes it up to the security guard, she's told Brooks needs his own boarding pass (even though he flies for free). Caitlin is justifiably exasperated. Didn’t she ask me over and over if she needed to have something for Brooks?  Yes, but I never had to have anything for my babies. Didn’t it occur to me that things may have changed a bit after 911?

Anyway, my ignorance causes us to miss our flight. “Oh well, live and learn,” I sigh.

I would venture to guess “live and learn” might be one of the most despised phrases Caitlin hears that come out of my mouth. She’s had a life time of watching me "live and learn" almost everything the hard way. I add another one of my favorites, “Everything happens for a reason, maybe a deathly ill person was on that first flight.”

She concedes it really is no big deal, she's hungry anyway, we can enjoy a leisurely lunch while we wait for the next flight.

Caitlin is very careful to limit Brooks exposure to germs. Everything and everyone needs to be abundantly sanitized. My poor Caitlin. She not only has to endure me not having it all together, she also needs to watch me like a hawk because I doubt there’s a person on the planet who cares less about germs than I do.

Thankfully, Brooks is oblivious to the mayhem and my unmindfulness of our germ filled world. He takes everything in with his big blue eyes, contentedly cooing and smiling, opening his mouth wide open with glee. I can barely take my eyes off of him, I’m completely smitten. I do have to admit, if I keep my face in his for too long, his smile fades, his bottom lip protrudes and he begins to look like he’s never seen anything more horrifying. Of course as soon as his oh, so beloved mama’s face re-appears he reverts back to his cooing, wiggly, happy self again.

Our return flight to New York goes beautifully. Brooks is just as much of an angel on this flight as he was on his first flight. Unfortunately, in the LaGuardia airport bathroom (of all places!), I drop the tent-like thinga-ma-jigger Caitlin uses for nursing. Horrors! I nervously whisk it up like a scarf out of a magician’s hat and try to convince Caitlin it surely qualifies for the five second rule…heavens, it touched the floor less than one second.

I’m in awe of what a wonderful mother Caitlin is, a natural. How in the world could I have produced such a extraordinary person? Probably years of watching my un-togetherness, made her vow to be nothing like me. 

Bob and I have never been more proud of our Caitlin, and couldn’t be more in love with little Brooks. We are so thankful for our sweet visit and are looking forward to many more.

Gumption. Not a word you hear much anymore, but one I've heard all my life--forever being told I needed more of it. My grandmother Cummins probably informed me of my lack of gumption the most, but I heard it a lot from my mom and dad, too. 

I intended to write about a few instances where having a little gumption would have served me well, but then I started to think about my grandmother’s abundant amount of gumption (synonyms include backbone and pluck), and took a trip down memory lane instead.

My grandmother was fiercely loyal to her family. I had to think twice about telling her someone had been even slightly unkind to me because I knew that person would be getting “a piece of her mind.” She didn't hesitate to give pieces of her mind.

When her church in Florida asked her if she'd take over their card ministry, she told them no, that writing cards wasn't her “bag.” Goodness! Her own grandchildren had never received a single card from her.

My mom was with her at the time and asked her what she'd have told them if they'd asked her, “Well then, what exactly is your ‘bag’?” 

Without hesitation she answered, "I would have told them ‘my bag’ is eating and sleeping." Her answer makes me laugh to this day.

When they still lived in Michigan, she and Papa would often sing in front of the church. One of their favorites was The Old Rugged Cross. The last words say, “then He'll call me some day, to my home far away, where His glory forever I'll share.”

I don't think our country has ever been filled with so much hate, so much evil. It’s made me long all the more for the day He will take us to our Home far away. 

Billy Graham said of Christians, “The moment we take our last breath on earth, we take our first breath in heaven.”

I love picturing my mom taking her first deep breath in Heaven. I'm missing her desperately, but that image comforts me.

I pray God will provide another Billy Graham soon, convincing millions more to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and be assured their last breath here will be their first breath in Heaven.