Honeymoon

Yesterday we went on our weekly, Sunday afternoon walk on a paved trail here, close to our house...there were these black beetles everywhere (I think they were stink bugs, except for the fact, our kids were picking them up like crazy and never once got sprayed) oh well, they were some species of beetle, that are quite proficient at making more of their own kind. We came upon two of them that were, as Annie put it, "giving each other a piggy-back ride" I calmly and maturely stated that they were mating. Too which, Alec gave a little laugh and then Nathan said..."well I guess these two are on their honeymoon"...that made Andy and I both laugh out loud, since Nathan knows NADA about well, any of that. Andy then asked Nathan well what do people do on their honeymoons? Nathan replied..."they celebrate and just do anything that is FUN!" This made Andy laugh even more. We continued walking and Annie and Elisabeth kept pointing to all the beetles that were grouped by two (there were many) and said "oh look, they are on their honeymoons too!" They really were everywhere and so Andy and I decided maybe it was time to just go home...we obviously missed the sign that said:
"BEETLES HONEYMOONING AHEAD"!

OBITUARY

DRAGON, the Bearded Dragon, of St. George, UT, died on April 19, 2010 in the early morning hours. The reason of his death is unknown. Dragon, the lizard, was delivered by Santa Clause on December 24, 2006 to his proud owner, NATHAN, then five years old, of Norfolk, VA.


He was dearly loved by Nathan.


His life was good for a domesticated reptile, plenty of crickets and kale, a warm heat lamp was always provided, and more space to move around in his custom made aquarium than most lizards will ever get. He even had his own hammock and a surgeon close by in case a surgical procedure ever be needed. Well it turns out, he was very lucky indeed, for not three days after his arrival on Christmas...he needed a somewhat simple surgical procedure. As stated above, mind you, he was dearly loved by Nathan the five year old. Dragon was only to be held with strict supervision and five year olds have a very difficult time waiting on a Sunday afternoon until their Dad is done napping after church. Poor Dragon was at the wrong place of his cage at the wrong time when his back leg was shut in his cage door accidentally. Dragon's leg needed to be amputated below his knee (if lizards have knees).


Nonetheless, he went on living and continuing his good life after a short recovery and learning to walk again. He could eat more than two dozen crickets on a somewhat daily basis during the first year and a half of his life. He was happy and as it turns out, he never even needed that fourth leg that most lizards do. He will be missed by all.

R.I.P.

Funeral services were held for DRAGON and all family members were present. The above surgeon, also happened to prepare the lizard for burial (good, old ZIPLOC), dug the hole, and conducted the short, but solemn service (doctors do a lot these days). It was a lovely, spring afternoon. Some family members were pretty sad about the loss.




Many kind words were said and good times remembered.




Nathan even explained to a very sad Annie that Dragon is in a much better place now and after Jesus comes again and we are all resurrected, Dragon will even get his leg back and just think how happy he will be. That made her feel much better.




Then on the way to t-ball practice, Annie asked question after question about heaven and what it's like and where it is and what we do there forever...it was a question-intense, ten minute ride, but a great opportunity to talk to her about it all and reassure her.

Book Winners!

First off, in all seriousness...I want you all to realize, that in my "book", you are all "WINNERS"! I would absolutely love to send off nine copies of this book, but I said two, so I'm sticking to the original rules of this book giveaway. The random drawing was writing each of your nine names on a slip of random paper, folding them up, placing them in a random hat, and letting Annie draw two names out (which she loved, btw). We're so official around here, aren't we? Hopefully that seems fair enough to you all!

And the winners are...
1. Adriann
2. Janice
Congrats you two!!!

As for the rest of you...I hope you're not too disappointed (I hate losing).
Please find a way to read it...it's sooooo worth it!
(Our Costco has it for under $9 and hopefully your local library does too)

HAPPY READING!

Book Giveaway

Just finished reading "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and I cannot recommend it highly enough, I fell in love with the characters and have decided it's worth another time through! Many of you have probably already read it too, but if you haven't, you've just got to. It's a quick read and very hard to put down. May sound a little odd by the title, but trust me...it is a "must read"!!!

In fact, I enjoyed it so much I would LOVE to send YOU, yes you, a copy...so leave me a comment in the next ten days and I will draw two names randomly on March 29th! If you have already had the pleasure of reading this book, still leave me a comment and if you are one of the two people drawn, I will send you a book of your choice.

Here's a quote and summary of the book:

“I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.”

January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.
(summary from bookbrowse.com)

Latest Purchase

So.....been looking on Craigslist for a used piano for about a month. At first, Andy was very reluctant and understandably so, NONE of us play the piano, so why would we buy one??? I really would like to give our kids the opportunuty to play and Alec has begged us for lessons now for a year or so. Why not a keyboard, then? I cannot find a good, well-respected teacher here who will teach a student who cannot practice on a real piano, thus my search began. I came across this beauty, made in 1909, which makes it not only a beauty...but an antique beauty, even better. I fell in love with it, did my research, found a certified and highly knowledgable piano technician and had it thoroughly inspected inside and out. I was skeptical that it would still be play worthy after 100 years + and so was the tech, but my gut said to check it out in person, so we did. The tech, who was in his late sixties, kept saying how amazed he was at it's condition and said it was obvious it had been extremely well maintained for it's entire lifetime. He said he was confident it could be played another hundred years and that this piano truly was a find. I offered the owner another $600 less on the price, it had already been lowered once, and he agreed! I am so excited about it (can you tell?) and promised mi madre I would post some pictures of it.








This was also a leap of faith as we are still waiting on word about this house, hopefully it will not have to be moved again. It's a great start to our living room, that we have yet to furnish, due to the fact that we don't know if this living room, is in fact, our own. I couldn't pass up the chance and doubt I'll ever regret it!

My Mother

Today...I've been overcome with emotion several times as I think of my dear, wonderful mother! It's her birthday today and I woke up thinking about her and how incredibly blessed I am to have her in my life. Last year, my Dad wrote me a letter for my birthday and in it he said how proud I have made him and that it is because of my mother that I turned out so well...it's because of him too, but that letter meant so much to me because he went on to tell me all the ways I am like her and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her influence on my life. You see, if there is any person I would strive to be more like, it is my mom! She is the most unselfish, kind-hearted, thoughtful, and forgiving person I know. As a mother she gave us everything she had to give, now that I am a mother, one of the things that I realize made such a huge impact on all of us was her ability to be there...I remember daily coming home and feeling so glad she was there. She would drop everything and listen, really listen to me. When I came home from dates, she would listen. I don't know how she did it, but she was there for each one of us and to this day all of her kids...(3 girls, 2 boys) call her a lot (some of us, everyday) we call when we are happy about something, excited, scared, nervous, frustrated or just because we miss her. She is always so encouraging and full of faith and I always feel uplifted after I talk to her. For as long as I can remember she has truly been one of my dearest friends. From a young age I remember finding notes she would write me and from that I gained great confidence, as she would always point out the good and make me feel so special. Her letters to me in college made such a difference and came just when I needed them, sometimes the timing was literally an answer to my prayers. She is very much in tune, to this day...a letter will come, a call or a visit just when I need the help. She is fun too...one of my favorite memories was of going to Disneyland with her, just the two of us, totally spur of the moment, I'll never forget that afternoon and evening. She was in YW for years and was the kind of leader that everyone just loved, I can remember her giving piggy-back rides and pulling pranks at girl's camp. She is so creative, something I did not inherit, but she can sew anything and creates incredible handmade cards. She is such a wonderful grandmother...calls just to talk to each grandchild and hear their voices, reads stories, sends packages, and always makes them feel so special. Did I mention she's wonderful!? She loves Autumn and Christmas...both of which I just love too. She always made our home have an extra special spirit at Christmas time and decorated every space in such a beautiful way, her Christmas tree is so amazing every year, it could literally be in a hotel lobby...I tell her that and she is ever humble. She joined the church after graduating from high school and is the only member in her family, when I think about what courage that took and all the good that has come to our family because of her testimony, I am so grateful for her faithfulness and the way she has lived her life. I could go on and on and on...I am so, so blessed to have been raised by such a woman. I think about her everyday as I have the opportunity to be a mother and often look to her example and goodness and it keeps me going to think of all I owe to her and hope I can be half the woman she is today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM, I am so lucky that you are mine!!!