My Friend's Book

A good friend of mine wrote a book with her mom. She has spread the word that spreading the word is okay, so I'm spreading the word. Anything to support a friend! The book is called, A Mother's Book of Secrets. Now, you may be thinking, "What are you doing reading a book written by mothers for mothers?" The first answer is, "My friend wrote it." I am glad I read it, though, because I am a teacher and I work with children. If there are children in your life, at all, reading this book is a good idea. It's a quick read and enjoyable, too.

Here is a picture of the cover.

Flashback

Thought it would be fun to post a couple pictures from my youth. Back to the 70s. Those of you who never spent time in that decade, cannot fully appreciate that era, but the pictures should be entertaining and they are probably embarassing to some of my siblings. Golly, they were cute.











-- Post From My iPhone

Things I've Done

So, I stole this list from a friend of mine and if she's looking at this blog, she knows who she is. I guess the idea is to bold the things you've done. I will add commentary to some of these items. Enjoy!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Yes, I'm still American.)
   
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
    
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (I've been in a train overnight. Sleeping: Not possible.)
    
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
    
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
    
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
    
26. Been in love
    
27. Run a Marathon (WHY?)
    
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total solar eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
    
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (My mom has.)
    
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
    
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (I was not the sicky. Thanks, Dad.)
    
47. Had your portrait painted (Mom's got one.)
    
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (Spiderman has, though.)
    
53. Played in the mud (Who hasn't?)
    
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (I totally will, one day!)
    
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Why sell what you can eat?)
    
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
    
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
    
65. Gone sky diving (Why would anyone jump out of a perfectly good plane?)
    
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (oops!) (I balance it every month, so there!)
    
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
    
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (My dad has.)
    
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (His name is Vader.)
    
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
    
90. Sat on a jury (Being called in for jury duty totally counts!)
    
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club (But, I read books)
    
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
    
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
    
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore (And it's better than the pictures!!)
     

Argh!

The following were taken on 16 April.























-- Post From My iPhone

I Love IKEA!

If it is lame to blog about furniture, permit me a moment of lameness for I shall blog about the dresser and chair I purchased yesterday at IKEA.

The pictures below mark the end of the potentially lame blog post.






-- Post From My iPhone

Hristos a înviat!

Since my days as a full-time missionary, I feel I have been able to better appreciate Easter. In Romania at Easter time, all are greeted with the following salutation: Hristos a înviat! It means, Christ is risen. Upon receiving such a salutation, one responds with Adevărat a înviat. This means, Truly He is risen. I love this manner of greeting people because it serves as a constant reminder that the meaning of Easter, the reason for it's celebration, is because Christ came to earth to save us, he was crucified, and he rose from the grave a resurrected being on the third day. What an awesome gift has been given to us!

A second tradition involved eggs dyed red. Thy are dyed this color as a representation of the blood Christ shed for us. Another reminder of all that has been done for us.

...Adevărat a înviat!








-- Post From My iPhone

Fun in the sun?

Thanks to a break in the rainy weather my nieces and nephews took a minute to play outside. The temperature was nippy, but bearable.









-- Post From My iPhone

Ideeho

Wednesday directly after I finished with work, I met my sister who dropped her three kids off with me and we headed to Idaho. The drive was mostly uneventful. We hit a couple of big rain storms and even saw some lightening. My brandnew car of 3 1/2 months got his first bruise, a rock in the windshield. It left a small mark and I am sad about it. The kids have had a blast together and I have enjoyed some much needed time away.






-- Post From My iPhone

April fools? It at least jests.

These pictures were taken 1 April 2009.

For Karin

Happy birthday! I hope you get a chance to sneak a peak in the hall closet because mom and dad got you a really awesome b-day present! ;)

Blogging is just another way for me to get in our old joke. Isn't it great?!

I love you! No foolin'!