Microwave...

I feel like the punchline to a redneck joke. "Ya know you're a red neck if....." Alas I am getting ahead of myself (don't I always?). Let me explain...

We haven't had a microwave for about 2 years. It became part of our lifestyle to not have one. And then I tried to find a silver lining to that situation and I decided that not having one was the silver lining (Right? Sure? Yes? Anyone?).

And then came some of our favorite people ever, Quin and Joy, shedding light, laughter, love oh yeah, and MICROWAVES as they went! They came for dinner and left us with a microwave, A REAL LIVE MICROWAVE! The kind that warms things up, and pops popcorn all by its baby-self, and beeps loudly-but-not-too-loudly when finished and doesn't get a pan sticky in the process of heating up syrup, and softly glows out the time of the day without me ever asking it. GOD BLESS YOU QUIN AND JOY! We knew not what we missed! Thank you, Thank you!

So, my redneck joke would read something like this: "Ya know you're a redneck if..... your five year old comes in the kitchen in the morning and points at the microwave and says 'What's that?'

Ya also might be a redneck if in response to the simple question of "What would you like for breakfast? you receive the gleeful answer (including the jumping up and down!) "Something from the microwave, something from the microwave!"

Coming right up!

Miscommunication...

I would say miscommuncation can be a real gem in a marriage. I know it is in mine. For instance, may I just share one such nugget from yesterday.

Kent: "So do they close at 7:00?"

Kristin: "I am pretty sure that they are open until 8:30 or so because it is a holiday."

Kent: "Are you sure they are open until 8:30?

Kristin:"Pretty sure."

Kent: "Can you find out for sure?"

Kristin: "Honey, I know they will be open when I get there."

Kent: "But how sure are you?"

Kristin: "Fairly certain."

..........Here's the punchline..........

Kent: (nicely, patiently, with exageratted hand gestures) "Sweetheart, can you please make some progress towards attempting to become more sure?"

"Yes, honey!"

I love my husband!!

Camping...

Camping is subjective. It could mean a room and spa to one and a tepee to another. So when sweetest I-Shuan called to see if the kids and I were game for a camping expedition, I hmmmmed and haaaaaed and then jumped at the chance. It's spring break and we were getting really familiar with our new home and I needed to GET OUT! Oh, and Bella needed the 26 mile-long paved Banks-Vernonia trail to learn how to ride a two wheeler.....which she did!

The Stubba kid at Stubba State Park.
We had so much fun! The campfire was Harry's favorite.

How awesome is she?!

Harry and Thomas in the back of my bike.

I love biking, I've decided. Especially on long, paved, gorgeous FLAT linear parks.

Princess on the bike.

Harry in our Cabin.

Ode to Lavinia....

When biking along the path, we say

Never leave without a Warr, by the way

They know North from South, East from West too

They make you laugh, with all the fun things they say and do!

You ROCK!

It was so much fun! Here's to the next available reservation (spring 2015)! Who wants to go camping?

Sheik...

This is our little Sheik. I'll tell you what, he can charm just about anything from me! I adore him. Kent got this outfit in India for him and he has never worn it. It was "mistakenly"(oops) put in the Goodwill pile in our most recent move (which was 6 weeks ago.) Kent said that is needed to be photographed at least once. So here it is...

Now if we can just convince Harry-bear that he is not Samson and that cutting of the hair is not going to deplete all super-human powers! He goes rigid and screams octaves above normal for an indeterminable length. Man alive!

Health Plan, Smealth Plan

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

There is no question that the men that founded this country were acting under Divine guidance. Completely, wholeheartedly with the Lord's loving guidance. I know that is true.

Something hit me yesterday when they were discussing this quote in Relief Society. We as American people are entitled only to PURSUE happiness. Not that we are just ENTITLED to happiness but that we can PURSUE it. I am so grateful for the gospel that gives us the perfect recipe for happiness.

I have been reading alot about the 2,700 page health care reform that will be voted on later this week. Who is honestly going to read 2,700 pages of anything? I for one have not read the 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" for that very reason. I do think that Medicare and Medicaid are great programs for those in need.

This health care proposal is deeply disturbing all the way through and the ramifications will be felt long after 2017 when Obama leaves the office, if he is re-elected. One democrat has given up his Dem seat and joined the republican party. And another representative gave up his seat all together, not wanting to be part of the corruption. This is communism cloaked in coalition, no other way around it. The Obama Administration even somehow got a backdoor way to allow the bill to proceed without the normal 60 vote majority. It now is simply 51 votes away from reality. I could get into some of the nuts and bolts that I disagree (Where to start?)

Anyway, just sounding off a little. Maybe we shouldn't just be GIVEN anything. Maybe we should pursue insurance (and whatever else) if we really want. That is how this country was set up under the direction of the Almighty. To ensure our freedom. I wonder if the founding fathers are turning in their graves?!

Just needed to think out loud!