Book Review

I haven't done a book review in awhile, but this one needs to be reviewed.

This book...The Girl With No Name...is a must read.  They say, "life is better than fiction" and "you can't make this stuff up", well both of those truly fit here.  This is a story of a little girl growing up in Columbia, getting kidnapped, living with monkeys for years, coming into contact with humans, a brothel, and on and on.  Seriously, a page turner.  The fact that she made it out of one situation after another is a testiment of her whit, ability to adapt and intelligence.  She makes jungle living among a troop of monkeys desirable.  Her view of humans is rightly jaded and yet her heart stays trusting.

If you are looking for a great read, check The Girl With No Name out.

Our Garden

The past two years we have had a garden in the backyard.
This year we did something different.
Pots.  In the front yard.
Between Dolly digging, the blazing heat of the backyard and watering, this was our best option.

Here we have dill, rosemary, brussel sprouts, strawberries, two bell peppers, and something maybe spinach coming up and tomatoes.

 Here's our herbs, most I bought in the produce area at WalMart...oregano, an onion that sprouted in the garage, a celery head that I am trying to get growing, two kinds of thyme, chives and sage.  I should've cleared the counter before I took this photo.  You can see the container of our scraps for the compost right behind the onion.

 Squash (from seed) yellow and green and cantaloupe from an actual cantaloupe.

Cucumbers...can you see them?  We haven't had luck with cucumbers from seed.  We may have to buy that plants if these don't make it.  Kale, already used in our smoothies and rhubarb.  As far as the rhubarb goes, I swore I bought artichoke, but oh well, we'll give the rhubarb a go and see what happens.  We may end up loving it.  I need to figure out what to do with it though beside rhubarb pie.

I already like our container garden, simply because we don't hardly have to water them.  Which is a BIG, BIG plus here.

Books vs. eBooks

I love to read.
The majority of my reading I do in bed before I sleep.  It helps me go to sleep.
I am not an avid reader, but the librarians do know my name.

Here's what I am reading right now.

I was given a Kindle for my birthday.
This was not something I even asked for, or honestly, wanted.
I was just given a new Kindle
But I gave it a try.
I like it, but I still LOVE books.

What I like about the Kindle:
*All of the free books you can get.  (and that is ALL I have gotten.)
*You can conveniently take it anywhere with you.
*It is light to hold in bed.
*You can surf the store right there, though it is easier on an actual pc.
*You can take notes, bookmark, see the definition right there.
*All of your books are stored right there.

Cons:
*For cookbooks you need to real deal.
*I really like the feel of books.
*I can check out most of the books I want at our library for free.
*I like the stack of books on my bedside dresser.
*I like the sound of turning a paper page.
*The pages/chapters are much more clearly defined in a real book.
*It is easier to go back to a page with a real book.

I am thankful for getting the Kindle and will continue to use it, but old school books still get my vote.

Special Olympics

Much has been said about Special Olympics.  It's great benefits and how it brings people together.
Much has been written in a greater way than I could write it.
So I am going to tell you what it is to me.

When I first got involved in S.O. I really wanted to join and see if wanting to adopt special needs children, especially ones with Down syndrome was more than a charitable thought. 
Also, I wanted to see how I would feel and act around "those" people. ("those" people are now my friends)

It was softball season when I finally found out who to get a hold of and joined.
I have to tell you that I am NOT athletic at all. 
So I was really putting myself out there.  I think some practices left the coaches wondering if I was an athlete to a volunteer.

What I discovered about myself is that what my heart was telling me was much more than charity.
I LOVE being with "dis"abled people.
They have they ability to laugh at almost everything and almost all of the time.
They make you feel so loved even when they barely know you.
I was really able to relax around them.
They have the ability to remember who you are and really focus on you in a conversation.
And let me tell you some of them can REALLY converse!

This past Sat. we had our area Track and Field area games.
There was a torch with runners.  Lots of athletes.  Our area folks are in red.

These guys, I call them my guys.  They are our relay runners among other things.  The relay race was thee bast race of the day.  We were behind and our last runner (the gent on the left) really gave it his all and won it!!  It was truly an exciting thing to watch and be a part of.

Group shot before the games.

No matter how you feel or what is "wrong" with you, when you see these folks giving it their all regardless of their setbacks, your problems become much smaller.  Each one in these photos has a story and a warm smile to share. 

The next time you see a "dis"abled person, don't be afraid.  Say hi.  Don't worry they don't see your bad hair day or your...they see you as a person.  You may just make a new friend.

Going back to Cali to Cali...

...hmm, I don't think so.
(by LL Cool J)

Okay so we did go back.  That drive is getting VERY LONNNNNNG!  But always worth it.

Here are a few photos from the trip.  We left NM @ 4:30 am on Friday.  Had dinner with my sister and her family.  Which is always a good time.
Sat. most of us went to our niece's soccer game.  Then us ladies hung out and the guys went to Bass Pro Shop.

 "What's for lunch?" was the BIG question.  Since I had never been to Chick-fil-A, we went there.

 The salads looked good, since it was my first time I wanted the CFA experience.  Nice place, nice employees, nice (not great) food.

The cousins waiting for their food. 

In the afternoon, we all met up at my dad's.
We went to the Spectrum, ate at Pieology.  Which was yummy!  GF crust, yay!   Hubby and I got to catch up some with the bride and groom, which was nice.
The Older guys and their fiances did their own thing after dinner.  The rest of us walked around the outdoor mall.  About half of us rode the ferris wheel.

 Son, with cousins.

 Hubby and I with Dad.

Group shot minus the olders w/fiances.  We asked a stranger to take the photos.  He was more than willing.  The kicker was his daughter holding a stuffed animal on her dad's shoulder, etc.  Like a photo studio.  She was a hoot!  Good times.

Brother #2 got Married

This past weekend one of my four brothers got married.
It was one of the most beautiful, Christ-centered weddings!  What a blessing to know that the baby I once babysat (we are 17ish years apart), the little boy who was our ring bearer is saved and starting a beautiful life with a wonderful lady.

 My dad and his girls, right before the wedding...from left to right...My daughter, me, Dad, my sister and her daughter.

 Two of my brothers.  Josh is the groom and Zach will be next to get married.

 Isn't she gorgeous?!?  Her dad gave the best "speech" at the reception.  I don't think there was a dry eye!  (By the way, she's a home schooler...see we're normal.  heehee!)

 Part of the fam, starting at the boy at the bottom, working clockwise, our nephew, my step-mom, brother #2, brother #3 and down to the fine gent, that would be my dear dad, the half man is my brother-in-law.
OH, Right to the right of my dad is brother #4.

Josh reading the vows he wrote for Heather!  They both had such sweet vows.  You can see a little of the gorgeous scenery.  Simply beautiful.  Perfect day.

After this shot of Dad and Debbie, our camera died.

Going Gray

No not me, well, sure me (my hair), but we are talking about paint here.
This kids have been wanting to repaint their rooms for some time.
Daughter decided on Gray.

I tell you it is SOOO nice to have teenagers.
They do most of the work themselves!
Which is great since painting is not my favorite thing to do.

(I know you're supposed to trim first...remember, teens are painting.)
The last wood paneled wall is now painted.
Kind of sad.
Just about our whole house has paneled walls.

Almost done.
Once daughter paints her trim (She works on her own time...heehee!) I will post more photos.