CHRISTMAS DAY 2008

We called Josh right at 7 and he said it wasn't a good time and to call back in an hour. We called back in an hour and it STILL was not a good time...Third time was almost the charm but the reception was terrible and we had to call back several times. Turns out the first time his companion was being transferred out on an emergency. The second time they had been stopped by the police who were drunk and crooked and wanted their cell phone and cameras etc....Josh fortunately had his paperwork and was able to get out with the rest without incident. It was SO SO GOOD TO HEAR HIS VOICE....his HAPPY voice. Jake came at 7 am so he could talk to him and stayed through present opening and breakfast burritos.

Joshy...you wanted to know WHAT We GOT: I had a SWIM christmas! Don got me the flippers and new lap suit and Becky my training partner got me THE COOLEST finger lap counter and the swimming bible. Used the counter TODAY Becky and LOVED IT!!!!! Had one of those young 30 year old triathlon guys ask me WHERE he could get one...For once I was the cool one in the pool!!!
Dad got 2 new pillows from Marriott like he always raves about, a promise from me to paint his office, massages, and books. Megan got new snow tires for her car, UG boots and books. Michael got his laptop for school. Spencer got an electric razor and some golf clubs. Sam got his new weighted bat for try outs and his ski pass. GrandDad got a CD/ Radio alarm clock for his room.

We spent the day reading, watching movies, and eating. It was so nice to just BE...no one had to be anywhere and no real estate calls.
Beans came for games the next day and Rachel schooled us all in Settlers...I told her you would take her on when you get home!
GrandDad has had a hard time being here. The story is long and sad. But the SHORT version...we have had him to the Doctor and he failed the mental tests, and he can no longer live alone....which as you can imagine makes things easier AND harder on me. I won't have to keep going to Canada, but WHERE he'll live? We are working on step 2 now. Still not sure if he will just stay with us or if he will choose an assisted living home. He has been angry and mad that we won't take him to the airport so he can get back home. We told him that if he could make the arrangements hisself then he was free to go. It was so hard to watch as he knew he couldn't figure it out. Anyway, he has new meds and has been back to his sweet self today. What a welcomed relief. When I am old Josh, and you are not sure what to do with me, remember that I already went through this and give you permission to do whatever YOU think is best....I'm sure Megan will want to have a say in it as well :) The difference is I think I will LIKE living with one of you....:) Please marry someone who is a great cook and decent housekeeper :).
Stephanie came last night to say how sorry she was to have missed the call and to get all your mailing info.
Megan is planning a BIG new Year's EVe party at the Stake Center...Check her blog for the details.
A new year...new resolutions...working on them NOW.

MORE Christmas EVE 2008

Christmas EVE 2008

It was a sweet day together but we still missed you Josh!!!
Kori stayed at her families house until dinner---all her siblings were in town.
Jeremy Doctored Preston's shoulder. Aunt Jeremy read THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES while I got to play with the girlies while I intermittantly got the traditional dinner together. We played the BUILD A SNOWMAN dice game and they pulled their prizes out of the mystery can. We played hide the Christmas Elf (stuffed animal) and everyone got a turn to hide it and find it for a prize. We read a few Christmas story books and then made Aunt Sheri's famous Ginger Molasses cookies after the GINGER BABY book. We played UNO. We made our own candy necklaces from this darling kit I found at Michael's. Josh's package arrived mid day and MADE our HOLIDAY!!!! Immediately we loaded the pictures and had a good cry and laugh and felt a LOT OF LOVE for YOU JOSH!!!! (Thanks buddy for sending it!) We had a present exchange with the crazy rules where you all get a number and then can "steal" from someone else. We played it at Don's family party and it was just as big of a hit here....and was PERFECT to keep everybody busy and out from underfoot while I got dinner on the table. After dinner we did the punch board that had the Christmas Symbols in it and talked about how remembering the Savior helps us to make happier choices. We read Luke 2 and then opened our new Jammies and books. Everyone went home and we had dreams of sugar plums in our heads.....mostly I kept waking up to wonder if it was 7 and if we could call JOSH yet!!!!

pics of joshy... enjoy!

Letter from Josh 12-21-2008

Hello everybody!

first i just want to say that i am stoked for christmas! here people dont decorate until christmas ee and they take everything down on the 26, so i have been a bit deprived as far as christmas decorations are concerened, and i'm not sure that i will een see a real christmas tree, kinda hard to accept, but i guess i can make it through ;) This week went by supper fast it feels like, which is good because we didnt get to do a whole lot with everybody up country. i was suprised that i didnt get an email from dad filled with a list of bullet pointed questions, but i guess he is just saving his list for christmas morning. i was also shocked that my only emails from mom were forwards from greg and chad, i love hearing from them by the way and thank you for getting those to me, dad, thanks for the emails from mike. i didn't read the log until after the e-mails so thats why i was so shocked, but the blog always keeps me well updated and i love that.
so, i know what mom wants most is the christmas call info. like i said you will be calling me because the only phone we have to use is the cell phone and we have to pay the bill ourselves and it would cost way to much for me to call you.
so on christmas morning, the number is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. that number should work from anywhere in the U.S.A. because of the time difference you will need to call me in the morning. i believe that there is a ten hour difference so if you called at seven am it would be five pm here. like i said last time i dont have a real time limit except for the ten thirty bed time. so if you called at nine we could talk for a few hours. i will leave it up to you to choose when to call but i would expect it would be around 7 to 9 am your time. i also want to talk to greg very badly, so please get this to him. i can call him if i have that info to let him know how to call me back (i dont know how expensive it will be for him to call but tell him i will pay him back as soon as i can figure out how to do that from here). We are definitely brothers and this is definitely not breaking any mission rules cause the rules say we can call family. i know greg would not allow it if was against mission rules, and i wouldnt either.
Mom, as you have probably guessed by now (i know how your brain works) this number is the number that i will have for as long as i am in Rongai, but please do not call at anytime other than on christmas. i love you soooooooooo much, but for you to call any other day would be against mission rules, and i need all the blessings that come from obeying with exactness, if i am not getting those blessings, i am not helping the peole here as much as i could have, and missions are all about helping the people in the area that you serve. once again, i love you, but only call on christmas!
anyways, i dont have a whole lot to add cause the week really hasnt brought us much. there was a baptism in the ward this sunday, one of the members sons, his name is billy, got baptized, but he lives in longatta so i only see him sundays. it was good to have a baptism, it would have been better if we had investigators there to see it, but it was a nice short service and then they gave everybody snacks (they brought these delicious shortcakce cookies, i am seriously going out today to search for them so i can have a stash of them at the flat) so i was happy.
i love you all! i am so excited for thursday! i will talk to you all then!

Love,
Elder Harris

Tript to BOISE

Josh, I've been HORRIBLE at taking pictures. I PROMISE to be better.

GREAT NEWs JOSH!!!! Dad got a job on Friday at the church to be over Strategic relations with Latin America...so you KNOW he's a HAPPY boy. We are ALL relieved and appreciate all those who fasted and prayed with us and gave leads and reassurance. He starts January 5th so he'll be able to enjoy the rest of the holidays more now. He'll office out of Salt Lake 3 days a week (he'll ride the bus up) and 2 days a week down here at the Orem office in the old Word Perfect buildings.

Friday we left late for Boise so Dad could go to the interview. On our drive there he was called and presented the offer over the phone. He was official by the time we got there. We stayed at the Johnson's. You should see Molly. She says EVERYTHING and snugged with me and Sam to sleep...she had a hundred wonderful things to tell me. Sam is taller and a great brother to Molly. Annie is drop dead beautiful and so is Katie. Strange how much they can grow up in such a short amount of time. They will be here after Christmas and I'll be sure to get pictures. Ali and Paul asked after you.

Saturday we took GrandDad Harris to breakfast. He has really deteriorated since we last saw him. He is very quiet and to most of the questions we asked he would just say "I really don't know" or "I don't remember". It was hard on Dad to see him that way. But at the same time, he is ALWAYS so kind and sweet---we are grateful that he has kept that. He seemed to truly thrill to have all of us there Sat. night. Dad and his siblings had a family photo in the afternoon and I'll post that as soon as we get a copy but it could be a wfew weeks.

We had a blast at the family party gift exchange. First we did the NICE presents, then we exchanged the NAUGHTY presents. Yep, Dad got girlie panties with a Baby Ruth Bar taped inside...pretty juvenile...3 guesses as to WHO did it (Still LOVE YOU KELLY). Ron was given Elf boxers so they posed together. We left at nine thirty to head for home because the weather was suppose to turn nasty with several inches of snow and we wanted to get ahead of it. But, we are OLD farts and by the time we got to Burly (1:30am) we were too tired to keep on and stayed at the new Fairfield Inn there. It was perfect though...we WERE ahead of the storm and even with all the slide offs and roll overs made it safely home. One suburban had rolled and we were going at a good clip... we slowed as soon as we saw it. I was SO SAD for them, but it saved US...we had slowed to about 30 miles an hour and just after we passed them we hit the black ice and were able to stay on the road because we were so slowed. Kind of like life...so sad for those who mess up ahead of us...but grateful for the pain and personal experience it saves us from when we take note.

During our whole lovely time away...Megan was home helping GrandDad through an anxiety attack. All is well, but he was shook that I left and he was going to go to Marc's. All is righted and I am home and he seems okay.

WE ARE SO EXCITED for THURSDAY....we can't WAIT to talk to you. Now, Greg REALLY wants to talk to you...he is wondering if you would be okay with the hook up. I will pass on the info you give me to him and vice versa and hopefully you will be able to hook up...GREG says you are BROTHERS with NO QuESTIONS asked:) I agree. I hope it works.

I am hoping that by the time the break is over, GrandDad will be more settled, Dad will be at work, the kids will be back in school and I'll be able to focus on work more. But until then...i am going to LOVE EVERY SECOND of everyone being here. But OF COURSE we'll be MISSING YOU. I promise to document it with pictures. PLEASE be sure to tell us what you will be doing and if and when you get your presents. I sent another package this week...so maybe you'll get it by Valentine's???

Again, we LOVED the pictures last week. Your companion is handsome and LOOKS kind. The food was still a bit ify to me...

BUddy, I LOVE YOU!!!! WE loVE YOU!!!!! 4 Days and COUNTING!!!!!!!
XXOOXXOOOOOOXXXXXXOOOOOOOXXXXXXOOXXOOXX
MOM

Germany Flashback

This was the GORGEOUS Heidelberg..my pictures don't do it justice. It was so perfect it looked like a Disney movie. ALL the little things were 'perfect' like the WALK traffic guy figure and the scrumptious flowers hanging so generously out of the baskets on the windows. My FAVORITE FAVORITE was the little garden plots the townspeople tend all up the mountainside. Made me so grateful that I am surrounded by MY secret garden and that I don't have to get up and GO to get to it.
If you look to the left in the first picture you can see the castle at the top. SO PERFECT...I mean PERFECT...I have to write pErFECT like 10 times so you can truly envision the loveliness...castle, water, charming architecture, clean, gardens, tidy shops, rowers rowing, mountains, clean air......
Josh...I'm thinking about us there!!!!

Okay...so the pictures are messed up as usual...I was going for the ACTION shots! Monday night was fun...we played Rummicube since Megan and Michael were at a ward Party. Jamie and gand stopped by with yummy cinnamon butter almonds and since Sam was already in bed they went and "tucked" him in... Sam wouldn't look at the camera---said he was pulling a JOSH:)

Kohlert's came by with cookie dough ---they ALL send their love Josh!!!

Then last night the scouts came caroling.
THE BEST part about last night was that OLSEN's came with Paul and he reported all about his mission to CHile. I am SICK that I forgot to take pictures. Somehow I'll get you some. Paul will walk on BYU's football team and he starts in January. He'll live in ALTA apts were Dad and I lived. He had some incredible experiences in Chile. He was pretty jazzed that you are in Africa. He told his girlfriend that was waiting that he needed to date around for a bit. He still has that Brad Pitt smile. They are coming over New Years Night for Ping Pong Tournament and other fun.

graham and granddad

I posted an update on Graham last night and now it is gone? ANYWAY...nothing has changed. He was doing well enough that they are going to give him another 2 months before they decide on the surgery. He will have to stay on his meds and the oxygen until then, but hey....WE ARE GRATEFUL!!!!

Just thought I'd cleanse my soul by sharing a few GrandDad quotes with you. Now don't go thinking that I don't think they are horrific...that IS THE POINT. My own flesh and blood, albeit 89 years old, truly thinks this way.
Quote no.1 during Biggest Loser Finale last night:
"...All Black women are fat unless they have a worm."
Quote no.2: "all fat people marry fat people" (then Don injects "well, I'm sure there are a few who don't") to which he replies "OOOOHHHH No, Most ALL of them."
Today on the trip to Costco with the unexpected side stop at Chuck a Rama:
Quote no. 3: 'The Mexicans have a well thought out plan to take over the country---they are already all the way up into the middle provinces you know."
Quote no.4 at the bank to the Teller: "Is the IRS complaining about my accounts?"

Graham has his Dr.'s appt. TODAY

As you can imagine, Kori and Jeremy are felling super anxious and worried this morning as they take Graham for his Dr's appointment to check on his heart. Today they will be telling them if and when his next surgery will be. Please pray for their peace. I'll update you as soon as I hear the news.

It's a winter wonderland out there today...just want to stay IN and snug in the bed and EAT...Josh, the snow you hoped for is here. Don't worry, we'll send you some :)

Pictures from JOSH XXOOXX

here are the pics if this works.but if i send pics it will be through this adress for now on cause i can write while they upload, the myldsmail site really has too many flaws, i understand the church wanting a secure site for the elders and such but if it is going to cause so many problems to the point that the mission presidents tell you to use whatever since myldsmail isnt working than whats the point? i have a bit more time to write now while the pics upload. we went into the city today. it was interesting. only grocery stores ever have set prices for anything. everywhere else, you can bargain, and they expect most people to. we were at one of the shops and elder overson wanted a traditional masai robe thing, the lady said it was 1200, elder overson then said he would only pay 400 for it, three minutes later we left and he got it for 500. its rediculous to me that it actually works like that, and as the day went on, i saw it happen over and over again. i guess the general rule is just to tell them that you can only pay a little less than half of what they ask for and within a few minutes you will know what they will really sell it for, and even then, they charge you more if you are white. mom, i get to see kids all the time, they run out into the streets to greet me since i am one of the very few white people they have ever seen. one kid, that was about 3 asked me if i really was a muzungo (white man). i laughed for like ten minutes after that. it bothers elder byaruhanga that they all are always running up to me though. and i cant take pictures cause the common belief is that if a white person takes a picture they will go back to the us and sell it, so if i wanted a picture of them i would have to start paying the parents, lame! i am glad that you are getting my e-mails to everyone and i hope that you can get me chads by next week.also, the aps said that they would get us the calling info by today, but it isnt here yet so i will get it to you next week. and worse case senario i will call you on christmas and tell you how to call me back. as far as the time limit, i guess the official rule is 30-40 minutes set by the qourum of the twelve or whoever was in charge of that, but pres said that he believes that is too short, and said just not to talk forso long that we want to go home or wouldnt be able to continue to work the rest of the day. but since it will be night when you call, we prety much have till bed time. Thanks for keeping the blog updated so well, it is nice to know what is going on at home and to see pics. the package i sent today had my memory card, and you know how i feel about pictures, so there arent a ton of me, but i did try to take some of me along with some of stuff that you would be interested to see, there are a lot of the elephant place especially cause i like that a lot. anyways, i love you all soooooooooooooo much! ill write next week (probably from here not mylds) and then ill talk to you on christmas, YAY!talk to you soon,Love, Josh/Elder Harris ps. i am shocked that suzie made it to the final, i knew bob would do well, it makes me wonder how the rest of the season went, but i guess i wont know for the next two years so oh well, have fun with heroes and all the other tv shows!

Letter FROM Josh

hey! so i got my first package today, the one with the family pictures, and i sent a package to you guys today too, nothing too big and it mostly just has letters to everyone in it, i needed to keep it under .5kg or else it is 4000 shillings to send, but it also has a present for the family in there, i wanted to get something for each of you, but it would have cost way to much to send. it should be there in a week and i paid a bit extra (the equivilent of a dollar) for insurance/traking just in case. i also got a card from mom and dad that was seperate from that package, no other mail yet, i was excited to get it and im excited to know that more is on the way no matter how long it takes to get here.
i do have access to an atm there is one at the grocery store tuskys cause they dont accept cards so they make you withdraw to pay, and there are restoraunts by the way, but they are nothing like what we would consider a sit down restoraunt, most of them just have one option for what to order plus sodas and french fries, the menu changes from day to day, but still just the one choice, and its normally stuff that looks like it has been sitting since morning if not longer so i dont trust it enough to eat it. Dad, we have actually been told not to get involved with any big service project/donation thingy from back home and just to do what service we can ourselves in the area with the means we have been given, so we teach english every now and then and we go to the hospital to bag powder baby food and the poridge stuff that they give out, and do random stuff at the members homes, but i cant give you anything for a service project there. I still have wierd dreams from the malaria pills, they said to expect them until i stop taking the pills, they dont really bother me though, they are just wierd. there are wild dogs everywhere, and we actually saw a puppy on the side of the road the other day that had been poisened and it was foaming at the mouth and whimpering as it was dying, it was probably the sadest thing i have seen here. wierdest thing i ate? probably spaghetti with a sauce made out of beans, it tasted good but like i said, wierd concept. i dont see the children from the ward too often, but i see kids all over the place, and for most of them i am the only white guy they have ever seen unless they have seen another white missionary here before but i guess there hasnt been a white missionary here for the past year or so. so the kids love to yell "how are you?" over and over again to me, it bothers my comp but i like taking a few seconds just to shake their hands and say hi. there are maybe 30 active members in the branch, i dont know the total number of people, and most people dont show up till 11 when sacrament starts, but at least they are there for the most important part of church. and i actually thought of something you could send me mom, i hope it ends most if not all of your worrying over what to get for me. but i could use a good pair of flip flops for around the house, and a pair of gym shorts, preferably ones with pockets, but mostly just make sure they will be comfortable, my waist size is a 36 for when you get the shorts and my feet are between 11 and 12 for the flip flops, just choose one of the sizes cause with flip flops it is pretty much all the same. i will try emailing more pics but i cant garuntee it cause it took about 15 minutes just to load the one from last week.
I think i have answered all questions now. but this week was good. it is still hard to find people to teach because even more are gone as it gets closer to christmas, elder B keeps saying that "next year is going to be so much fun, people will actually be here" i guess i arrived at the wrong time, but oh well, it is still fun. we went into town today to send the package and just walk around and stuff. the pricing of everything is really interesting. elder overson (the district leader, he is from arizona) wanted to buy a traditional masai robe thing and when he asked for the price the lady told him it was 1200, he then told her that he would only pay 400, and by the time we left he ended up paying 500 for it. i think its rediculous that they price everything like that, but they are trying to rip off the muzungos (white people) cause they think we dont know the conversion rate or what things should cost, which i have to say would be true for anybody that was just coming on vacation.Larrys accepted when we asked him to be baptized this week, he is scheduled to be baptized on jan 18, it may be a bit longer because he wants his parents to be there and is have a hard time convincing them to come. We havent seen carol since the first lesson because her uncle died and she went to the funeral, but we have an apointment with her tomorow. i know that she will be baptized as well once we are able to teach her a bit more, this girl is seriously golden as far as investigators go, everytime we have talked she has just had a list of questions, and then when we answer she says, "that makes sense" or "i'm glad you believe that too" or "i have never heard that before, but i know that what you just said is right." i'm excited for both of them. and mike, with the time difference i guess you would say that it is pretty much a tie between larry and the girl that you have been teaching, but we want to give carol the same date as larry so that would make me win i guess. ;)anyways, i love you all, i miss you all, i'm glad to hear that everything is good at home, i wish these computers had sound so that i could hear sams song, and by the way sam, the poem was hilarious.
Love,Elder Harris

Sister Sheri the Beautiful and ....

Josh...Thought you'd want to see the oh so darling ones!! You'll have to go to Aunt Jeremi's site to see her girls... since she is a photographer you can't take the pictures from the site. Still no pictures of Aunt Kelly's new baby. I'll get some of Haven and Elle at Christmas.

Letter TO Josh

Lovey Lovey LOVEY....
Really, THANK YOU for the picture last Monday!!! Megan came home at lunch on Monday with a copy of it already---she had sent it over to Walmart to the one hour photo and then brought it home to me--maybe, probably, my favorite Christmas present all year. I blew it up on the computer so I could REALLY check you out. I was SO PLEASED that you weren't COVERED in mosquito bites. I swear you look like you've grown. We are anxious to see your companion.

My heart is BROKE that you won't get your package on or before Christmas. We sent it through the Post Office....they said it would be there in 10 days and should have been there by NOW. But if the Elders are RIGHT and it really takes 40...UGH. Part of me wants to say...have NO FEAR, your PRAYIN' Momma is here! I prayed you a kind and loving companion and no extra charge on the luggage...I'm now praying for a miracle that that package will get there BEFORE Christmas!!! We were going to send you another until we found out that it would be $130 to get it to you before Christmas through FED EX. We had the bright idea that we should just put that much into your acount and then let you get what you want...until I woke up in the middle of the night on Tuesday realizing that if you don't have any restaurants, then you probably don't have access to an ATM. DO YOU HAVE ACCESS? I am so anxious to get the information about how and when we can call you.

Greg sent us a hysterical Christmas Card---and one to you as well that we just put in another envelope and sent on to you. Are you getting his e-mails that I am forwarding? And Mike's? Jake has a long wait until March. I am selfish because I LOVE IT that he still just drops in and hangs out---so does Dave.

I was asked to speak at the Stake Youth Fireside on the 25th of January to kick off the theme for the year. Now I have a whole month to squirm about it. You could throw some ideas my way if you'd like, and maybe a prayer for inspiration...or humor. I wish I'd been born with a funny wit. I'm gonna get me some of that the next go round:) I always like the way comedians can find the laughter in the hard stuff here. Anyway.

It's been a LONG 6 weeks for me. I decided to give my wallowing self a private party and EAT whatever I wanted WHEN I wanted this week. It ends tonight at bedtime. I haven't stepped on the scale. That's part of my party rules...not till next Sunday. I must admit. Certain foods bring me joy. Yep...went to Apollo Burger, ...I won't go on since you are eating rice and beans...but just know...it WILL be made up to you when you get home. Although Mr. Halloween candy hoarder...I also know that food doesn't do it for you like it does for me.

Karma Joiner in our ward died this week--I am so happy for her to be relieved of that cancer ridden body. Kimber Shoell Gray has the cutest tiniest bumb finally showing and they found out already that it's a girl. McKay Sanders has lost his second tooth and I wish to heck you could have seen him report on JUST how he pulled it out with a napkin in Primary today. The ward Christmas Party is Friday, but Dad and I will be in Boise for his family party and Uncle Kelly will be flying in. Braiden is still hanging out with Megan---they watched a movie in his hot tub last night and We were all jealous. Michael set up the new TV in the family room until he goes and it is love for all of us. Spencer is tortured with the golf course covered in snow (finally got some this weekend) Sam is so thrilled with his NEW weekend life hanging out with friends all over the city. He went snowboarding on Saturday and was disappointed...thought that might make you feel better. GrandDad came in to me today and said "9 days till Christmas...I'm never going to make it. I've GOT to DO something." I suggested ALOT of things---all of which he vehemently said OH NO! to...so I'm stumped. We'll go to the Senior Citizen Center tomorrow. I think a woman would do the trick. He's still mad Olive wouldn't come, but SHE swears he never asked. I don't have clients again until Wednesday and that will be a blessing in helping him to find something interesting.

Paul Olsen is HOME and gave his Homecoming Talk today. He spoke on giving our will to God. He's so manly now. Still has that smile that could melt a glacier. We're having them for dinner soon and I'll get you some pictures. GrandDad Paul got remarried!!! They are living in her home. Dave is without work again and Kristine wishes they would just come back here and live in Salem. Me too.

Survivor Finale is tonight...I'll post on the blog later who won.
What will you do for Christmas? Are you still having weird dreams from the Malaria medicene? Chad's mom has not returned my calls for his address. I facebooked Rachel Bean to see if she has it. I'll get it to you as soon as I can. Do you have a blanket? Do you want one? Are there many dogs there? What was the wierdest thing you ate this week? Do you get to be with the children very often? How many are in your ward/branch? What do you want? What can I send you?

I love you Buddy. Less than 24 hours and I'll have a letter from you. You have been a GREAT writer...I am so grateful for all the detail you give. THank you. Again. I LOVE YOU XXXOOOXXXXOOOOXXXXXOOOOOXXXXXXOOOOOO

Primary Fun

I had Primary Sharing Time today. I made one of the kids favorites and just in case you haven't seen it....it is a foam board with holes cut out, you hot glue the paper bags to the back and then fill them with surpises for the kids to "punch" out. Today I had it filled with all the symbols of Christmas (Candy canes, star, bells, fir tree....) and we talked what they each represented and how it reminded us of Christ. The only problem is, you need like 10 of them so every one can get a punch. They feel so disappointed when they aren't choses. Hey Michelle...you can borrow it anytime you want!! Anyway. I stole this idea in college from another girl in my Elementary Ed. Major...and have loved her for it many times over throughout the years.

In MY WORLD...they WON'T BE!!! It just seems wrong that at 45 you could still have zits and then the whole chin hair thing....

Our hot date last night was to see the movie AUSTRAILIA with Nichole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. I LOVED it. I love movies easily though. Josh, I am keeping a list of must see movies for you. I am always fascinated by the Aboriginees. I'm going to look up what I can on the net about their beliefs. I am fascinated by the whole singing things to them and the dreaming....

Sam's Song for Spanish 3 Project/Mrs. Sillito

OK World...a super star is born....!!!!!!

Thanks for the smile Megan

Just thought I'd pass this on...made me smile...I was so going for the whole bath thing....

The Bathtub Test

During a visit to the mental asylum, I asked the Director, "how do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized."

"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," I said. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No", the director said, "a normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"


ARE YOU GOING TO PASS THIS ON, OR DO YOU WANT THE BED NEXT TO MINE?

LOVE at Home

I am in my office working and I hear this gut laughter and it just doesn't stop so I head out to the family room and Michael and Spencer have squashed Megan. Josh, I laughed when the boys came in with the JUICE brigade...made me think of you. Wish I could teleport it to you. GrandDad made it. He wouldn't get in the wheelchair with the girl helper at Detroit because she was black (it is hard to imagine that this is MY Grandfather) so he got LOST (karma?) and finally a worker made him wait while he called for another helper who he got into the wheelchair for and took him to his terminal. He looks good. He's happy. I forgot how long it takes him to eat. I need to figure out how to carry on a lone converstaion until he is done eating. If there is any gap he start talking then it's about a bit per 3 to 4 minutes. What's wierd? That I LOVE that he LOVES to tell me everything. I know I'll be tired of it soon. But I love that he loves us. Don is the clever fellow who put the Canadian Flag in his room.

Calling for ALL IDEAS...

GrandDad will be here tomorrow...each year I have THE HARDEST time coming up with a gift for him...SOOOOoooo..HELP!?! Any ideas...He is 89... and it can't be cologne, ties, clothes,...ugh.

Might I just add that it is FREEZING here? And the miniscule snow fall we got yesterday is no where to be seen...wind blew it away I guess, but it surely didn't melt.