We've been "tagged"!

Okay ... so the way that I understand this is that because our blog has been tagged, one of us has to list seven unusual (or at least heretofore "unknown") things about the person providing the list. And while I was not present at the time of the casting of the lots, apparently Lorinda believes that the lot has fallen on me to pour out seven shades of my soul.

You asked for it. So here we go ......

1.) Of all the things in life that we can fear ... bears, snakes, heights, public speaking, the dentist, my mother-in-law, your clothing becoming transparent in public while your abs are relaxed, singing the fourth verse at full crescendo in meeting when we were only singing verses 1 - 3 ..... of all the things that we can fear, I fear GRASSHOPPERS more than any other thing.

2.) I will never be so old that I will not absolutely LOVE being smothered in the comforting all enveloping HUG of a grandmotherly hug. (Nothing washes away the pain of isolation like a maternal bosom). I love quick hugs more than firm handshakes, and I envy watching the Europeans greet each other. It's a virtual production when Europeans meet, there's animation in the voice inflections, the embracing, the lips on the cheeks, the stand-back-while-you-still-hold-the-huggee and look at them with fresh appreciation before hugging them quickly again. Ahh we American's are missing something.

3.) I get a "high" when I get to participate in public speaking. I LOVE it!

4.) When I am done using a public restroom and see someone's discarded paper towels on the floor by the trash can ... I grab a fresh paper towel and use it to pick up the discarded paper towels and I clean up all of the towels on the floor so that the room is tidier than when I entered. (NOTE: If someone else is using the restroom, I abandoned this habit and just make sure that my own paper towel is properly discarded)

5.) If I wasn't professing, I would have Christmas lights, a REAL tree and 30 days of Christmas music preceding Christmas in our home.

6.) I am anxious for the end of the world. If it's this good here, can you imagine how much better God has planned it for then? (There won't be any handshaking in heaven ... it will be ALL hugs!) (DON"T get me wrong ... I don't feel READY for the end of the world)

7.) I love "lonely" music. The kind that makes me feel like I walking in complete isolation in the middle of Iceland with no other human beings for thousands of miles. The kind that makes me feel that I'm an audience of one in Carnegie Hall, and the music passes subtly past my ears and settles gently into my heart and becomes keen emotion. It has been said that music can stir the soul, but it can never feed the soul ... and so I always keep that in mind, but I still look forward to the stirrings of my soul through forlorn music.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving in Bakersfield with the Bone family. It was a special time spent with special friends. Bryan and Justin buried a turkey and a ham in an underground pit. The boys golfed some and then the girls joined in for football and a little bunt ball. ( A great game that Mark Simmons taught the boys) We ate so much food and took walks to see the sheep. A very peaceful and wonderful Thanksgiving.

Bakersfield Visit

Last weekend our family met Layne in Bakersfield for a visit to the Bone's home. It was a wonderful weekend spent with wonderful friends. The boys had great fun experiencing some of farm life and exploring. We had never been to the Buttonwillow grounds so it was nice to visit that part as well.

San Diego Special Meeting

We had a wonderful special meeting my Aunt and Uncle came down from Monterey and then Layne( and Justin) came down from San Luis Obisbo and surprised us! It was a busy weekend but we sure enjoyed our company. It was nice to have our whole family home for the weekend at least.

San Luis Obispo

Last weekend I traveled up to visit Layne in San Luis Obispo. It was a fun and relaxing weekend. Layne and her roommates have a cute apartment, it is warm and fun at the same time. I love Layne's roommates and all of the friends in SLO. There seems to be an open door policy and kids wander in and out of apartments within the complex. Justin came up for the weekend and toured around with us in SLO. He is a great guy and we had a great time walking downtown and hiking .

River Trip

River Trip

Every year our family heads up to Blythe California to visit our good friends the Hightower Family. We go to the River to camp and water ski for the day and cookout. Lots of fun is had by all and wonderful fellowship with wonderful friends.

Labor Day Bike Ride

On Labor Day Monday we decided to head to the bay and go bike riding. Mel and Diana Clark and our family met down by Mission Bay and rode a 13 mile trail and then set up a bon fire at Fiesta Island to watch the Sea World Fire works. Leona Diaz and her boys joined us for dinner over the fire. Fun was had by all.